Jack reached both his hands up and gently touched her face, and looked into her eyes.
“People can not blame you for this.” he said firmly. “This was nothing but a horrible accident. You didn’t make the car hit you. You didn’t make the driver careless. You did nothing wrong, Katelynn.” Jack said in a voice he never thought he’d use in his life. Authoritativeness. Sure of himself. Not for himself, but for her. “I don’t… I don’t know what people have told you in the past, Katelynn but now, this is not you fault. And you’re not a burden at all. You’re my best friend, you’re my girlfriend, you’re the reason why I leave my apartment at least once a day now. Y-you’ve inspired such change in me, you can see it, so how can you still call yourself these horrible things?”
His words touched her, oh how they did. Her heart sped up, her mother’s words banished from her mind to be replaced by this wonderful man’s own words.
Was it possible for a heart to swell with more feeling for someone? She felt like it would burst or overflow, she wasn’t sure which. Probably depended on how strong her heart was.
“Because..my parent’s made me think that way…”
He frowned.
That wasn’t what parents were meant to do, but he knew the world was a dark place. He knew there were cruel people, and to think Katelynn had people like that for parents… he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her, trying so very hard to be gentle, not wanting to hurt her.
“Forget them. F-forget what they’ve said. I know it isn’t easy b-but please. You’re better then what they’ve said, y-you’re a beautiful person, inside and out and I love you so much, I can’t stand t-to see you like this. Not in hospital like this but doubting yourself. I’m here, n-now. I’m going to stay here, too, because I need you as much as you need me. All right?”
Jack Maple 