He groaned faintly, shutting his eyes, and shuddered. Roxy was still in his lap, voicing her concern for him, whimpering gently.
Jack’s eyes opened, red and watery, and looked at Katelynn for a moment before reaching for her hands, covering them with his shaking ones. “I wish I-I could keep you safe all the time. I wish th-that I could do e-everything all your su-super powered friends can, th-that I wasn’t so n-normal like I am. To s-see you safe a-and no longer af-afraid of the people in th-this city who hurt you o-or threaten you… t-to be brave enough t-to confront them a-and beat them f-for hurting you but I know I c-can never….”
He lowered his gaze, the tears still falling.
“I want t-to give you everything b-but I feel as if I-I don’t have anything to g-give you and god look at me, g-going on…!” Jack looked at her, eyes wide. “Y-you were kidnapped you m-must have b-been so scared and here I-I am going on about m-my problems I’m h-horrible and—” he suddenly hugged her, Roxy leaping for freedom before being squashed between them. “Katelynn I’m s-sorry I’m so-so sorry…!!”
“Jack!” she groaned, her eyes shutting in emotional pain. “Stop it..it’s MY fault! stop apologizing for what I did! I’m the one who got captured! I’m the one who lied to you! I can never forgive myself for that! I keep hurting you and I’m sorry! I thought I was making you strong..I keep trying to give you strength, hoping my love is enough but all I do is make you worry and feel weak when you’re not!”
She clung to him desperately, shudders through her body. “I’m not..I’m a horrible person for making you feel this way..all I do is make you suffer. What kind of girlfriend am I?! I don’t want you to suffer…! P-Please stop suffering because of me..I’m so sorry too..!”
Her heart was breaking, going dead inside of her chest, feeling that even though it would hurt her, she wondered if it was best if she left. But the pain at the thought was too much. She didn’t want to! She loved him! Her hands trembled as they held him.
“I just love you.” he whispered shakily. “I love you s-so much. It, it’s not bad of you to-to tell me when bad things happen. S-so I can be there and, and help you pick up the pieces and try to help you as best I can… y-you should have told me…” Jack said quietly. “A-all I can do is help with what happens after, I’m. I’m good for that… p-please don’t go. Please don’t leave.”
God it’s almost as if he could hear what her heart and mind had been feeling about leaving.
“I’m going to l-look after you as best I can. For as long as I can. F-for as hard as I can. Because you d-do make me feel strong, Katelynn… y-you make me feel like I could walk up to these p-people and tell them to leave you alone e-even if I know they wouldn’t listen to me. B-because you give me the strength to do it…” Jack pulled back, and caressed her uninjured cheek, eyes half lid, still red. “All I can do is love you, Katelynn. That’s what I can do.”
Jack Maple 