Cassandra sunk hopelessly onto the corner of her bed, tears welling up in her ice grey eyes. She drew her knees up to her chest and buried her face in her knees. She began to sob as she replayed his words to her over and over and over.
"Your nothing to me, your ugly, I can't believe we went out this long." Christian, her boyfriend smirked as he began to mock her. She always took his abuse, he made her believe she deserved it. "We're done babe, now get out of my face before you make me lose my patience again." Cassandra stood there in total silence as she watched him so casually stride away from her like she was trash.
She began to look around her room. Stuffed animals, books, everything, he thought she was a loser for these things. She saw one of her stuffed lion's sitting on her bed, she grabbed it and hurled it against the wall. She froze as her reflection caught in the mirror of her room. Her fire red hair, she always kept cut so short had gotten longer. Even her clothes, a simple green sweater and her wrap-around skirt she felt made her look beautiful. She thought it looked nice, his voice echoed in her mind as she heard his laugh. "You look like a clown with your hair that long, why would you wear that? I swear you look like a grandma." She collapsed on her bed and began to sob again.
"Your right, I'm ugly and a loser. How could he ever love me?" She screamed at the top of her lungs as she buried her face in her pillows. Cassandra didn't hear the bedroom door open as her best friend Sasha slowly walked in.
The two were as different as night and day, Cassandra being shy and reserved. Never trying to stick out, while Sasha adored being unique. Her cropped spiky blue hair illuminated this as she slowly walked into Cassandra's room and sat down beside her friend. Sasha didn't want to admit it, but Cassandra made her complete, in every way, shape and form. She never thought Sasha was weird, stupid, or anything, she knew her inside and out. Now her idiot boyfriend had hurt her, again.
Sasha didn't tell anyone of the times Cassandra stumbled into the apartment with a black eye, or tearstained cheeks. Out of respect for her best friend, she always kept quiet. She hated Christian, she hated the fact he always made Cassandra feel like she was worthless. When Cassandra was something so pure, he could never even hope to be anything like her.
She gently rubbed Cassandra's back until her friend stopped crying, Cass quietly sobbed as Sasha picked the stuffed animal off the floor and set it back onto its place on her bed.
Sasha desperately wanted to say the words that would make her best friend realize the guy was nothing. His control was just a way of putting himself up. Yet she knew that Cassandra fell for him hard, why she'd never know. She waited until Cassandra had regained her composure before she started to speak.
"Cass, Christian was bad for you. He never respected you, he never saw you as an equal, and he never saw you as a lover. Just a pet he could boss around," She gently wiped a tear from Cassandra's face as she inched closer. "He never saw your beauty, your fun, the fact you accept things without hesitation. Just love people for who they are." She gestured to herself.
Cassandra quietly wiped a stray tear from her face with the arm of her sweater. Sasha was always there for her. She hated herself for making Sasha worry so much, even at the hospital, when she was in the accident. Sasha had left work on the spot to be with her friend. Meanwhile Christian had the gall to break up with her shortly after she was released. Didn't even ask if she was ok, just said what he wanted and left.
Sasha gently touched her arm, Cassandra was roused from her memories and looked at her friend. Sasha was unique, but she never saw that as a bad thing. Ever since they were children, Sasha was always making sure she stood out. Cassandra admired that trait in her, actions that she could never do.
Sasha looked her in the eyes and continued, "Cass, there are many things I'll probably never understand, honestly it doesn't bother me a bit. I do know this however, you're a very special person to those in your life and you need to see that too." Cassandra was amazed, Sasha, the fearless one thought she was special? Even after all the grief she put her through? Cassandra felt so lucky to have a great friend, she began to sob again, not out of sadness but she was happy to have such a friend. Sasha said nothing but embraced her friend as she began to cry again. Sasha slowly ran her finger through Cassandra's hair as she sobbed into her shoulder.
"Sasha, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry for never getting away from him. I'm sorry for making you worry so much, please I'm so sorry for everything." Sasha gently pulled her away from her shoulder and stared into her eyes before gently kissing her cheek. Cassandra was taken aback by her actions. Sasha blushed a moment before speaking.
"Cass, ever since we were little we've been best friends. We've been through everything, high school, getting our license," She giggled softly, "Dealing with me after I got my piecing. Yet I never knew how to say this till now. You complete me, I always feel alone without you. Cassandra, I love you, and I always will." Sasha looked away for a moment as Cassandra began to blush a deep crimson. Slowly Sasha ran her fingers along her face, gently wiping away any tears that were still there, she gently whispered to her friend, "I always thought you were beautiful, forget what he said. I know this will change our friendship, for good or bad. I had to say it. I won't see you being just a pet to him anymore." Cassandra was speechless, her best friend, her companion, had just said she loved her. Cassandra's mind was a maelstrom of emotions, some good some frightened, but when Sasha kissed her cheek. It somehow felt right, it felt familiar, and it felt safe. She felt Sasha place her hand on her leg, and gently hugged her with the other. She looked up and stared into her friends emerald green eyes and smiled softly.
"Sash, I don't know what to say, you mean so much to me. I can't find words for it, I..," She began to stammer, Sasha smiled as she softly kissed her on the lips. The two kissed for what seemed like an eternity. Sasha slowly withdrew her lips from Cassandra's and gently held her head in her hands.
"I know Cass, I know how you feel, let me take away all he's done to you. Let me heal you," Cassandra could only gently nod as Sasha embraced her again, Sasha began gently kissing her neck, up along her jaw line, to her lips again. She shivered as Sasha brushed her lips against hers again, as they pressed them in their second kiss. Cassandra melted into Sasha's arms as they began to kiss more passionately then before. She felt Sasha's tongue gently probe into her mouth, Cassandra moaned softly as she felt Sasha run her fingers down her arm, allowing her nail to gently stroke the inside of her elbow.
