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I’m so used to it that it’s normal. I’m so sorry.” I felt like an inconsiderate asshole.
    Her chest heaved up and down as she sobbed. I felt utterly helpless and was seriously starting to freak out until she reached for my hand. I precariously rubbed my thumb across her knuckles hoping that it was okay. I was relieved when she finally seemed to relax a little. I used my other hand to rub her back soothingly since she seemed to like that. I don’t know how long we sat like that until she finally lifted her head to look at me. She looked like a beautiful hot mess. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her mascara had strewn all down her cheeks. I reached over to the end table and picked up a tissue to wipe her face. She looked solemnly at me. I needed to hold her. I wanted so badly to tell her that everything was going to be okay. I’d make sure everything was okay. The feelings that I already had for this girl were downright ludicrous. Something about her just grasped at me and pulled me in. It was like a vortex.
    “ Aubrey, I really need to hug you right now. Is that okay?” I asked her, feeling completely wretched.
    She sat up slowly and opened her arms. I leaned in and wrapped my arms tightly around her and breathed her in. This had to do with more than just a couple of messages. There was obviously something else.
    “ What happened? I don’t want to pry, but that was really scary and I need to know what to do in case that happens again.”
    “I can’t,” She choked and started getting upset again. “I don’t want to taint you with it.”
    “How about I tell you my story and then you can decide if you want to tell me yours. I’m already tainted Aubrey.”
    “The wounds we have reveal us .” She whispered.
    “I was born to a teenage prostitute turned junkie. I spent my entire childhood rummaging dumpsters for scraps while my mother , who let’s just call her by her name since she was never a mother. So, while Crystal spent our grocery money on cocaine and heroin, I had to figure out how to get by. My father was one of her many Johns. I have no idea who he could be, and I don’t care either. When I was eleven she OD’d and the police found her body in a dumpster downtown. I was taken in by child protective services and put into foster care. That’s where I met Ron through an outreach program. He ended up becoming my mentor. He was the one that got me into music. He saved me, and now I’m here.”
    I got emotional just talking about Ron and what he did for me. He was like my dad. I couldn’t even imagine what fate would have had in store for me if he didn’t come into my life.
    “That sounds like it was harrowing. My story is nothing like that.” She shook her head.
    I knew she wasn’t going to divulge anything. I decided to let it go until she was ready and felt less vulnerable. I moved so that she was next to me and leaned us both back until we were flat on the bed. I curled into her hoping to give us both a little solace. I counted her breaths and felt the rise and fall of her chest against mine. I was able to get a closer look at the tattoo across her shoulder blades since she took her jacket off. It was an array of birds and stars with a quote underneath: It’s always darkest before the dawn. I absentmindedly traced my finger over it and wondered why she picked that particular quote. It was even more ironic that I had a similar quote around the same spot.
    Our cuddling was interrupted when my stomach growled embarrassingly.
    “Come on, it’s lunch time and before you try and protest I know you barely ate. I saw your plate.” I sat up and stood.
    I took her hand and pulled her to her feet. The room service was no doubt cold and gross by now. I decided to chance it and take her out. I knew the perfect place where I was less likely to be recognized. Even if I were to be spotted no one would dare mess with the owner. I told her to grab her jacket. I went into the living room and asked Brett to