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eyes had life in them again, making his heart swell with love for her. This wasn’t something he had seen in her much over the recent months. He was getting his Liss back, and right now that was all he cared about. Her weight was back to normal and she looked healthy. Her scars were hardly even noticeable to him. It had been a hard few months. They had cried together and fought with each other. Melissa had blamed herself and Luke had refused at first to listen to the details of what Jay-Den had tried to do. It had made him sick with rage and he’d been on benders, mainly drink, to try to cope with it. But six weeks after coming home from hospital he had turned to cocaine again. He got so angry that he couldn’t focus on anything but that. His songwriting was none existent or pure darkness and it had enraged Melissa, breaking her heart. It was something that would always be a threat, and Luke had to be at rock bottom to turn to it. He hated himself afterwards, more because he would see the disappointment in his girlfriend’s eyes. She would always get him back on his feet. But his health was now back to normal and he hadn’t touched drugs for months. Going to the gym with Toby had really helped him focus. While he’d concentrated on Melissa he hadn’t noticed how ill he had looked. He’d been so skinny when he’d been brought into the hospital, he’d looked like half the man he was, and his hair hadn’t been up to his usual standard. He hated long hair, and by the time he’d been allowed home he definitely needed a haircut, not to mention a shave. He had joked about growing a beard until Melissa had reacted in horror. She wasn’t a fan of beards, and if she was honest Luke looked ridiculous with one. He couldn’t pull it off, she had told him, much to his disappointment. Luckily, their love and loyalty to each other had got them through it. Even when they were screaming at each other it wasn’t hate or anger for each other but because they cared so much. They just wanted to help each other and when one refused to listen it was frustrating.
                  ‘Today’s been great,’ Luke said.
                  ‘It has. Nice to finally be able to live again. Twelve years. I hope he’s having a terrible time inside.’
                  Luke gripped her hand. ‘I’m sure he is. But let’s not talk about that prick. Tonight we celebrate with our friends.’
                  Melissa had no idea what was really planned for the night’s entertainment. She thought it was just a few drinks at Toby’s with the usual gang. Luke tried to hide his smile as he sent a warning text to Beth, and hoped they were ready.
    *****
    ‘Positions people. They’re almost here!’ Beth yelled and clapped her hands. Toby’s barn was now a private club for Melissa. A celebration for winning the case, and a very late twenty-first birthday party. She had turned twenty-one just days after Luke had been found, and after all she had been through her birthday had gone by without much fuss. Luke had felt awful about it. Everyone deserved a twenty-first birthday party in whatever way suitable. His had been a week in Amsterdam with the lads and it had been a week he would never forget. But that was another story, so he had decided to combine the two, now things were better.
                  There was a sound system and a stage put together that afternoon. The floor had been cleaned up to create a dance floor with tables and chairs around it, and the walls were covered in black velvet with silver and purple markings to represent her favourite things. Shoes, mainly. A table decorated to match the theme displayed her presents and there was a chocolate fountain.
                  Of course, Toby had built a very large bar, and it had been well stocked up. Nobody would be thirsty. The specially selected guests were all ready for a party with the usual suspects in attendance, as