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he hit you.
he pulled his arm back and slung it forward.
and it left a big bruise on your eye.
...
he hadn't meant to. he didn't want to. but he did.
and now there was nothing but silence in the apartment.
====================
you look at yourself in the mirror, tears in your swollen eyes as you gently pressed your fingers against the bruise. you still couldn't believe it. he actually hit you. you knew he was a violent person, but he'd never aimed that at you.
not until now, at least.
and it was so stupid, too. you were arguing over god knows what when it happened. you barely even remember the words, just the pain. sometimes that was just how it was between you two.
you hadn't even seen him since the argument last night. he stormed out and never came back. you assumed he was staying with Derek or with some girl. you couldn't care less either way, at this moment you were numb to the situation. you were still in shock.
just as you were about to break down into tears, you heard the front door slam shut, and heavy footsteps echo from the hallway to your bedroom. it made your anxiety spike. you could hear your pulse in your ears.
you heard the bedroom door open and the footsteps stopped. you forced yourself to walk out of the bathroom, opening the door with shaking hands.
there he was. Ronnie was standing in front of you, half hungover, looking like he had barely slept.
"there you are-" he takes a few steps closer, reaching out for you. you instinctively flinch, which makes him stop, a look of hurt or maybe realization crossing his face.
"baby-"
"..."
"let me see it.."
"please."
"..."
"fine.."
you cautiously walk over to him, unable to meet his eyes as he grabs your face, looking at the damage he'd done to it.
there's a moment of silence, like he was finally catching onto the situation fully. and he pulls away like he was terrified.
had he really become this bad?
"I can't control myself.." he whispers to himself, disgusted.
he finally meets your eyes, looking like he wanted to apologize. but he knew that didn't mean much at this point.
you both are silent for a moment. then he slowly moves closer, very obviously making a conscious effort not to scare you again. he reaches out his hands to you, like he wants a hug.
...
you finally give in, even though you know you shouldn't. you wrap your arms around him tightly, like you were trying to comfort him, instead of the other way around. he leans down to hide his face in your shoulder, and you think he might be crying.
"help me believe it's not the real me.." he eventually whispers. and it's then you realize that maybe he's just as scared as you are.