I'll Stand By You

The morning light was breaking through her windows. It shone just right upon her eyes to wake her up. She groggily opened her eyes and turned over. The bed was empty safe herself. A sigh of relieve escaped her brittle, delicate lips. She pushed the covers off of her body and planted her feet onto the floor. Pushing herself up, she wiped her face and walked to the bathroom.

Sophia stared at herself in the mirror. Dark circles were forming under her eyes and to add, her eyes were severely puffy from last night’s fight. She pushed on her eyelids with her fingers, examining every inch of them. She took in a deep breath then exhaled. She wondered how long she could take this.

She moved to the shower and turned it on. She loved when the water ran over her. It was as if it washing away all the bad things. Though, the moment she stepped out she knew it hadn’t. Everything would still be the same. It always was and always will be.

Stepping into the shower once it was warm, she started with her head under the shower head. She let the water run down her like usual. This time she felt the tears falling with it. She didn’t understand how she let it get this far. She use to be so head strong and independent. Now, she was talking herself into staying with him each day. That’s not how love should be.

The water mixed with her tears, trickled down her soft, delicate skin. It left a trail down her chest and her stomach then dropping to the bottom of the shower. She took in a deep breath of the steam feeling a bit relieved but not so much. Maybe I should just leave, she thought as she hung her head. The water trickled down off her nose, hitting the bottom of the shower then down the drain. The cycle repeated itself until she moved her head, scrubbing the shampoo gently into her hair.

Sophia turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a soft and warm towel around her small frame and with one hand wiped the mirror. She stared at herself once again before moving into the bedroom to dress. She would need to wear jeans to cover the bruise he left on her leg from pushing her into the counter. He didn’t mean to push that hard he said. He just wanted to make a point by just pushing her in general.

After five minutes and a good pair of jeans and a blouse, Sophia found herself out on the porch with a warm cup of coffee. John was already gone for work and the morning welcomed her brightly. This morning couldn’t get any better. Well, if John was never this way perhaps that could make the morning better.

Sophia looked over and saw her neighbor once again. She couldn’t help but smile at him. From far away he was gorgeous. She gave a little wave with her fingers then looked back over the front yard. But thinking of how wonderful her neighbor was compared to John, a sad mood came over her. She sighed and sat down on the porch swing.

James couldn’t help himself. He needed to introduce himself and get closer to her. He needed to see up close the emotional damage that man was doing to her. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous to meet her. He had watched her beauty from far away for far too long. Now within the next few moments, he’d be face to face with her.

When her phone rang, he stopped walking and just stood there. He listened intently. The man’s harsh words were bringing tears to her eyes. He felt his stomach wrench watching her. Part of him wanted to kill the man the other part wanted to hold her tight and tell her that harm would never come to her. But he couldn’t, it wasn’t his place. He knew that if he saw with his own two eyes as he stood in front of them that he would then stop the man from harming her.

She was crying by the time she hung up the phone. He continued his walk to her front porch.

“Miss, are you alright?” He asked.

Sophia brought her head up quickly, immediately feeling embarrassed that she was crying on her front porch for everyone to see. Her cheeks flushed more when she realized it was her neighbor. She nodded through her tears knowing the nod wasn’t convincing.

James laughed softly. “You do realize how unconvincing that is,” he said trying to make her smile.

Sophia let out a soft laugh as a small smile formed on her face. “Yea, I do realize that. I was hoping I was that good a liar,” she replied.

“I could pretend if that would make you feel better,” James said smiling, a soft laugh almost escaping his lips.

“No, that’s okay,” Sophia said softly, her eyes staring at her phone now.

James looked at her, his eyes following hers. He looked at the phone in her and quietly sighed.

“I couldn’t help but over hear. Are you okay?”

Sophia looked up at him, tears spilling over her eyes as she shook her head, no. James was hesitant to step her stairs and sit next to her. He didn’t know if that would overstepping his boundaries as a neighbor. He took a deep breath and went for it. He stepped up the stairs slowly and took a seat next to her.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. He definitely knew touching her would be overstepping his boundaries. But his body ached to comfort her. Then out of nowhere she leaned into him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. He couldn’t deny the good feeling he felt holding her.

Sophia wiped her eyes but didn’t pull away from him. She loved the comforting feeling she felt from him. She felt as if no harm could ever from him or anyone else for that matter. But how could be so? How could such a stranger make her feel this way? Upon realizing this feeling she sat straight up, pulling away from him.

“Thank you,” she said softly, feeling a bit embarrassed. Sophia looked up at his eyes and as cliché as it sounds, got lost. His beautiful blues ever so captivating. She swallowed a hard lump in her throat. Before she knew what she was doing, she leaned up and kissed him. James was shocked at first but kissed her back. He placed his hand on the back of her head pulling her closer to him, deepening the kiss.

Sophia pulled away abruptly. She held a hand over her mouth. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” she said realizing on what she did.
“I should go,” James said slowly as he stood quickly. He completely overstepped and lost control. He shouldn’t have done.

“Yeah, I, uh I’m gonna go inside,” she said as she stood up and tried to walk around him. But she couldn’t, she couldn’t move away from him. But she had to and she did. She moved passed him and into the house. She closed the door behind her and slid down it. Her fingers brushing over her lips as she closed her eyes.

James quickly left her porch and moved swiftly to his house. He couldn’t lose control like that. He wanted to keep her from harm and for all he knows, the neighbors saw that kiss and will now tell her boyfriend. That was the last thing him or her needed. He had to think of something now. But all he could think about was Sophia and her soft lips.