This story is dedicated to you if you have ever been abused by someone bigger, stronger, and seemingly more powerful than you. You are not alone. You are infinitely precious. And the trauma you endured is not your fault. Know that you are so loved. And whatever trauma you have been through – it does NOT define you. You are a beautiful rose, a lovely lily, a most precious gem.
Rated M for Mature. This story deals with some difficult topics and involves some graphic situations.
Stasia wondered how many hours she’d have to spend in Yoongi’s embrace before she felt whole again. Suddenly, she brought her arms up around his back and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you, Yoongi,” she sobbed, “for being my safe place. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t chased me all the way to school.” She was weeping again.
Yoongi reached up and began to wipe her tears away with a very gentle fingertip. “You are precious to me, Stasia. Whether it makes any sense to you or not.”
She smiled pathetically up at him. “We should cut the caramel slices.”
She pulled away from him and reached for the knife again.
Yoongi’s voice sounded behind her. “It’s just a knife, Stasia. Used most often for cooking. I’m betting that one has only ever been used for cooking.”
She took a deep breath and ran the knife under warm water before turning to cut the caramel cookies into bars. Yoongi watched her efficient movements. She was as graceful in a kitchen as he was on a stage.
She turned to him with a bright smile lighting up her face. “Are you ready to try one?”
“Ready? No. I passed ready a long time ago. I am panting with anticipation now. These better be really good. You’ve built them up to be almost divine.”
“They are.”
He laughed, glad that the sad moments had passed them by for a little while.
She pulled a bar out of the pan and held it up to his mouth.
He grinned at her. “Oh? You’re going to feed me, eh?” Then he sank his teeth into the caramel slice. He closed his eyes. It was really sweet. This girl had quite the sweet tooth.
“Do you like it?”
He nodded. “But it’s really sweet.”
She cocked her head at him. “You like salty snacks, don’t you?” She held up a finger. “Hold on a moment.” Then she reached for the sea salt. She sprinkled some over the top. “Take another bite.”
He obeyed her. The salty tang was the first thing to hit his tongue. It balanced the sweetness. This was much better. He smiled at her. “It’s really good.”
But when she tried to give him another bite, he declined.
“I’m really not used to eating sweets much. A couple bites was enough for me. But you eat one now. I know you’ve been looking forward to it!”
She grinned and took a bite of the salty caramel slice. She closed her eyes. It was a taste of home. She felt a pang for her mother. Tears shining in her eyes, she took another bite. She savored it too.
“You must like salty foods too,” he remarked.
She grinned. “I’ll eat the cream corn Turtle chips with you anytime.”
His face split into a wide smile. “Excellent! Do you have any here?”
She shook her head.
“Man! We should have bought some when we were at the market!”
She raised her eyebrows. “We could go back.”
“Let’s do it!”
Maybe if they were out in public, she would relax even more. They still had several hours together before Julieta or Tia would be home.
