Mirrors on the Outside
Chapter 26
~Mike's POV~
"She says she believes me man, but I can just tell, something's really off with her." Jaime's voice comes through my phone speakers so that Tony, Vic, and I can all hear about what's going on with Laura.
Vic shakes his head and sighs. "I just don't understand how she could think that she's anything close to a whore!"
"I do," Tony says, making us all stare at him in surprise, and Jaime demand clarification over the phone, "No matter whether something is inherently true or not about you, and that's something you decide, if other people say it enough, you end up believing it. Just think about all the kids that tell us we've saved their lives; they don't get driven to the point of suicide all alone."
"But we always tell her we love her and how much we appreciate her!" My exasperation is evident in my voice. Tony just shakes his head again.
"The negative will always outweigh the positive in her head, and in mine, in most people's who have been emotionally targeted in some way. People who tell you they love you are either messing with you, don't mean it, or it's their 'responsibility'. When you get insulted, however, there's no reason except to expose the truth."
Jaime sighs audibly. "But that's not true!"
"I know," Tony continues, "but that's just sort of how it works."
"One sec guys," We hear Jaime put down the phone, stand up, and walk. Then, the voices start. "Hey love, how are you?"
Jaime gets absolutely no response from Laura. "Come on hon, just talk to me. About anything! You know I can't stand to shut up." This pulls a giggle and an 'okay' but nothing how Laura would usually act.
She mumbles something unintelligible, and there's the sound of Jaime saying 'goodbye' and a door closing. Footsteps approach the phone, and I know Jaime's come back to talk to us.
"Good news guys; she said she's just going to grab something out of Tony's apartment quickly and then she wants to have a real talk, with all of us. So get your butts down here, like now."
My phone is hung up and in my pocket in seconds, as I hear Tony and Vic set off basically sprinting to the front door. I follow behind quickly, just hoping that I'll be able to help our lovely girl. Laura and I may still not be all that close, but I care about her a whole lot, and I'm not about to let the same bitch that hurt my brother ruin all the positive progress she's made. I just won't do it.
We reach Jaime's apartment in record time to see an open door. Cautiously, almost hesitantly, we make our way in, shutting the door lightly and following the sound of Laura sobbing to the living room. The scene we walk in on is not a pleasant one.
Laura is just sitting in Jaime's arms in nothing but a sports bra and boy shorts. I can honestly say some of the issues she has with intimacy make sense now. The word 'whore' is carved into her stomach deeply, but it isn't fresh. My blood boils at the very thought of anyone getting anywhere near her with an intent to harm. She notices us, looks up from Jaime's embrace, and simply says, "This is why." And that's enough to make us all start crying like newborns.
"But this is what I'm telling you, love. You don't have to be that person anymore. You were never a whore, but you no longer have to be the girl who is labeled like that and just takes it. You can be strong now, Laura. Strong because you inherently are, and because we all have your back."
She looks him dead in the eyes. "Why." We all give her a collective look of confusion.
"Why do you have my back? Why do I matter? I'm a random fucking crazy 18 year old that you all met only a few months ago. I just don't get why you care so much. I know why I care about you, but I can't fathom you returning it."
I shake my head and sit down next to her, my voice shaking but assured. "We love you because of who you really are; a kind, loving, shining, talented, beautiful girl. We love you because you've overcome to let your light shine through. And you know, Laura Grace, that I am not one for random sentimental bullshit."
She just nods. "Okay." And pulls me into a tight hug, repeating the act with Vic and Tony before practically leaping back into Jaime's arms. She wipes the tears from her own eyes as well as her boyfriend's, before smiling and whispering something in his ear that really makes him grin. He reciprocates the action and her expression and blush are absolutely priceless.
She pushes herself off of Jaime's lap and stands in the center of the room. "Who's up for some ice cream?"
"She says she believes me man, but I can just tell, something's really off with her." Jaime's voice comes through my phone speakers so that Tony, Vic, and I can all hear about what's going on with Laura.
Vic shakes his head and sighs. "I just don't understand how she could think that she's anything close to a whore!"
"I do," Tony says, making us all stare at him in surprise, and Jaime demand clarification over the phone, "No matter whether something is inherently true or not about you, and that's something you decide, if other people say it enough, you end up believing it. Just think about all the kids that tell us we've saved their lives; they don't get driven to the point of suicide all alone."
"But we always tell her we love her and how much we appreciate her!" My exasperation is evident in my voice. Tony just shakes his head again.
"The negative will always outweigh the positive in her head, and in mine, in most people's who have been emotionally targeted in some way. People who tell you they love you are either messing with you, don't mean it, or it's their 'responsibility'. When you get insulted, however, there's no reason except to expose the truth."
Jaime sighs audibly. "But that's not true!"
"I know," Tony continues, "but that's just sort of how it works."
"One sec guys," We hear Jaime put down the phone, stand up, and walk. Then, the voices start. "Hey love, how are you?"
Jaime gets absolutely no response from Laura. "Come on hon, just talk to me. About anything! You know I can't stand to shut up." This pulls a giggle and an 'okay' but nothing how Laura would usually act.
She mumbles something unintelligible, and there's the sound of Jaime saying 'goodbye' and a door closing. Footsteps approach the phone, and I know Jaime's come back to talk to us.
"Good news guys; she said she's just going to grab something out of Tony's apartment quickly and then she wants to have a real talk, with all of us. So get your butts down here, like now."
My phone is hung up and in my pocket in seconds, as I hear Tony and Vic set off basically sprinting to the front door. I follow behind quickly, just hoping that I'll be able to help our lovely girl. Laura and I may still not be all that close, but I care about her a whole lot, and I'm not about to let the same bitch that hurt my brother ruin all the positive progress she's made. I just won't do it.
We reach Jaime's apartment in record time to see an open door. Cautiously, almost hesitantly, we make our way in, shutting the door lightly and following the sound of Laura sobbing to the living room. The scene we walk in on is not a pleasant one.
Laura is just sitting in Jaime's arms in nothing but a sports bra and boy shorts. I can honestly say some of the issues she has with intimacy make sense now. The word 'whore' is carved into her stomach deeply, but it isn't fresh. My blood boils at the very thought of anyone getting anywhere near her with an intent to harm. She notices us, looks up from Jaime's embrace, and simply says, "This is why." And that's enough to make us all start crying like newborns.
"But this is what I'm telling you, love. You don't have to be that person anymore. You were never a whore, but you no longer have to be the girl who is labeled like that and just takes it. You can be strong now, Laura. Strong because you inherently are, and because we all have your back."
She looks him dead in the eyes. "Why." We all give her a collective look of confusion.
"Why do you have my back? Why do I matter? I'm a random fucking crazy 18 year old that you all met only a few months ago. I just don't get why you care so much. I know why I care about you, but I can't fathom you returning it."
I shake my head and sit down next to her, my voice shaking but assured. "We love you because of who you really are; a kind, loving, shining, talented, beautiful girl. We love you because you've overcome to let your light shine through. And you know, Laura Grace, that I am not one for random sentimental bullshit."
She just nods. "Okay." And pulls me into a tight hug, repeating the act with Vic and Tony before practically leaping back into Jaime's arms. She wipes the tears from her own eyes as well as her boyfriend's, before smiling and whispering something in his ear that really makes him grin. He reciprocates the action and her expression and blush are absolutely priceless.
She pushes herself off of Jaime's lap and stands in the center of the room. "Who's up for some ice cream?"
8/18/13