When rey was 17 she got her first boyfriend, she lived alone due to her parents dying when she was 15 and she had been in care for a year but as soon as she was sixteen she was allowed to leave and she did , she moved about 50 miles away from the care home and got a small job and waitress at a cafe two streets away from where she lived

It was the the cafe that she met her boyfriend - to - be , his name was Jordan.

She waited on his table everytime he came in , witch at first was only about once a week , which turned into twice a week , which continued time he was there almost every day

And every day rey would wait on his table

Then he would talk to her

At first it was just simple questions like how old are you , what's your favourite colour.

Then he started asking more personal questions like , do you live far from here and do you have a boyfriend

She would answer honestly and rey even began to like the boy

Then she began to be the one asking questions

She told her best friend Lana about him and Lana in couraged rey to ask him out

But turned out rey didn't have to

Because the boy asked her out on her next shift

They aranged a date for the following Saturday since rey had a free day

He arrived at her front door step that Saturday all poshed up and she was all glammed up to thanks to the help of Lana

He took her to the cinema to see a movie " maze runner"

Rey enjoyed very much

So much infact that when he asked her out to a dinner date she didn't hesitate in saying yes

He took her to a beautiful restaurant with amazing food

And then he took her home to his place where they watched Netflix for an hour or two

By the time she was about to get ready to go home it was past midnight and Jordan insisted she stayed the night instead of going home in the dark

And that night she did

And he offered from her to make there relationship official and that she could stay in his house

She wouldn't have to work in the cafe since Jordan made three times the amount rey made

She thought for a little while and asked if she could sleep on the idea

But that whole night she thought about it and didn't get a lot of sleep

But when she woke up she knew her answer

She ran through to Jordan who was cooking pancakes for breakfast and told him her answer

" yes" she exclaimed...

The next day at rey quit her job and Jordan accompanied her and they then went to reys apartment to gather her belongings and she handed the keys to the person she had been renting it from before going to to her new home with Jordan

He opened the door for her and lead her in

Everything went perfectly and rey couldn't be more happy, she didn't need to do anything

But after about a month she decided to help around the house

So that afternoon while Jordan was at work she worked hard for hours making an amazing meal for Jordan

She thought he would be impressed when he got home but instead he was angry

" after all I do for you , why , do you not appreciate what I do. Is it that bad you would rather do things yourself?" He shouted at rey

" I .. I ... I thought you ... w .. would like it " she stammered to him

But instead of listening he raised his hand and smacked her across the face with the back of his hand , he hit her with such force she tumbled backwards clutching her face .

He started towards her and she shuffled backwards until she collided with the wall , he crouched down infront of her and spoke dangerously low " do something like that again and the consequences will be worse , now , get up " and he grabbed her tightly by the arm to pull her up but she struggled and as she struggled his grip tightened, she knew it was going to leave a bruise and tears spilled down her swollen face.

Then reys world turned from perfect to living hell

She ended up living for months covered in bruises and cuts and scars , many horrible punishments were given to her which she knew would leave permanent scars

She would have told someone but she didn't have anyone she could tell and she wasn't allowed to leave the house or have any contact with anyone other than Jordan

She grew to hate the man she previously loved and she knew she would have to escape , to run .

So she spent about a month planning her escape, all the while being beaten and bruised. But then finally it was perfect

But she knew she only had one chance and so she wait till the perfect opportunity and she took it

And she managed to get out and when she did she ran

She ran because she knew her life depended on it

She ran because if she didn't she would die at his hand

She ran because she wanted to have a life...

Two years later

Reys pov

I wake up once again covered in sweat and tears pouring down my cheeks again

I rub my eyes

Another nightmare I think to myself

I look at the clock 6am it reads so I get up and go for a shower

after running away from Jordan I went to alderon where a lady named leia found me at the side of the road , she asked me what was wrong but I couldn't tell her instead I just burst into flood of tears so leia asked if I'd like to go to her house to talk about it and she took me in her car and took me into her house carefully lead to a spare room and said I could wait there and she went and got a huge roll of bandages, ointment and ice and she bandaged me up after cleaning my wounds and putting ice on my bruises , I was still crying so she brought me some tissues , then she spoke to me gently and softly" do you want to tell me what's happened dear"

I nodded then winced at the pain

So I explained everything, all about Jordan and about what he would do and afterward she promised not to go to the police because that was my choice

Then she offered that I stayed here in her house

She said she wouldn't treat me like a daughter just like a friend, she told me it would be no problem given she already had a son who was only two years older than me , his name was Ben solo.

Then she tucked me in because I was to weak to do it myself and told me to rest

Then I heard her go into the next room and talk to someone before she went downstairs.

I wanted to be cautious in case the Jordan thing happens again here but I just wanted to rest and I could actually sleep in a bed rather than a floor I was a wee bit happy and I feel asleep

That was two years ago ...

Bens pov

Rey puzzles me.

I remember the night she arrived, I could hear her quiet sobbing and i carfully and quietly snuck to the open door of the room next to mine and peaked in I couldn't see her very well at first because my mum was in the way but when my mum moved slightly I was horrified at what I saw, at the time to me she was just a girl so what I saw was a girl who was beaten half to death , she was covered in scratches , deep cuts , black bruises and welts . She looked younger that me as well which made it worse.

I couldn't understand how or why any person could do this to anyone.

I could see how much pain she was in and I couldn't bare to watch anymore so I quietly went back to my room careful not to make a sound.

About three or four hours afterward seeing the girl my mother came through to tell me that there would be a girl staying with us and my mum was going to make sure she was safe but when I asked why, mum didn't answer but told me her name was rey

She also told me that something had happened and rey might not be able to speak to me because of it

Knowing better than to ask I told my mum that I would be okay with that

About a 3 months after living with us she finally left her room so I thought it would be okay to go say hi so when I did I did not get the reaction I was expecting, instead of her saying anything back she burst into tears, and then cried out in pain as her tears spilled into her cut on her cheek which hadn't fully healed and when I looked her up and down I noticed even after three months she still hadn't fully healed . I went and got my mum and left rey alone .

When she started working in uncle Luke's restaurant with me the first thing i noticed was her strange dress sense she seemed to refuse to show any skin other than her face . I assumed in my head she had scars from whatever had happened to her .

My friends made fun of her because of it and her scars on her face , I hated doing it but I still joined in since they were my friends. But I always felt really guilty afterwards for it ...

Reys pov

Everything was going okay , it had been for almost two years now.

All the cuts I had when I arrived have scared over , bruises faded.

Now the only thing that remained was scars and the memories of what had happened.

I arrive at work and put my coat on the hanger in the back room, before heading into the bar , because it was still early there was maybe one or two people in the restaurant and ben hadn't arrived yet so there wasn't much to do , so I took out my journal and began to write

Day - Tuesday

The nightmares still haven't left , once again I woke up like every other morning in tears, i though that maybe after almost two years they would have gone away, but like the scars and memories, the nightmares haven't left me .

~Rey

Suddenly I felt a warmth on my neck and I whipped around and came face to face with Ben , who had apparently been looking over my shoulder and i felt around behind me and quickly shut my journal , keeping eye contact with Ben , and for a split second I saw pity in his eyes , but my anxiety kicked and I realised how close Ben was standing to me and I stuttered " B...b... Ben ?"

I felt a tear trickle down my cheek as fear built up in my stomach, he must have realised to because he stepped back and noticed the fear in my eyes "sorry rey , I didn't mean to scare you" he mumbled as he stepped back I saw his eyes flicker towards my journal and I pull it off the table and clutch it to my chest.

Then someone leaned over the counter and asked " can I get a fresh orange and lemonade"

Ben looked at the customer and looked at me " you heard him rey, fresh orange and lemonade,"

" yes b...b...Ben " and I ran around and made the drink and pushed it towards Ben to give to the customer.

The rest of the day I worked in silence and took orders off Ben ...

.Bens pov

Rey didn't notice me when I arrived at work so I crept over to see what she was doing, when I went over she was writing in a small book .

I leaned over her shoulder to see what it was she was writing.

I caught a few words, nightmares, scars and memories. Were the only words that stood out so I read the full thing .

She has nightmares, she thought they would go away after two years.

Then she turned around quickly I could see the fear in her eyes and I remembered what my mum said the day she arrived, about her not being able to talk to me . I felt sorry for her as I watched her snap the diary book shut . Her eyes never broke it's gaze from me as if something bad would happen if she looked away . I realised I was awfully close to her , I guess I might have been making her feel claustrophobic , she questioned me , stuttering as she did " b... b .. Ben ?" She asked

I didn't know how to respond so I apologised and thankfully a customer placed an order and rey hurried get it

I tryed talk to her all day , not like lots of questions just the occasional hi or here you go but she didn't say one word to anyone.

I was almost disappointed

The first time she had talked to me without me asking her a question I made her cry and I scared her

I could hear the fear in her voice

I secretly wished I could help her

I wished I knew what had happened to make her have nightmares

I wish I knew who she was...

Rey pov

When I got to sleep that night another nightmare plagues my dream

This time is worse than any other nightmare , I can't seem to wake up , I can feel Jordan's hand as he hits me , I can hear his voice shouting and me .

Then I wake up.

Except when I wake up I can still hear someone calling out my name , not Jordan's harsh pain evoking voice it's much more genital and hushed to an almost whisper.

Then I feel a hand shaking my shoulder and I can finally focus and make out a few other words the voice is saying " wake up rey , rey , wake up , it's just a bad dream" and then it repeats and continues to shake me , trying to wake me .

I begin to cry, silently just tears falling down my face.

And the words I hear change " it's ok don't cry , your safe"

Finally I open my eyes, and look to who is showing me kindness.

I practically have kittens.

I nearly jump out of my skin .

And my atomic reaction of staying away from possible threats kicks in.

I start to back away , by leaning back away from him .

It was Ben

They boy who makes fun of me

Who snaps at me if I don't work fast enough

Ben

And yet here he was

Showing me kindness

Comforting me

Soothing me

Waking me from my nightmares

I didn't know what to do

He speaks first " it's okay rey It was just a dream , don't be afraid your safe here . No one can hurt you ."

I start to believe him

Maybe I can trust him

He's never showed any sign of violence in the two years I've been her

However I just stair at him the fear building up in my stomach

Tears spilling down my cheeks

He reaches slowly, carefully and gently his hand towards my face and brushes away my tears .

Then he holds his arms out " do you want a hug ??" He asks

I'm still unsure of what to do

" I - I - I haven't hugged any- anyone in two y-y-years" I mange to stammer and once again i see the pity in his eyes

"Well that's okay I'll still hug you@ he encourages

" I h-haven't had-d human c- c-contact in two years t-tho " I respond still stuttering as talking also isn't something I'm used to either.

Then as I look in his eyes I see something that wasn't there before, then he gets up an walks round to the empty side of the double bed , and sits down slightly closer to me this time and puts his arms out again.

This time I timidity make my way over to his arms.

His eyes sparkle with surprise and possibly happyness

When I finally get there I shakily wrap my arms around his torso .

I realise how much I had missed this , just hugging someone because I wanted to .

I hug Ben a little tighter not wanting to let go.

Then after a few minutes he gently wraps his arms round my small frame, carefully as if I might shatter to pieces if he hugs me any tighter .

I close my eyes and lean my head on his chest and close my eyes

I hadn't realised how sleepy I was but as my head leaned against bens chest I could feel my self drifting to sleep until everything went black as I feel into a peaceful dreamless sleep for the first time in two years...

Bens pov

I could hear rey crying out and for the first time I went to see if she was okay .

Out of politeness I knocked on her door first and she continued to cry .

When I opens it I realise she was still asleep.

She was having a nightmare.

I decided to try and wake her so she wouldn't be suffering.

I go over and gently shake her shoulder, and start talking to try and wake her "rey , rey wake up it's just a bad dream wake up it's not real. Your safe" and I keep repeating.

After a few minutes she wakes up .

As she looks up to see it's me she looks like she's seen a ghost, she's absolutely terrified.

I don't know what to do my mums better at this sort of thing than I am so I'm kinda lost . She starts to back away slightly.

So I try and speak more comforting words " it's okay rey It was just a dream , don't be afraid your safe here . No one can hurt you ."

She starts to cry again.

For some reason I feel hurt to

I don't want to see her like this .

So I slowly reach out a hand careful not to startle her and I wipe her tears away

The I do the only thing that pops into my head .

I open my arms and say " do you want a hug"

It sounds stupid but sometimes hugs make people feel better.

Then she mumbled and stutters something about she hasn't had hugs in two years

I can't believe it

Whatever happened to her must have been really bad

I tell her it's okay

Then she stammers at tells me she hasn't had physically contact in two years .

Whoever has caused this will pay I swear .

Then I have an idea

So I go round to the empty side of her bed and sit and once again I hold out my arms for a hug

And I wait patiently

I feel like Olaf the snowman

But it starts to work.

She slowly makes her way over and she puts her small arms round my middle.

I wait just in case she doesn't like it

Then I feel her ever so slightly hug tighter.

And I gently hug back I dont want to hurt her so I'm very carful.

Then I feel her head lean again my chest and I feel her close her eyes and go slightly limp in my arms

She's fallen asleep

But not only that

She's fallen asleep on me

I look down,the Pj top she's wearing is low at the back and I'm startled when I look at her back .

Huge long white scars run up and down her back .

I pull her top back slightly to reveal that her whole back is covered in these deep scars , but the only thing I can think of that could've made these are ...

Whips...

Who would whip a girl .

She stirs slightly and I decided to lie down with her and she seems peaceful and I wouldn't want to wake her

So I carfully lie back onto her bed and I wrap my arms around her tiny frame .

" goodnight " I whisper barely even audible, but she replies to my surprise " good night " ...

Reys pov

When I woke up I could feel the whole upper half of my body rising and falling slowly

And a gentle breeze on the top of my head .

I didn't open my eyes just yet

I felt at peace for the first time in to years I hadn't woken up because of nightmares and had tears running down my cheeks

It was Saturday meaning I had work but not till a little bit later on today so I could just lie here

I could try and get some more sleep while this dreamless peaceful state lasts

I begin to drift off to sleep again, until the rising pillow began to stir

Shoot

I forgot to investigate what that was

Then the breathing goes back to normal and I decide to take a peak to find out what my pillow was

I gingerly open my eye a crack and turn it find..

BEN

My anxiety returns and the peace fades into worry and paranoia and ... fear

I begin to shake unable to move and a panic attack starts and the shaking gets worse and my breathing begins to become shaky I knew it was only a matter of time before I couldn't breathe, but I couldn't move to get my inhaler. Then the flashbacks started

flashback*

"Why are you shaking you pathetic girl"

Slap across the face

" you need to be taught a lesson you stupid girl "

I look up as Jordan towers above me with a whip in hand

" turn round bitch "

end flashback*

Before the flashbacks could continue I felt someone sitting me up and shaking me out of it . I could feel tears running down my cheeks and my shaking continues and I can only just breathe through my chattering teeth

" Rey ?"

It's Ben

I glance towards the direction of my inhaler and he looks at it , reaches over and hands it to me .

I take a few puffs and the pressure on my lungs subsides and I look up at Ben

" thank you Ben "

I said every word perfectly for the first time in years

Not a single stutter

I flash him a small smile

And he smiles back

And my panic attack slowly stops

But the tears don't

Ben gingerly reaches him hands up and wipes my tears away and pulls me carefully into a hug

I get a fright at first but I hug back

When he pulls away he speaks

" rey ...? Who's Jordan ...?"

Bens pov

When she zoned out and started crying, she kept muttering the name , Jordan.

I was very curious and of course I wanted to know more, but I knew I had to be careful to .

" Rey ... who is Jordan " I asked

She looked at me shocked, and shook her head

' where did you learn t-that name' she stammered

"When you were crying you were saying him name" I answered

" oh " she sighed almost relived

She shook her head

" he was a-a-a bad-d p-p-person " she said

The fear in her voice confirmed that she wasn't lying.

I wanted to know more but I didn't want to upset her even more

" do you want to talk about him "

The fear in her eyes excelled

" o-oh umm i - i - i"

She paused her stuttering and took a deep breath before continuing

" h-he's t- the one who- who - who gave me e-e-very single s-s-scar I h-h-have and why-why , I cover up m-my whole body a-as much -as much as I -I -I can "

She finished and I didn't know what to say

' so he's your ex'

She nodded

She looked terrified

" are you okay rey ?"

" yea... " she replied vaguely

" we should get ready for work"

" I-okay"

" cya soon " I got up

magical time skip and place transportation courtesy of lazy author

at work

Rey arrived after me for the first time since the day she started she looked a tiny little bit happier than I've ever seen her before

It actually made me smile

We worked for a few hours and I actually saw her smile a few times

But a strange shade guy walked in and I looked over at him as he strolled towards the bar and rey who was standing next to me suddenly froze and looked up at me eyes full of fear once again

Then almost like she was braking ice she suddenly grabbed my hand with her smal gloved one and started dragging me towards the kitchen

" what's wrong?" I ask

"Ben ... it's -it's ..."

It's what I ask

" it's h-h-him ..."

I have her a puzzled look

" Ben that was Jordan "

I froze

This what the person responsible for reys pain

It was him ...

Bens pov

Reys breathing is off and I grab an inhaler of the side board and hand it to her and she looks at me with a face of gratitude, and give me a tiny smile

Maybe she's starting to trust me

But I have something else to deal with or rather , SOMEONE else

" stay here I'll deal with Jordan "

" no he's to dangerous I don't want anyone getting hurt "

" Rey look what he's done to you "

" e-e-exactly"

Well I'll go see what he wants at least "

" o-o-okay"

I'm going to kill him but I'm not telling rey that

I open the door and step out and see the man she said was Jordan sitting at the bar , waiting expectantly.

I go over trying so hard not to glare

Putting on my biggest false smile I say " welcome how can I help "

" I'm looking for someone " he says

My fists clenched under the table

" oh and who would that be " I grit my teeth to try keep thee smile

" well her name is ..."

before he could finish rey walks out , her gloves are off and she's only wearing a short sleeved shirt and a back skirt and tights with her hair half up half down , arms bare I can see so many scars , with confidence she walks over saying " Ben what's the restaurant we're going to for our date tonight , I was just thinking I should book us a table before we go " she than walks over to me and throws her arms around my neck and jump up on me slightly

Whispering in my ear " please play along " before letting go and putting her hands on my shoulders and kissing me , straight on the lips , I played along guessing she had a plan , and put my hands on her waist and kissing back but letting her lead as to not overstep her comfort zone already knowing this was crossing a huge line as it was

We parted and she blushed a little

I turned to Jordan as he bore an expression of shock mouth hanging open and eyes wide in shock .

Then he smiled evilly

" hey sweetheart , what u doing here , you are going to be in so much trouble when we get home "

trying to pretend I wasn't aware of what he had done I said " what are you talking about sir"

" is this your girlfriend " he asked

I looked down at rey who's eyes were fixed on Jordan nodded and I looked up and replied, " yes she is " carefully putting an arm round her shoulders she responded by putting and arm round my back

" well then we have a problem " he said

" what " I almost spat

" because I'm Jordan , her BOYFRIEND "

Reys pov

I was pushing myself so far right now and if it weren't for the fact that bens touch is oddly comforting, I would have had a mental breakdown

" Jordan...?"

" yes dear "

" why are you here , your not my boyfriend, I left you for a reason, what are you doing here "

"I've come to take you home "

"I don't think so " said Ben " your not taking my rey anywhere "

I nodded in agreement

" your not even going to take me home , your going to take me to living hell "

" I'm not "

" Jordan if I'd stayed any longer with u , u would have killed me"

He looked a little taken back by this

Ben cut in " sir can you please leave "

He got up, his eyes not leaving mine as he walked out " rey you better watch out , cause what's mine is mine , and your mine rey " he turned around and walked out laughing wickedly

I fell to my knees and ben kneeled down besides me

" that was quick thinking "

" yeah , I'm really sorry I couldn't think of something better, I'm sorry u had to be involved "

" no it's okay just as long as ur safe "

" thanks "

I kissed his cheek

He was blushing when I pulled away and I giggled a little ... for the first time in years

But this isn't the end and we could both feel it ...