After the movie, David turned the lights back on so that we could talk. Noticing something, he grabbed my wrists and held them tight.

I tried to pull my hands away, but he could feel the nuances of my movements and he countered every one.

"I don't mind the scars, Jaidyn. I'd just like to know how they happened."

I bit my bottom lip.

The tremors were back in my hands now, as they had been the morning when I told him everything about my past. Well, almost everything.

I began, slowly, not wanting to go into detail on everything. Not tonight, anyway.

"My step-dad... He was angry because I was late getting home. I should have been there so that I could watch my sisters, but I had forgotten my backpack at school. I needed to get it because of a project I had due the next day. I figured I could slip out and be back in ten minutes. That plan worked, until one of my teachers stopped to talk to me. I tried to cut her off politely, but she was interested in talking to me, and at that time in my life I craved any positive attention I could get. I was a half an hour late..."

Taking a breath I continued... "My Dad got mad. He tied me up in the basement with a piece of twine. I tried to break free, but it was too tight. The scars are from my struggling. The twine cut into my wrists. I wore long sleeves to school the rest of my high school career. During college, I told everyone I was a cutter."

I shrugged. "It seemed more 'cool' than to let people know that my step-dad used to tie me up in the basement when he got ticked at me."

Looking up I glanced at Nanci and then at David who was now pacing in the living room.

"Sit down David. You're intimidating when you pace." This came from Nanci who had a worried look on her face.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to—"

Abruptly, I was cut off my David's strong words.

"No. No apologies. No explanations. I don't need them tonight."

Impulsively, I hugged him. That surprised him and Nanci, as I had never been one to offer physical affection, especially when men intimidated me.

David had the grace to put the cup back in my hand that he had taken out when he grabbed my wrists.

"Finish your coffee."

I did so, thanking Nanci when she came in with a warm up.

A lull came in the conversation after the heavy news that I had dropped on Nanci and David. I silently chastized myself for going into too much detail.

Nanci suggested that we go to bed and I was more than happy to comply. Whispering a shy goodnight, I made my way upstairs and climbed into bed, not even bothering to change my clothes.