Hickeys

Nine years. It has been nine years and those memories still give me tremors. As if I could still feel the torture, the pain on my skin. My own screams still echoed in my head.

Closing my eyes, I tightened my arms around him.

As if sensing the tension in my body, he drew slow soothing circles on my back with his hand. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me, love. There's no hurry. You can take your time."

I let out a sigh and shook my head. "No. You've shared your secrets with me. Now it's my turn."

"You don't have to." 

"But I want to. You have every right to know."

"Are you sure, love? You can tell me later if you want," he asked, his tone was careful.

I was touched by his gesture. I knew he was eager to know the secret behind my scar, but still, he was giving me a chance to back out. But I couldn't back out now. I had to tell him.