Imperfectly Real (A Series of Imperfections) by A.E. Woodward

pulling the covers around her tightly. She sighed and closed her eyes, obviously hoping to get some rest, but I wanted more … needed more. I couldn’t let this conversation stop there. For some reason—whatever it was—I was here to help her and I intended on doing so, no matter the cost.
    “Yeah, but what’s the meaning to you?
    She opened her eyes and immediately began to plead with them. I could tell she didn’t want to open up to me, but I wanted to know what made Elizabeth Sloan tick.
    “It obviously means something to you, Liz, or you wouldn’t have it permanently marked on your body.”
    “I … I … well it’s hard to explain really …” Her face reddened.
    “Try me,” I urged, hoping to gain some insight.
    “It means so much to me, I don’t even know where to begin.” She paused and carefully contemplated her words. “For starters, I guess I feel as though no one really loves me.”
    “Mason loves you.” I offered, hating myself for even mentioning his name.
    “No, he doesn’t,” she spat. I was shocked by the hatred in her voice. “He loves the façade that I am. He loves the mini version of my mother I have become.” She paused and took a deep breath. “I guess the tattoo just goes against everything I am, but all that I want to be. I want to be me … but I’m not. I want someone to love me for me … but how is that even possible when I don’t even know, or love, myself.”
    Propping myself up on my elbow, I grabbed her hand in mine and looked into her eyes. “I know you.”
    She forced a smile, obviously appreciating my display of solidarity. “I do feel more like myself when you’re around, that’s for sure. I don’t know, Tyler, but I think you just might be the key to helping me find myself again.”
    I’m not sure if it was the fact that I hadn’t slept or if she was just being very evasive, but I still didn’t understand where she was going with this. “Tell me more,” I pleaded, kissing her neck. The more I understood her the more I knew I was done for, but I didn’t care.
    “I know everyone thinks I’m a horrible person, I’m not blind to that. But I built these walls up around me for a reason.” She tried to slide away from me, but I tightened my grip around her waist and pulled her closer. She let out a sigh. “Before I say anything else you have to promise to not judge me or run away screaming.”
    “It’s too late for that,” I promised as I pulled her hand up and kissed it.
    “Emma always disliked me. Growing up I wanted to be just like her. I idolized her. But she never wanted me around. She pushed me onto my mother. I had no choice in the matter … I was destined to be like Mom whether I wanted to or not. I’m not as strong as Emma. I needed to belong with someone.”
    Guilt washed over me knowing that I could have helped that little girl back then. Somehow along the way I could have made her mine—promised her that it would be okay. Tell her to fight to keep herself afloat. But I hadn’t. I’d left, and never looked back.
    “I know that you’re thinking you could have changed things for me, and that maybe you could have helped me. But what you don’t know is that you already have, Tyler.”

 
     
     
     
    Breathe in. Breathe out. Just keep breathing.
     
    Her back is cold. She keeps telling herself it’s fine. He likes her. It will be over soon. Then she can forget this ever happened.
     
    Put it in the vault.
     
    Just another secret.
     
    She woke with a start. Sweat poured off her forehead. She looked over, but he was still asleep. Thank God, it was just a dream.
     
    But, she’d lied to herself.
     
    She’d never forgotten … and she probably never would. She should just come to grips with that. This was her …
     
    Whether she liked it or not.

 
     
    For two whole days Elizabeth and I pretended that we were the only people in the world. We never left our hotel room. We ordered takeout when we got hungry, and only got dressed