White Diamonds by K. Lyn Page A

blonde hair in gentle strokes.  She was beautiful, with the biggest eyes he had ever seen, and soft petite features.  He wanted to protect her from any more evil, but he didn’t know how.  He could keep her safe, he decided.  That was a start.
    “You’re safe here, Analeigh.  Sleep now.  I’ll be here when you wake up.”
    Analeigh could no longer stay awake no matter how hard she tried, so she lay in a curled up ball on the sofa as Nash placed a blanket over her.  She drifted off to sleep, and Nash went to the bedroom and did the same.
    He awoke early despite not having to work today.  He slowly made his way to the living area where Analeigh was sleeping soundly.  He quietly made coffee and sat down across from her and looked over his script for the following week.  The young woman on the sofa wasn’t the only one trying to find answers.  Her story had become much more than a film, at least to Nash.  Analeigh’s story was real, and it was occurring in real time on a daily basis in the lives of many young women just like her.
    It was almost noon when Analeigh opened her eyes to find Nash sitting in a chair across from where she lay.  She sat up quickly, and Nash hurried to her and knelt on the floor.
    “It’s okay, Analeigh.  You’re safe, remember?”
    Analeigh nodded and lay back down.
    “Sleep as long as you like, and stay here as long as you like.”
    Analeigh didn’t doubt the sincerity of the stranger, but she knew that once the film was completed, the handsome actor would return to the States.
    “I’ll bet I can find some clothes if you would like to change,” Nash offered.
    Analeigh half smiled at him but didn’t say a word.
    Nash returned with a t-shirt and jeans from one of the boxes that had been stored in his trailer, hoping the smaller size would fit her.  “If these don’t fit, there’s a box full of clothes in the back.  We’ll find something.  Would you like to take a shower?  You’ll feel better, I promise.”
    Nash’s offer was nice, but Analeigh knew she was too weak to stand up for very long, especially on the slick floor of a shower, but she feared making Nash angry with her.
    “Okay,” she replied.
    Nash laid out everything, and somehow Analeigh made her way to the bathroom in her weakened state.  She hurt all over and could barely move, but the warm water did feel good.  It wasn’t long before she began to feel weak and slumped to the floor.  Nash heard the thump but thought that Analeigh had probably dropped something.  After a few minutes, however, he went to check on her.
    “Analeigh, are you okay?”
    There was no answer.  Nash walked into the bathroom and noticed the silhouette of Analeigh’s lifeless body huddled on the floor of the shower.  He opened the door of the shower and quickly turned off the water.  Wrapping a towel around her, he tried desperately not to stare at her beautiful naked body, but she was breathtaking.  As his hands grazed her body, the softness of her skin was unexpected.  Days on the run had not damaged the silky softness of her flesh.  He wrapped her cocoon-like in the soft towel and lifted her enough so that she could lean against him.  Analeigh was embarrassed at Nash seeing her naked and she tried to curl up so he wouldn’t see more of her.  What he did see were numerous bruises and scratches covering the young woman’s body.  The bruises were in various stages of healing, but the scratches looked relatively new.
    “Analeigh, will you let me clean your cuts?”
    “I’m okay.  It’s really nothing.  I get scratched from the trees and stuff,” she said.
    Nash didn’t doubt her words, but he knew how quickly infection could set in.  He turned on the warm water again, in a slow trickle, and opened the towel.  He began to wash Analeigh and she tensed at first, but later began to relax.  She closed her eyes and lay against her strong hero, too weak to move.  Nash lightly washed Analeigh’s young breasts