Letting it go
VIOLET
When I opened my eyes, the world around me felt blurry and disjointed, like waking from a nightmare only to realize it wasn’t a dream. My body ached, and the faint sting of a cut on my arm reminded me of where I’d been, of everything that had happened.
“Hey, she’s waking up,” a familiar voice said softly, drawing my attention.
I blinked against the light filtering through the window and turned my head. Ryan’s face came into focus first, his dark eyes filled with concern. He was sitting beside me, his jaw clenched like he was fighting some invisible battle within himself.
“Violet,” he said, his voice low but there was a hint of relief there. “You’re safe. It’s over.”
I tried to speak, but my throat felt dry, and all I managed was a faint rasp. Ryan reached for a glass of water on the nightstand and held it out to me. His hand brushed mine as I took it, and the warmth of his touch steadied me in a way I couldn’t explain.
As I sipped the water, I noticed another presence in the room. Ashley. She was perched on a chair near the window, her expression a mix of worry and anger.
“Thank God,” she muttered when our eyes met. “How're you feeling now”
“How…” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. “How..how did you find out where I was?”
“What matters right now is you getting better,” Ryan interjected, his jaw clenched tightly. His dark eyes burned with a mix of anger and something I couldn’t quite place—something fierce and protective. “Those bastards who did this to you, who caused you pain… they’ll pay for it. I swear it, Mouse.”
The anger in his voice was unmistakable, like a low growl vibrating through the room. He leaned forward, his hand brushing mine again. My fingers, instinctively, curled around his. For a moment, the tension in him seemed to ease, but only slightly.
“You don’t have to…” I began, but he cut me off, his gaze intense.
“I do,” he said firmly. “You’re not going through this alone.”
Ashley stood and began pacing the room, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “We should go to the police,” she said, her voice sharp. “Max, Evelyn, Luke—every one of them should face charges for what they did. They don’t deserve to get away with this.”
“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head.
Both of them froze, staring at me like I’d grown a second head.
“What?” Ryan’s voice was cold, a dangerous edge creeping into it. “Why the hell not?”
“Violet, they kidnapped you!” Ashley added, her hands gesturing wildly. “They hurt you, tied you up like some hostage—”
“If we involve the police,” I began, my voice trembling, “then Luke… Luke will be implicated too.”
Ryan’s expression darkened instantly, his lips curling into a scowl. “And?”
Ashley looked equally horrified. “Violet, he betrayed you. Betrayed us. How can you protect him after everything he’s done?”
“I’m not protecting him!” I snapped, my voice breaking under the strain. “I hate him for what he did. For selling me out, for betraying us. But if the police get involved, they’ll find out about the exam stuff, and he’ll be expelled. His whole life will be ruined.”
Ryan let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “You’re kidding, right? You’re defending the guy who put you in harm’s way? Who handed you over to those bastards?”
I shook my head, my vision blurring with tears. “I’m not defending him. I’m saying… he’s already paying for it. He’s remorseful, Ryan. I saw it in his eyes. He regrets it.”
Ryan’s fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. “Regret doesn’t erase what he did. It doesn’t erase what could’ve happened to you.”
Ashley’s voice softened, but her stance remained firm. “Violet, we were his friends, but he made his choices. He crossed a line that can’t be uncrossed. You can’t keep forgiving people who hurt you like this.”
I wiped my eyes, frustration bubbling inside me. “Luke… he was our friend once. He’s not beyond saving. And I'm safe now, that's enough”
“Enough?” Ryan’s voice cracked with disbelief. He leaned closer, his dark eyes boring into mine. “You can’t survive the chaos of this world like that. People will tear you apart.”
“Maybe,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “But I can’t just turn my back on someone who was my friend”
Ryan stared at me for a long moment, his jaw tight. Finally, he let out a frustrated breath and turned away, raking a hand through his hair. “You’re impossible,” he muttered.
I looked down at my hands, guilt and relief swirling inside me. Ryan’s protectiveness, Ashley’s anger—they were both justified. But I couldn’t let Luke’s mistakes destroy his life completely.
Ryan turned back to me, his expression softer now. He crouched down beside the bed, his hand finding mine again. “I don’t like this, Mouse,” he said quietly. “But if you’re sure this is what you want… I’ll let it go. For now.”
I nodded, tears slipping down my cheeks. “Thank you.”
Ashley sighed, rubbing her temples. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Violet. Because if he gets another chance to hurt you…”
“He won’t,” I said. “He won’t get another chance.”
“Promise me something” Ryan.said,his eyes locked on mine. “If he ever steps out of line again, you’ll let me handle it. No arguments. No excuses.”
“I promise,” I whispered.
He didn’t look satisfied, but he nodded. “Good,” he muttered. “Because I’m not letting anything like this happen to you again. Ever.”
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken words. I leaned back against the pillows, exhaustion tugging at me. Despite the tension, I felt a sense of safety with Ryan by my side—a safety I wasn’t sure I deserved but desperately needed.
“You’re too good, Mouse,” Ryan said finally, his voice low. “Too good for a world like this. And it scares the hell out of me.”
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