Brand New Day

"Thank you," Lyssa said. Then she sighed. "I probably seem really pathetic, don't I?"

Cassie shrugged looking at her shoes.

"Cassie, that's not an answer. Say yes or no. Please."

"I dunno," She mumbled shrugging again.

"You do know I'm going to take that as a yes, right?"

"You're not," Cassie said softly.

Lyssa shrugged, pulling her knees up. Running a hair through her hair, she looked at Cassie. "Can you just, like, stay in here for a while? I don't really wanna be alone."

"Sure," Cassie said.

Lyssa smiled slightly, laying back and wincing. "Everything waistline and up hurtssssss," she moaned.

Cassie gingerly hugged her freind.

Lyssa made just a small noise, because everything did hurt, but she didn't pull away. The hug was nice, and securing, and comforting, and she just really needed it.

Cassie didn't withdraw fromthe hug, just sitting there, her arms around Lyssa.

A moment later, Lyssa said, "I really wish he would stop..." Then she was crying again.

Cassie frowned, wanting to tighten her hug but not wanting to hurt Lyssa more. She wasn't good at comfortating and didn't really know what to do.

"But, Cassie, I don't know how to make him stop."

"I don't either," Cassie replied softly.

"It's hurts, Cassie, and not just the physical kind. I'm not worthless or a disgrace, right?"

"No you're not, he's just saying thatto make him fee better about his fucked up life."

"But, I am weak," Lyssa went on, "otherwise I would stop him, and I wouldn't be crying right now."

"You are not weak, and that doesn't make you weak Lyssa. Either does not being able to stop him from doing it."

"I feel like it. Not to mention powerless."

"you're not weak Lyss, and it's not your fault."

Lyssa shrugged slightly. "Feels like it."

"Lyssa, Lucius is a jerk, it's not your fault that he abuses his power."

"But, it hurts, Cassie. It really does. And I don't feel like I can stop it."