“Give me an example,” he said.
“I’m very clumsy.”
He sighed. “Pequeña, I don’t think you’re as clumsy as you think you are. I think they’ve made you feel less than you are.”
She shrugged.
“Do you want to go back with them when you get out of here?”
That was the last thing she wanted, but as much as she wanted to be with Cesar, she couldn’t face the disappointment he was sure to feel later. It was better to be alone than face his rejection of her down the road.
“I think it’s best that I move out on my own.” There was no way she could live with her family ever again after what they did.
“I see. Look at me.”
She couldn’t look at him.
“Now, chica.”
She reluctantly turned her head
“I want you to think about moving in with me.”
Her heart felt like it was ripping from her chest. The joy at the thought of being with him and the sadness of knowing it would never work made her emotionally unstable, and she just felt like crying.
“I … I don’t think I can.”
****
Cesar saw the acute desolation she tried to hide from him, and it just made him more determined to get her into his house and take care of her. He knew she wanted to be with him as much as he wanted it, but the damage her family had done to her self-esteem went deeper and was more profound than he first thought. Now, he’d have to find a way to get her to want to stay with him.
“How about you come home with me until you decide what you want to do?”
She looked up at him, and he almost flinched at the pain and acute grief in her eyes.
“I…”
“I’ll help you any way I can, pequeña. Give me a chance.”
“I … okay.”
He relaxed and smiled. “Good. We’ll get you healthy first and then go from there.” Hopefully, after she healed, she’d know him enough to want to stay with him.