Every Rose Has Its Thorns

"Well?" Derek demanded again."How long were you going to keep this from me?" Dahlia hesitated. She knew he was going to find out eventually, but she'd hoped that she would be the one to tell him. She didn't think he'd actually read her journal! But right now, Derek had every right to be angry. They promised each other that they would always be honest with each other, and she had broken that promise.

"Derek, I wanted to tell you, but I didn't want you to look at me differently. You have to understand that I didn't want to do those things! He forced me!" Dahlia cried. Derek said nothing. He knew Dahlia was telling the truth. He read it for himself, and his anger was directed more at Stackz, not at Dahlia. He was just hurt that she kept it from him. It would have been a lot to adjust, but he would have understood. It wasn't her fault.

"Dahlia, I love you, no matter what you did in the past. I just wish that you would have told me. I just can't believe that someone would do that to their own daughter!" Derek replied. Dahlia broke down in tears, and Derek went to console. He had to be careful not to upset her, for the baby's sake.

"Derek, I'm so sorry." Dahlia sobbed into Derek's shoulder. Derek kissed her head and stroked her hair.

"Shh, it's okay, sweetheart. We'll get through this." He tilted her chin up so that their eyes met. "I love you." Dahlia felt her heart ache. She loved Derek with all of her heart, and knew that Derek loved her, but in her heart there was no way that they could ever work, now that Derek knew the truth. Even though he was understanding and didn't hold it against her, what if his family found out? Or his friends? She didn't want Derek to suffer that kind of humiliation and shame. She loved him too much.

"Derek, I love you too." She replied. With that, they went to bed and fell asleep in each other's arms

. ***The Next Day***

Another day of school had ended, and Derek had come home. Dahlia had told him she wasn't feeling well, so she stayed home. "Babe?" He called upstairs, but received no response. Maybe she's asleep he thought as he headed up the stairs to go check on her. When he got to the room, he was shocked to discover that all of Dahlia's things were gone. All was left was a note, with Dahlia's engagement ring on top of it.

Derek, my love, I know that it will break your heart for you to read this, but I have to do this. But just know that it is not because I don't love you. I have never loved any man as much as I loved you. Not even my own father. You are the most wonderful man that I have ever met, but I don't deserve you. Girls like me don't deserve happiness. We deserve to suffer and be alone. I can't bear to put you through the humiliation of your family or friends knowing that your fiancee was a prostitute. I love you way too much. I know it hurts now, and it will take some time, but you will realize that it was for the best. Don't worry, our baby will be fine. But do not try to find us. It's better this way. I will always love you. -Dahlia.

Derek tried his hardest to hold the tears inside, but he couldn't. He sat on the bed with his face in his hands and cried. He had never loved anyone the way he loved Dahlia, and she broke his heart. But he was not going to give up on them. Dahlia, I'm going to find you, so we can be a family, as it should be! He thought to himself.