Life was beautiful.

That's what you told yourself every morning when you woke up, Jungkook's sleeping face right next to you. Life was truly beautiful. You felt carefree, loved, at peace. Happiness wouldn't even be enough to describe how you felt lately.

With Jungkook by your side, you felt powerful. He helped you get better everyday without even knowing it. You were learning how to be truly yourself and not a broken ghost of your old self. You were enjoying everything life had to give you now that your past was behind you.

You were learning how to live with your trauma, how to accept it rather than go against it. You were healing.

That's why when your make out session with Jungkook lasted longer tonight, you didn't turn him down when his hands traveled on your body like you had done these last days. You felt ready, or at least you wanted to be.

When his hands made their way under your clothes, brushing your skin softly, your body didn't stiffen. It only gave you goosebumps, just like it used to. And you knew he was cautious, you felt how his hands were touching you so carefully. But you weren't afraid anymore.

However, when you eventually had no layer of clothes to cover yourself, your bare skin finally exposed to him for the first time in three years, you still couldn't help but feel uneasy. Because you weren't the same as three years ago, the few scars covering your skin showing everything had changed.

Suddenly, you wanted to hide yourself, you wanted darkness to surround you, keeping you from his sight. All your confidence built these last few days thanks to the love Jungkook showed you every second of the day seemed to be gone just like that. One look from him and you were afraid again.

Afraid he wouldn't want you anymore. Afraid he wouldn't love you anymore. Afraid you'd be left alone once again.

His hands had left your body as soon as he felt the shift in your behavior, and he had locked eyes with you, trying to see what was wrong. And it was almost ironic, because he just had to look down to see what was wrong with you, but he only ever kept his eyes in yours.

You loved him.

"Hey," he whispered as soon as he saw your eyes shining, "We don't have to do this, okay ?"

And it just made it worse in a way. You didn't even know why you felt like crying. Maybe because your past still made you suffer way too much. Or maybe because looking into Jungkook's eyes made it so easy to forget, even though that's not what you wanted. You didn't want to forget. You wanted to live with it, embrace it, let it make you a better person.

You shook your head a little, quickly wiping your tears as if they had never been there. You were stronger than that.

"Kiss me," you breathed out, and he didn't wait a second before catching your lips in another kiss, much more meaningful.

"You're so beautiful," he breathed out into the kiss, making you smile. You didn't have to tell him anything, because he had always known what you needed to hear.

Once he felt you grow confident again, he let go of your lips to look at you, his eyes wandering on your body as if your scars weren't even there, as if it was just like it used to be. He looked back at your face, slowly caressing your cheek, reassuring you silently.

"Can I ?" he eventually asked as his hand left your cheek to stop just above one of your scars. You stared at his hand so close to the source of your discomfort, before nodding slightly.

When his hand finally touched your skin, it sent shivers down your body. He traced the scar slowly with his finger, his eyes looking at it as if it was art on your body. He proceeded to let his finger travel on every scar while you watched him, your breath getting heavier with every touch. He eventually let his mouth follow the same path after confirming you were okay with it, and the sensitivity of the skin there sent electricity in your body.

And suddenly, your scars didn't make you ashamed. Suddenly, they had become the proof that you had survived, that you were strong enough and ready to live more than ever. You were proud of your body, and of the story it told. And by the way Jungkook looked at you with adoration in his eyes sparkling with love, he seemed just as proud.

A moment later, you were lying next to him in bed, out of breath and your skin warm, your heart beating fast as you looked deep into his eyes.

A smile formed on his lips and he pulled you close to him, as if you were never close enough. He breathed in your scent, it was exhilarating.

"I love you."

It was barely above a whisper, like a thought escaping his lips without him controlling it. You moved a strand of hair hiding his eyes, your fingers resting on his cheek.

"I love you too," you whispered, his eyes looking deep into yours. It was intimate, perfect. To be so close your breaths mixed together, skin against skin, as if it was only the two of you in the world, it was perfect.

You stayed like that a long time, no one saying anything because you didn't feel the need to. You were sleepy, but everything felt so intense you couldn't even close your eyes.

"If I could, I would kiss away all of your scars," he eventually said, breaking the silence with his soft words. You didn't answer immediately, your heart beating so fast in your chest you could feel its echo in your ears.

"You already did."

And just like that, everything seemed to be solved. It felt like the conclusion of something much bigger.

And at this very moment, in the arms of the love of your life, you felt more alive than ever. Eternal. Like nothing would ever bring you down, because you had already faced the hardest. You were free. Free from your past. Free from your insecurities. Free from every fear.

Free.

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omg guys the end is so close i'm so sad
i think i'll only write one or two more chapters :(