[A/N: Please listen to audio on the top/side (depending on whether you're on mobile or computer) while reading the story. Thank you.]

  "Hey, Mia? I don't- I don't think this is working out, we can't keep doing this, it's not-it's not normal. I-I've found this guy, Brenton, I think you know him? Yeah, he's really sweet to me and nice, a-and I like him, I really do. I don't- oh, Mia, this is so hard for me to say. Please, can you meet me at Pippington's today at five? I need to discuss this with you face-to-face, because I-I just... oh, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I can't- *muffled hiccupping* God, I'm so e-emotional and this is just your voicemail! Brenton-Brenton's with me now, he can't hear me like this *nervous, slightly hysterical giggling*. I-I guess I'll just see you later."

Sent by: Thea Jacobson

Received: 12/01/2013, 3:24 p.m.

  "M-Mia? I-I know you're mad, but please, please just come see me, I-I can't stand not seeing you and I need- I need to know that we broke it off on cordial terms, please Mia, don't leave me hanging! I-I waited for you for an hour, but you didn't appear, so I-I left, please don't blame me! Remember h-how we used to watch Once Upon A Time on your couch? Yeah, w-we can do it again, Brenton says it's okay, we-we're still friends, right? Mia? *sharp inhale* Okay. Okay, I'll j-just give you some space first."

Sent by: Thea Jacobson

Received: 12/01/2013, 6:32 p.m.

  "Um, hi, this is Brenton James. Look, Mia, Thea's been really upset over you these past few days and as her boyfriend, I'm really worried. Can you just come meet her or something, and break it off properly? I know you used to be her girlfriend, but honestly, that's just disgusting. I'm glad that she decided to come to her senses and find a proper man to date, instead of... you get the gist. Anyway, I hope that you'll come to your senses and get yourself a good, honest boyfriend. In the meantime, I hope that you'll sever all ties with Thea. I don't want her to be... corrupted again.I hope that you'll respect our wishes. Thank you."

Sent by: Brenton James

Received: 13/01/2013, 3:10 a.m.

 "Mia, w-why was Scarlett King with you today, at the park? I saw you with her by the pond, you were feeding the s-swans, like we used to. S-She held your hand, a-and you turned and smiled at her, and then- and then she began playing with your beautiful hair. You know t-that she's known for being promiscuous, right? She'll cheat on you, I know she will, Mia, listen to me, p-please! Don't be with her! She's not- She's not good enough for you! I-I can't... *shuddering gasp*"

Sent by: Thea Jacobson

Received: 16/01/ 2013, 5:57 p.m.

 "Mia, wh-what did you mean by that voicemail you sent last night? I-I'm sorry for making you mad, I just- oh, all I'm good for is messing up, aren't I? It's j-just, everytime I think of what we had, how we used to be so happy, I just start weeping like a little baby. I'm s-sorry, Mia. I won't bother you so much anymore. I mean, I'm h-happy with Bren, but it just- it just doesn't compare to what we had. Oh, Mia, I miss you so much. But I love Bren, and- oh, I'm so confused! Please, Mia, can we be friends, like we used to? I need both you and Bren in my life, please, Mia!"

Sent by: Thea Jacobson

Received: 17/01/2013, 12:02 a.m.

 "Mia, please, help me, Brenton is- Brenton is- *long, drawn-out scream* *shattering* Mia, I-"

Sent by: Thea Jacobson

Received: 19/01/2013, 8:38 p.m.

 "Mia... help... I can't take this any longer."

Sent by: Thea Jacobson

Received: 20/01/2013, 11:42 a.m.

 "Mia, I believe that I've already warned you about contacting my girlfriend. This is my last warning- get away from Thea before I'm forced to take drastic measures. Thea is in perfectly safe hands and she will stay that way. Forever."

Sent by: Brenton James

Received: 21/01/2013, 9:05 a.m.

 "Mia, Brenton-Brenton's been tracking me, I can't talk for long, he'll know. Please, listen to me just this once, Brenton's dangerous, don't trust him! Find an authority figure, get a restraining order. I can't- I can't do much on my own, he'll- he'll... *sobbing* Help me, just this once, please- I swear I-I won't bother you anymore in the future, please, Mia, I don't know how long more I can hold out. I- *sharp scream* *line cuts off abruptly*

Sent by: Unknown number

Received: 24/01/2013, 2:59 a.m.

 "Mia Johnson, stay away from my girlfriend! I know what you're trying to do, you're trying to turn her into one of your kind again! Well, I won't allow it. I've been reteaching her, but it appears that you have still found a way to corrupt her mind. I know your ways, Mia Johnson, and trust me, I will put a stop to this. Your kind don't deserve to be on this earth. Go back to whatever cave you crawled out from, like the good dog you are. You don't belong here, scum."

Sent by: Brenton James

Received: 24/01/2013, 4:34 p.m.

  "Mia, this is going to be the last time that I'l ever get to talk to you, so please, please, just listen. H-He's out right now, otherwise I would never be able to talk. I-I'm using a f-friend's phone, and I-I temporarily disabled the tracker-bracelet on my leg. I-I only have a minute or so, h-he thinks I'm just using the toilet. He-he says that he'll kill me if I-I ever try to leave him, but, oh, Mia, when he's not beating me he's so sweet and kind, and he always-always promises to change. I want to b-believe him, Mia, I really do, but I'm just so, so, tired. Please Mia, help me. You've always been the onl-*line cuts off*

Sent by: Private number

Received: 01/02/2013, 10:09 a.m.

#####

 "Oh, Thea, why would I ever blame you? This love, our love, was destined to die out from the start. It wasn't strong enough, it never was, and I was a fool to believe as such. I love you, Thea, I love you so, so, much. If Brenton makes you happy, then I'll bless you. I can't make it to Pippington's, I have something on today. I'm sorry. Maybe another day, I guess. I love you."

Voicemail failed to send on 12/01/2013, 4:00 p.m.

 "Thea? Oh god, I'm so sorry, my calls aren't going through and neither are my messages or my voicemails. I think- did you block me? I don't think you did, so I-I'll just continue recording these voicemails for you. I love you."

Voicemail failed to send on 12/01/2013, 5:13 p.m.

  "T-Thea? Are you there? I miss you so much, I-I don't know how I ever thought I'd survive without you, but I know I-I can't be so selfish, if Brenton makes you happy, then I should-I should bless you, shouldn't I? I just- I just want to know what it feels to hold you in my arms again, and I know Brenton told me to stay away from you, but I can't, Thea, I-I really can't. I love you."

Voicemail failed to send on 13/01/2013, 3:45 a.m.

  "Oh, Thea, I admit that I-I saw you at the park, and I wanted-wanted to rush over there and kiss you but I saw how-how happy you were with Brenton, and I couldn't bear to do that. Scarlett and I are just good friends, I mean, she's a great girl but she'll just never compare to you. But, oh, I can't tell you all these because it'd just break you and Brenton apart and I-I don't want to break up a perfect relationship. He's right. I'm not-not normal. Still, I love you."

Voicemail deleted on 16/01/2013, 6:00 p.m.

  "Thea, I'm sorry, but I'd prefer it if you stay with Brenton. He evidently makes you happier, and I don't wish to make you miserable by forcing you to be with me. What we had was great, but it's over. Thank you for the good times, I'll be gone from your life now."

Sent by: Unknown number

Received: 16/01/2013, 7:56 p.m.

  "Thea, I'm so sorry for hurting you, I just- I just don't know what to do... It hurts to know that I can only let you see this-this cruel side of me, but I'm doing this to protect you, please understand that. I can only hope that someday, you'll see all these voicemails. I love you."

Voicemail failed to send on 17/01/2013, 1:23 a.m.

  "Thea? Oh god, Thea, answer me, what's wrong?"

Voicemail failed to send on 19/01/2013, 8:40 p.m.

  "Thea, what's happening, please talk to me, you're not answering even when I call on a payphone like before, Thea, please, don't do this to me!"

Voicemail failed to send on 20/01/2013, 11:43 a.m.

  "Thea, oh god, Brenton isn't-isn't- *broken sobbing* He-he left a voicemail today, something's really wrong, Thea, please, I can't help you if you- if you don't tell me! Thea, I love you, don't do this to me!"

Voicemail failed to send on 21/01/2013, 9:10 a.m.

  "Thea? Thea, why did you cut off suddenly? Oh god, he is, isn't he..."

Voicemail failed to send on 24/01/2013, 3:00 a.m.

  "Brenton Lucas James, get away from Thea! When I find you, so help me, I will destroy you! She doesn't deserve what you're doing to her! I don't care what you do to me, just leave Thea alone!"

Voicemail failed to send on 24/01/2013, 5:01 p.m.

  "Thea? No, Thea, don't leave me please... *hysterical sobbing* I-I'm calling the authorities, hang in there Thea, I-I'll help you! I love you so much, I can't lose you, not again..."

Voicemail failed to send on 01/02/2013, 10:11 a.m.

#####

  "Mia. I... I just can't thank you enough. Brenton was jailed yesterday for domestic abuse, and I believe that I-I won't have to suffer again. You said that we could get back together again, now he's gone, but I-I don't think that's possible. I'm too broken, too scarred, too imperfect for you. Brenton- Brenton took my innocence, and I don't want to be reminded of his sneer, his drunken lashings, his abuse of me everytime-everytime *choked sob* you touch me or come close to me. I don't want to see you hurt when I- when I recoil from you or flinch when I see you coming. Truth is, these scars- these scars will never heal. *rueful laugh* I don't want you to have to be with a broken beyond repair person, don't want you to-to waste your time on someone like-like me. *muffled opening of pill bottle* I'm leaving now, forever. Mia, you've always been the only-only one in my heart. Thank you for-for everything. I'll always be watching over you. I love you, Mia. *line cuts off*"

Sent by: Thea Jacobson

Received: 14/02/2013, 12:00 a.m.

#####
A/N
This story is a one-off thing, there will be no other chapters beside possible bonus chapters. I've decided that I won't continue Illumination, because Bruised and Scarred was meant to be a one-off thing as well, and I believe that a sequel will only ruin the story. However, I do intend to continue writing short stories like this and Bruised and Scarred, because these sorts of stories are written when I have the most inspiration. Illumination's plot (if you want to go write it yourself though I doubt so haha) was that Cadence was meant to be a schizophrenic serial killer. She would give lethal injections to those she believed worth 'saving', under the guidance of her romantic interest/ figment of her imagination, before hacking the body into pieces and burying it in a nearby forest. The story would end with Cadence being administered lethal injection herself after being caught.

Anyway. This story deals with a few touchy issues, such as homosexuality, homophobes and domestic abuse. I myself am a firm supporter of the LGBT community, and I believe that lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transexuals, pansexuals, transgenders, anything, all are acceptable. It doesn't matter what your sexuality is. At the end of the day, we're all human, and we're all equal. Domestic abuse is also a very serious issue, and I'm not trying to glamourise it. Domestic abuse leaves both physical and mental scars, and most of the time, isn't found out in time.

Okay, enough with the depressing talk. I hope that you've enjoyed this short story, and look forward to upcoming bonus chapters!