the selection

Chapter 21-The letters

I was flying home for Aaron's funeral. It was a sad time. I didn't wear anything fancy. I came into the private airport wearing black sweatpants, a black tank, and a black jacket. I wore my dirty black vans. I had grabbed from my closet at the castle a simple black dress to wear to the funeral. My hair was put behind me in a simple ponytail. People were screaming for my name and holding up signs for me, camera crews were trying to get a shot of me, but I didn't listen or face any of them. It wasn't until I was pulled aside by what seemed like a seven

"I'm sorry for your loss, I heard your presentation and I wanted to say thank you. This rose is for your brother, and this card is for you"

"miss, you really must get going"

The women left as I tucked the card in my pocket and the rose in my bag. I had continued to walk until I got to the private plane. I would be staying at my home for the next week, Adrian had originally did five days, but after arguing with him, he gave me a week. I had got on the plane and I had sat down. I sat down at the seat where I had originally sat when I met Nixie and Lauren and to think that I'm now visiting my family, Lauren fell in love with another person, and Nixie is still in it with me. I had pulled a book that I had taken with me from the library. I had read the book and slept until we got there. Once I stepped off the plane, there were more cameras ready to try to get my appearance, I was quickly getting into the car when another person pulled me aside

"Thank you for your presentation, I never thought someone would speak out about this"

"you changed my life"

"are you all sexual assault and abuse survivors?"

"yea, you're presentation was amazing, it gave me so much hope"

"miss you must get going-"

I didn't turn around, I just put my hand up to signal him to stop. "I'm glad you guys were able to find hope in it, I ddin't know how people would react, but this, this telling me that I changed your life, and that I gave you hope, it's why I did it"

They all smiled "can we have a hug". I nodded and all three of them hugged me. "how old were you when you got raped or abused?"

"17 though my relationship lasted for three years"

"15 mine lasted for a year and a half"

"16"

"here, we wanted to give you this"

I smiled at all of them as I wiped the tears in my eyes and I waved goodbye and grabbed the card they handed to me. I stepped into the car as the car drove off. We ended up at our house and again there were more cameras out. I quickly walked past them, not answering any questions just knocking on the door as mom opened up. She quickly let me in as she closed the door and hugged me tightly.

"I watched your presentation, it was beautiful"

"thanks"

"you looked amazing. And your presentation was beautiful, I was crying when you told us you did certain things to protect us." Bea commented

"even everything you went through, you still showed empathy to the abusers telling them that they deserved a little more than what we give them now" Dad said

I laughed and smiled as tears trickled down my face. Mom and Dad let me go as I hugged Katelyn. I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes as I hugged her. "I'm so proud of you, I don't think I could ever express in words the amount of courage it took to do that"

"thanks Kate, and I'm sorry for arguing about Jackson"

"oh Cece, don't I understand why, and fully why, on the presentation where you explained that you fought against me because you didn't want me to go through the pain that you went through, I was sobbing from your presentation. I had chills throughout my body when you showed the physical abuse and self harm scars."