Saving Belle

Chapter 25

Belle's POV

     Fiona is an amazing human being. I never thought I would meet someone as cheery and bubbly as Olivia is but I was more wrong than I've ever been in my life. She is full of joy for a nineteen-year-old. 

     After our initial introductions, Fiona took me on a quick tour of her home. Everything seemed so peaceful and safe. I found out she is an artist. There was a room dedicated to all of her art and two huge closets full of supplies. She even had one of those fire burner things for pottery outside!

     A few minutes into a conversation about one of Fiona's pieces, I notice that Fin isn't in the room. I stop what I am doing and look around for him, feeling slightly panicked without him in the room. Fiona sees my panic and comes over and places a gentle hand on my shoulder.

     "It's okay," She says in a soft voice," Fin left so we could talk alone."

     I freeze and look at her with confusion. We are talking...but I have a feeling this isn't the type of talking she was referring to. Her face looks serious like something is wrong. A pit in my stomach starts to make me feel dizzy. I back away a few steps and wait for her to say something else.

     "Look Belle," Fiona sighs, "Can we sit and talk?"

     I follow her not saying a word. Whatever is happening is making me feel freaked out. We go the next room over which is made of mostly windows to view the back yard, a full vegetable garden. We both sit in a beanbag chair across from each other, one of us sitting more relaxed than the other one.

     Fiona gazes out into the yard and starts talking, "When I was young my father's brother lived with us. He hurt me. He would come into my room whenever we were home alone and he would touch me. I tried for years to get my parents to believe me but they didn't listen and the abuse went on for years. I didn't tell fin but he knew when something was wrong. He was always an amazing brother. He even learned how to calm my panic attacks and comfort me when I couldn't handle myself. One day I couldn't take it anymore and I tried to...um...I tried to stop living. I was sent to a hospital for a long time and by the time I got out I found out that Fin was not only able to get emancipated but he found an apartment, a new school for us, and he got the police to open an investigation on our uncle."

     I try to process what she is saying. After a moment I go to tell her how sorry I am for what she went through but she silenced me quickly, "Wait, hold on, please." She takes another deep breath," The trial was hell for me Belle. The people involved don't make it easy for you at all. They will be nasty and try to throw all types of trick questions at you." 

      Fiona reaches her hand out to hold mine and I let her. I don't know if I let her do this for her sake or for mine but right now I think we both needed that little bit of comfort. "Belle, you are here today not so we could have this cute sit down, drink tea, and chat all day. Fin knows that the trial put me through hell and it can be really hard. He cares about you a lot so he asked if I would be willing to talk to you about it so you have some form of a safety net going into the trial. I thought it was stupid." She smiles at me," You are really strong Belle. You have been through hell and today I saw you smile. A genuine smile that is hard to come by when you go through something so horrible but you have that smile and that has to count for something. I think you already have your safety net with this family of yours and with Fin. You will be okay. I have no doubt about that."

      By the time she is done her speech, I am in tears.  Fiona smiles and pulls me into her comforting arms. The tears keep flowing and I burrow into her embrace as close as I can.

     "I-i-i'm scared." I can barely speak.

     I feel her head nod against my shoulder, "I know but you will get through this. Look how far you have gotten already?" She pulls away from me and holds my face in her hands. "Belle...you lived and you will keep living. And one day you will live your life to the fullest and never have to worry about this ever again. I promise you will find that happiness."

     Don't make promises you can't keep...