the nightingale

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Note: i'm not sure how pressing charges works so bare with me. i'm sure plenty of this is not accurate but i'm trying my best :)
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Since it was Louis' turn to make breakfast that day, when he woke up, he started on making waffles. He trusted Harry not to get angry with him for a smaller breakfast. Louis loved waffles, so he prayed Harry did too.

Harry was sleeping in a little, and Louis felt bad because he thought it was from dealing with him and Scott. He promised himself to make a bigger breakfast next time.

Harry woke up shortly after, and came into the kitchen to the smell of delicious food. "Good morning. Smells good in here."

Louis beamed. "Morning, Hazza. I made waffles! Is that okay?"

Harry smiled and sat down. "That's more than okay. I love waffles."

Louis was relieved. He could remember countless times when Scott was unhappy about the breakfast he made. He sat down too and began to eat.

They ate breakfast together while having fun and pleasant conversation until Harry mentioned the big news.

"So today I think we should go to the police station to press charges on Scott," Harry said, coughing a little. "The sooner the better. All we gotta do is go down and tell them what happened, and they should decide whether to press or not. I'm sure we have it in the bag. We have pictures of your injuries."

Louis nodded and looked down. He was so nervous. He wasn't sure if he was quite ready to tell someone about what happened.

"If you're not ready, then that's fine too," Harry said and grabbed his hand. "But if you are, I'll be there the entire time, okay? Just pretend you're talking to me."

That made him feel a little better. He knew that knowing Scott wouldn't be able to hurt him or anyone else anymore would fix a lot of his fears. So he was going to do it.

"I'll do it," Louis said. "Let's go down."

So after breakfast, they got ready. They made sure to look extra nice. Harry took his camera with him to show the photos. Harry held the door open for Louis to get in the car like a gentleman.

Harry drove to the police station. He could tell Louis was shaking in nerves. Harry parked and grabbed Louis' hand.

"It's gonna be okay, Lou," Harry said, squeezing. "I'll be with you the whole time."

Louis nodded. "I know."

Harry kissed his head before getting out. Louis got out and looked up at the station. He wasn't sure if he could do this. Would they even believe him?

They went inside and sat down in the waiting room. It took about twenty minutes until someone came in to get them.

"Hi," said a middle-aged woman. "I'm Sarah. I'll be talking to you today."

"Hi," Harry said and sat down. "I'm Harry and this is Louis."

Harry put a hand on Louis' shoulder. Louis blushed shyly. He was so embarrassed. He never thought this would ever happen.

"What can I help you with?" Sarah asked.

"We're here to file a police report," Harry said. "and hopefully press charges."

"Okay," Sarah said. "Who are you reporting?"

Harry looked at Louis to speak. Louis sniffed. He really needed to pluck up the courage to talk about it.

He got the courage.

"M-My ex-boyfriend," Louis stuttered and teared up. "He — he hurt me. He abused me."

Sarah frowned. "He did? Can you tell me his name and what exactly happened?"

Louis sniffed and nodded. "His name is Scott Bennett. We started dating when I was eighteen. He — he was fine for a few months. He tricked me to stop working. He forced me to stop seeing my friends and family."

Sarah was recording everything he was saying. "Keep going."

"He hit me. He beat me. H-He did it all the time," Louis choked. "He would kick me. Sometimes breaking my ribs. He'd yank my hair and drag me up the steps or across the floor. He gave me a concussion once."

Louis stopped talking, tears rolling silently down his face.

"He also... He also," Louis started to cry, not able to hold it in anymore. "He'd tell me I'm fat. He wouldn't let me eat any sweets like candy or cake. He controlled everything I ate. Scott would tell me I'm worthless every day. For a long time I thought about killing myself. But... but I couldn't do that to my family... or — or Harry."

Louis sobbed and that's when Harry held him.

"Shhh, it's okay. You're doing an amazing job," Harry soothed and wiped his own tears. Harry had no idea Louis had those thoughts.

Sarah patted his hand. "Thank you for talking to me. You're very brave in coming here today. Most victims hide their abuse. Some are too scared or embarrassed to seek help. But I promise I'll help you. We believe all victims here. We'll press charges and set up a trial. We'll help you find a good lawyer if you don't have one already. All we need now, Louis, is your ex's address."

Louis told her the address and wiped his tears. It was all over.

"Good job today, Louis," Sarah said with a smile. She shook his hand. "We'll call you when we get the news, okay? In the meantime we'll look for a good lawyer for you."

"Okay," Louis nodded and sniffed.

Harry and Louis stood up. Louis hugged Harry's arm, refusing to let go.

"Thank you so much," Harry said and bed her goodbye.

"You're welcome. Have a good day, you two," she said and waved them goodbye.
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"I'm so proud of you, Lou," Harry said in the car. "You did a great thing in there, telling her everything that happened."

Louis smiled sadly and wiped his eyes. "Thank you."

"I say we get ice cream to celebrate," Harry said, and drove to Dairy Queen.

"Okay!" Louis said excitedly. "I want a hot fudge sundae!"

Harry nodded and ordered when they went through the drive-through. Harry got a banana split while Louis got a small hot fudge sundae. Louis ate his on the way home, holding Harry's banana split on his lap for him to eat when they got home.

When they got home and inside, Harry ate his ice cream. He loved banana splits.

Louis giggled when he noticed Harry had a dot of ice cream on his nose.

"You have some on your nose!" Louis said and wiped it off with his thumb.

Harry laughed and blushed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Louis said and laid his head on his shoulder.

The air felt much lighter now that Louis told a authority figure about what had happened to him for almost three years. He was safe now. He was free. He just prayed Scott got what he deserved, and was sent to prison for the rest of his life.

Louis was now safe with Harry. He lived with him and got to spend time with him all day. He got to see his dog, and he was sure Harry would allow him to see his family and friends again too. He was happy. He hasn't been this happy in years.

There wasn't much else he could ask for.
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They didn't get a call until a few days later.

Harry answered the call because Louis was too shy. Sarah was the one on the phone. She told him that they arrested Scott. Harry and Louis were both surprised they didn't see or hear the cop car outside. She also said that he is now out on probation and is house bound. She told them the trial would start the twentieth of May.

Louis was one step closer to freedom.
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