Second time lucky

5

To simply say that I was nervous as I walked up to the familiar brick house would be an understatement. I was pretty sure that everyone in the house had a general idea of what had happened that night, and yet the thought of explaining it made my stomach turn.

I didn't have a choice though. I wouldn't let Carl have the satisfaction of breaking me anymore than he had already, and that meant I needed to get used to telling my story.

I opened the door and walked into the living room. "Anna I'm here." I yelled as I heard her shout that she would be right down.

Spencer was sitting on the couch watching football when I walked in, but he quickly turned it off and gave me a hug when he noticed me walk in.

"Hey pretty girl, it's good to see you! How's everything been?" He asked.

"It's been okay, I'm actually here to talk to Anna." I replied shakily.

"Are you okay?" His brows furrowed.

"Yeah I, it's just with the trial coming up I need to get used to talking about everything so I figured she was a good start. I just... well I haven't talked about it since so it's ..."

"Britt, honey you don't have to explain yourself to me. If I can offer some advice?" He smiled comfortingly as I waited. "Don't be afraid to show your emotions on the stand. Talking about it may make it easier but the jury is made of people, they need to know how much this affected you, not just what he did."

I hugged him again, tighter this time. "Thank you uncle Spence. Would you maybe stay while I tell Anna?" I asked.

"Of course, if that's what you want?"

"I do." I spoke into his chest.

Anna came down all bright and smiling until she took in the expression on my face of pure anxiety.

"Britt?"

Spencer let me go as I turned to her. "I want to talk to you about something." I said without much conviction.

"Anna honey," Spencer took over. "Britt wants to get more comfortable explaining what happened when she was assaulted." He explained as her face softened in what I took as pity.

It was what I was most afraid of, watching everyone pity me or feel sorry for me. I don't know what reaction I wanted, perhaps the same anger I felt or even no reaction at all.

I watched as she looked to her dad and then back at me. Something changed between their glance as she took my hand and pulled me to the couch.

"Alright, let's do it." She sounded happy, too happy. It was clearly a front but I was strangely relieved that she would go to that trouble to make this more comfortable for me.

And so I sat there on the couch beside the closest thing to a sister I had, as well as uncle Spencer and explained every little detail as if it was playing out right in front of us.

I'll admit that it was hard to do, at first I felt like I couldn't breathe, as if I was stuck in those painful moments all over again watching him violate me.

Anna and Spencer were nothing short of supportive though, handing me tissues to wipe my face as I continued to detail out the whole ordeal.

I was oddly relieved when I was done, almost as if a huge weight was lifted. Spencer just got up and walked out as Anna turned to me with a soft smile.

"Okay, did that help?" She asked.

"I think so!"

"Good because I have a whole bunch of outfits picked out for a party and I need your help!" She emphasized the last part dramatically causing me to laugh.