Seeking Escape

44: Moment of Truth

*** Quinn's POV ***

"I know this wasn't necessarily what you may have been looking for today, but it needed to be said. Thank you to those of you who stick with us. There are good things to come." I said, pressing my lips to Joyce's temple. I could feel her nervous tremble as she fought to keep it together just a little longer.

Mir gave me a nod and the little red light went off. I encased Joyce in my arms fully and just let us catch our breath together for a moment. She eventually stirred. "It's over?"

"It's over, baby. You did amazing." I reassured her.

She gave me a small smile, although her eyes were tired as she gazed up at me. "You made it easy."

I returned her smile and slanted my mouth to meet hers. There was relief in our kiss even though we didn't yet know how our message would be received. I wanted to stay like this, shielding her from the nastiness I knew existed and would be hurled at us both. I hoped the good would outshine the bad.

With the help of Mir, Joyce's therapist, Neil, and a couple of writers in the industry, we carefully constructed our narratives for the world. Mine told the story of an attractive kid with his sights set on a lucrative modeling career. Swayed by an agent he thought that he could trust and what he thought was mutual attraction, he found himself ensnared in the industry with his dignity held as leverage.

I reiterated the baselessness of the claim that any of these folks were involved in trafficking. The police had done their due diligence and found the accusations to be false. I spoke to how I started to make my mark in my accidental profession, giving credit to those who helped me along the way. I emphasized my commitment to empowering women, ensuring pleasure, and being authentic. I talked about how my single mom had instilled a healthy sense of pride and respect in me. I also shared how she responded when she found out.

I made sure not to disparage the industry but rather to call out those areas that were unhealthy to all who partook from the actors to the patrons. It wasn't to shame but rather to acknowledge that we could do better. I call to arms, so to speak.

"And while I had resigned myself to this new mission that all changed with an email." I admitted, looking at Joyce off camera. Mir gave her a little back pat of encouragement and pushed her forward.

She smoothed her dress nervously, but I caught her eye as she looked up and she seemed to gain more confidence as we held each other's gaze. I introduced her publically for the first time and held her hand proudly as she told her story.

It was the first time that she had spoken about her ordeal outside of private conversations with trusted others. Even though she gripped my hand like a vice, she was strong and poised as she delivered her story. She revealed who she was before, sweet Caroline who was engaged to her high school sweetheart and looked forward to going to university to become a teacher.

She explained in broad strokes her abduction and the three years that she was held captive. I couldn't help the way my jaw set and how my stomach churned thinking about Joyce, vulnerable and alone. Then she talked about her escape and the choices she had to make to claw herself back to some level of normalcy. What she gave up in the process. How this would always be a part of who she is.

I heard the folks off set sniffling and Mir trying to quietly shush them although he too was overcome with emotion. I kept my eyes trained on my girl who got teary-eyed but never broke. She looked over to me as she wrapped up.

"And it's because of this man that the last pieces came together. I am able to love again. I am able to trust him and let my guard down again and just be me. He sees the pieces of me, even the ones I forgot existed and he found a way to put me back together completely." She paused and spoke directly to me. "Thank you, Quinn. I love you."