Right Where You Left Me | Grayson Dolan

1

Brooklyn

I miss Grayson. In fact, I feel terrible for what I did to him, but it needed to happen.

I couldn't risk my father being around my unborn child. Not for one second.

When they say IUD's are 99.9 percent effective, maybe don't count yourself out of that 0.01 percent.

Because that's what happened to me, and that's why I needed to leave. I needed to find a place where I truly couldn't be reached by my dad.

There was a women's shelter in Washington, specifically for survivors of domestic abuse and violence. I would be safe there, and I could finally get the treatments I needed for my mental health to be repaired, and so I could finally figure out what worked best for me.

I was actually hired to be an HR assistant at an enterprise company in Seattle, so I was making enough money to now support myself, and the baby girl who is still growing in my belly.

I was able to lease a small two-bedroom apartment, close to the women's shelter, and close to work. It would be perfect for my baby girl and I.

Washington is a great place. Nobody from home knows that I'm here, and they won't find out.

I'm as far from my dad as possible, and I have a new life now.

There are some things I regret in regards to leaving Missouri, but I needed to keep my child safe from my father.

Sure it's scary, but I do have a support system. The ladies at the shelter have been so great to me, and I have a few friends at work who have become family to me in the last few months.

Even in these six short months, I was able to save up a lot of money from work. The job pays very well, and it's more than what I need to be comfortable.

The baby is due at the end of February, or early March. I absolutely can't wait to meet her. I wish Grayson was here, but I know he's living his best life at college. I've even seen some of his and Ethan's football games on tv.

I pray every night that Grayson's doing alright. I miss him all the time, and I hope someday I can see him again once my father isn't a danger to mine or baby girl's life anymore. I hope Grayson will be able to meet baby girl. She is his daughter, after all. He'd be the best father ever. I just know it.

I found out I was having a girl two months ago, but I still haven't found a name for her.

I have a list of a few names I like, but none of them are more special than the others. I'm looking for a name that'll catch my eye—that I'll immediately know it fits.

I heard a knock at the apartment door, and I knew it was my friend Nadia from the shelter. She was there at the same time as me, and we've finally through a lot of similar experiences. Needless to say, we instantly became close friends.

"Hey, Nad," I said as I let her in.

"I brought lunch," she said, holding up a bag with Panera Bread's logo on it.

"How are you the actual best?" I asked as we walked to my kitchen table.

"How are you feeling today, Brooke?"

"I'm okay," I said, placing my hand on my stomach. "Baby's chilling today."

"Still haven't found a name?"

"Nope. I know it'll come to me though. I still have three months to decide."

"True. When you find the right name, you'll know instantly."

Nadia had brought me a broccoli cheddar soup bread bowl, and I dug right in as soon as it was in front of me.

"God, this is amazing. It's perfectly warm too. Not scalding, but perfect."

"Good. I wanted you to enjoy a nice lunch today."

"You didn't have to work today?" I asked her.

"Nope. I worked Monday, and then I work tomorrow and Friday."

"I worked Monday and Yesterday, and then I work tomorrow. I always have Friday's off."

"Lucky," she said.

"I'm honestly counting down the days until I go on maternity leave. February 1st can't come soon enough."

"Are you excited to meet her?"

"I'm really excited. I think her birth will make me feel less alone."

Nadia was one of the people who knew that I left Missouri to get away from my father, and that I was doing everything in my power to keep him away from my daughter.

Nadia smiled. "You're gonna be a great mother, Brooklyn."

"Thank you," I said. "I'm gonna do my best for her."

"You already have. I mean, you're story is so inspiring to me. You built this life all on your own. Your great job, your great apartment. And you had the courage to leave your home state to protect you and the baby. That's so brave."

"Thank you," I said. "Maybe someday I'll go back. Once my father's gone for good. I do want the baby's father to be a part of her life. But not until it's safe."

Nadia nodded, reaching across the table to take my hand. "You're doing what's best for the baby by also doing what's best for you."

Taking the final bite of my warm soup, I smiled. "Thanks for being such a good friend," I said. "And thanks for lunch."

"No problem. You helped me out a lot when we were at the shelter."

Nadia went home a little while later, and I laid down for a nap. One of my friends from work gifted me a pregnancy pillow, and it's the most comfortable thing on the planet. It supports my belly perfectly, so my back doesn't hurt when I lay down.

Falling asleep, I wondered what Grayson was up to now, and if he's found a girl who can be better for him than I was.

He deserves someone that can make him happy.