Jump Then Fall

46.

His feet were kicking at her and no matter how much she tried she couldn't scream. Nobody could hear her and even when she tried nothing came out. It was just his threats, her cries and physical pain. They were in a dark brick alley, the sky was burnt red around them and all she felt was him attacking her. She tried to scream and she tried to get up and crawl away but she couldn't. She couldn't escape. Meredith felt fabric in her hands as she clutched her jacket tight. "Help." Still nothing. "Help!"

"Meredith...Meredith wake up." A calm voice broke through, gently shaking her shoulders. "Wake up, dear."

"Derek!" Meredith's body shot up quickly in the bed and she felt hands on her shoulders. Meredith looked around the room quickly and her screams went away, but she closed her eyes tight, opening them to see Derek's mother sitting in front of her as the kids stood in the doorway.

"Grandma, is she okay?" Leighton whispered, peaking out from her covered eyes.

"Kids, why don't you go downstairs and play? Meredith and I will be down soon." Mrs. Shepherd nodded.

"Come on Leighton." Trevor looked concerned.

"Okay." Leighton frowned.

"Go on." Mrs. Shepherd smiled as they kids disappeared and she turned back to Meredith. "Oh my..."

"I...I'm sorry I just...I watched something before bed and I...." Meredith ran her hands through her long hair.

"I don't think that's it, dear." The older woman sighed.

"Normally Leighton wakes me up when she wakes up." Meredith breathed, grasping for her phone.

"Derek put her in her bed just before he left...wanted you to get some sleep without being kicked out of the bed." Mrs. Shepherd chuckled.

"Has he called or....he said it wouldn't be long.... not that I need him because I'm fine..."

"He'll be back in about an hour."
Julia says (9:53 PM):
"Okay." Meredith breathed.

"Everything is not okay."

"It is....I don't have those dreams most nights."

"Derek told me he's heard you wake up screaming several times."

"Not several." Meredith breathed.

"You can't ignore this."

"Mrs. Shepherd..."

"Nobody is blaming you...You had something very traumatic happen to you. That doesn't change the fact that you need to find a way to work through this so the children don't have to see this over and over again."

"The kids have never seen this happen this bad..."

"It shouldn't happen at all, dear."

"I know."

"Have you thought about seeing someone?" Mrs. Shepherd asked.

"I'm seeing Derek..."

"Not like that..."

"I don't need a therapist...I just...it only happens sometimes when I'm not with Derek or the kids..."

"Have you talked about it with anyone?"

"No..."

"Oh my." Mrs. Shepherd sighed.

"Mrs. Shepherd...I'm okay. I really am." Meredith replied.