In The Scenes

Thirteenth

WARNING: May be mentions of abuse, panic attacks, trauma, blood, etc. If you are sensitive to these topics, please don't read.

Alex POV:

I'm going home today. I wasn't allowed any visitors, so this will be the first time I'm meeting our group in six weeks. I'm scared I might flinch if they hug me. I was snapped out of my thought by Lia kissing my cheek.

"You ready?" she asked.

"Yeah," I responded, pushing myself off the bed.

We took a taxi to Lia's house. That's usually where everyone meets up. I held Lia's hand as she rang the doorbell. I could hear many footsteps. The door opened and the rest of the group was looking at us. It was quiet for some time before Jane leaped on Lia.

"I thought I lost you," she said.

Lia hugged her.

"You can't get rid of me that easy."

Mindy looked at me. I didn't look at her. Lia nudged me and I glanced at Mindy. I opened my mouth to say something but closed it and looked down. Lia lowered her voice so only I could hear her.

"What happened?"

"What am I supposed to say? I haven't seen my sister in six weeks and I'm supposed to know what to say?"

"It's okay. You can talk with her later."

We went inside and sat in the living room. I zoned out as they talked about what happened. I thought of the past six weeks. I remembered every word my ex-foster parents said as they whipped me. I remembered every cut on my body and how it was made. I remembered crying into Lia's shoulder as she told me everything would be okay.

"Alex?"

I looked up. Mindy was looking at me.

"Yeah?"

"Can I talk with you?"

I looked at Lia. She nodded.

"Sure," I said.

We went into my room. Mindy locked the door and looked at me.

"What the hell did they do to you?"

I tensed. Mindy hugged me. I flinched but hugged back. We sat on my bed.

"I can't really remember everything. It all felt like a blur. I was fine one day and hurt the next."

Mindy looked horrified. I felt bad for telling her this.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't've burdened you about this."

"Don't you dare think that," she said.

I looked up.

"Why would you ever think you're a burden? You practically raised me. You helped me when I didn't believe in myself and always told me to look forward. I'll never be able to repay you for that."

"You don't have to."

"Yeah, I do. You helped me. Now, I'll help you. Every day, you are going to tell me how you feel and what happened."

"Mindy, you don't have to . . . "

"Yes, I do. It kills me to see you like this. You couldn't even make eye contact with me when you came in. There's no way to help yourself if you don't ask for help."

I looked at her. Even though it's only been a year since Bryce, Jane, Lia, Mindy, and I sat at the lunch table on the first day of school, she's grown and matured in a way I never expected. Being abused is just as bad as seeing the abuse.

"Okay."

She looked surprised I agreed to her proposition.

"Really?"

"Really."

We spent the next hour just catching up. I gave Mindy the birthday gift I was going to give her. It was a bracelet. I also found out Mindy's dating Micah now. I wished every day would be as nice as this moment.