Before The Next Tears Falls (StudentxTeacher)

Epilogue

Thoughts in bold and/or italics.

*15 years later*

Chapter 34

Anikas pov

"Mum, baia and I were wondering about how you never told us how you and dad met?" My daughter Preeti said, entering the living room with her brother Aayhan. (Baia just means big brother, in Islam, you can't call anyone in your family who is older than you by their name.)

"You guys might want to sit down for this one; it's a very long story. I'll let your mum tell you," Christian said to the kids.

"Well, as you already know, your nana, grandad and uncle have never been in your life, but I've never told you why my side of the family has never visited.

"Growing up, I wasn't a very happy kid. I couldn't come to terms with the fact that I had a disability. I was angry at the world, angry at my world, angry for letting myself be so weak. I was depressed and couldn't find a way to be happy. The only place I felt even the tiniest bit of happiness was at school, and that's where i met your father; I was pretty young at the time. Your dad was like a big brother to me, and I was like his sister at the time; he had no clue what was going on at home nobody did. However, the only source of happiness and safety I had was gone. Your dad was only training to become a teacher, and so his training came to an end. Your dad was the light in my darkness, and when he left, everything became pitch black again. After he left, all I felt is pain and suffering, pain from my family hurting, I was suffering every day, and I didn't know how long I could keep fighting, so I started harming myself. My parents were that twisted that they made me believe I was pathetic. For years they would mentally and physically abuse me." I laughed sadly, my eyes glazing over with tears threatening to fall; the memories hit me one by one. Christian grabbed my hands, trying to calm me down.

Anyways ten years had gone by, and I was more miserable than ever. I was stuck in a vicious cycle; my parents would abuse me, your uncle Rahim would watch, and I would harm myself every night. Your uncle Sam, Auntie Scarlett and I continued to go to the same school as we did when we were kids. One morning at school, I was bursting to use the bathroom. However, the one I needed was occupied. I may or may not have said some colourful words," I chuckled, remembering that day clearly. I looked at Christian to continue the story.

"After I finished my training at your mother's school, I went on to graduate from university and get a new teaching job ten years later at the same school. The second I stepped foot into the school, nostalgia hit me. Every memory I had at the school came back to me, including the memories with your mum; you know, when your mum was first learning how to drive her powerchair, she drove straight into me, leaving me with a huge bruise. I chuckled, recalling the memory.

"As I said before, I may or may not have used some colourful language which I don't condone in the slightest! Anyways, some teacher started telling me off for my speech and what confused me was that I remembered that voice from somewhere, but I could not pinpoint it. As I turned around to apologise, i felt as though the wind got knocked out of me. There he was, your dad. Every pain and worry I had at the time just disappeared. Simply being in his presence, I felt safe again. Nothing else mattered except it did. i wasn't that little girl anymore, and obviously, because of our culture, it was condemned to be around men, especially physically contact; I mean, that should have been easy since he was my teacher, right? Wrong, even though I didn't realise it, I was falling for him even though it was utterly wrong, so I started putting my walls up. I would continue with my facade; however, your father immediately noticed and broke the barriers down faster than I can put them up. It was the first time I was vulnerable around anyone. After years of keeping the abuse and torment a secret, I broke. I told your father everything! I was even forced into an arranged marriage! Except my " fiance" turned out to be gay, and we kept up with the act so that he could be with his boyfriend and I could be with Christian; however, it didn't work out. I smiled sadly at Christian, feeling thankful he saved me.