Chasing Daylight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Who am I supposed to talk to?

-Taylor Swift

Maria

I didn't realize how much I needed my Uncle Mark until he was hugging me. It felt like I was back in the arms of my dad again and that just caused all the guilt to come bubbling up again and the tears took over.

"Oh sweetheart don't cry," he said rubbing my back gently. "I'm here now. I'll help you. You know I'll always be on your side."

"I'm happy you're here," I mumbled into his chest.

"Hey sorry about that babe. Have you eaten dinner yet?" Mason asked as he slipped through the balcony door. I straightened, pulling away and wiping my eyes. "Oh I'm sorry."

"Uncle Mark this is my boyfriend Mason," I said letting out a sigh and brushing my hair back. "And um that was Max, my roommate, and this is my friend Sophie."

"It's good to meet you all, you can just call me Mark," he said his hand resting protectively on my shoulder.

"Did you have a good flight?" I asked looking up at him. "I'm sorry, I should have picked you up..."

"It's alright sweetheart, I got a cab. Why don't we sit down so we can talk about what's going on?"

"Yeah, right," I nodded meeting Mason's eyes, who was watching me with worry. I led my uncle to the living room and I felt Max and Mason follow.

"I'm going to make some dinner," Sophie called. We sat down on the couch, Mason on one side of me and my Uncle on the other. Max sat in the chair across from us.

"Why don't you tell me what happened?" Uncle Mark asked patting my shoulder.

"He found me," I mumbled. "I was alone yesterday and I thought he was the takeout I ordered, so I didn't look before I opened the door. I tried to close it when I saw it was him, but he's stronger than me and he attacked me. He was going to really hurt me but Mason and Max got home..."

I could already feel the lump in my throat and I was trying not to completely lose it. I was trying not to let everything spill, but I didn't think I would be able to keep Kailey's secrets for much longer.

"Why would he want to hurt you sweetheart? I thought you two were friends?" My Uncle said sounding confused. "Your sister loved him."

It took everything in me to not completely lose it right there. I held myself together pushing back the rush of emotions I was feeling. Mason was rubbing my back gently I knew he could feel the tension in my muscles.

"He wasn't who any of us thought he was," I whispered. "He stalked me. He called every day and figured out where I lived and when he finally found me he attacked me."

"I believe you sweetheart, of course I believe you, but I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around this all."

"I have to show you something. You don't have the full story," I sighed knowing that it was time to finally come clean about why I had really left. "I'll be right back."

I stood up and made my way to my bedroom knowing that everyone was watching me. I pulled the box from underneath my bed undoing the lock and pulling out the piece of notebook paper that haunted my every waking moment. The handwriting was enough to cause my heart to clench. I could still remember the feeling of the envelope brushing against my fingertips when I went to bed that night. I remember pulling the envelope from underneath my pillow and staring at my name scrawled onto the envelope with her favorite pink pen and instantly bursting into tears. Why did she have to leave me too? I opened the letter and let my eyes glance over the words I had memorized ages ago.

Hey sis,

I hope you know how much I love you. Nothing in the world would ever change how much I love you. What happened was not in any way your fault The truth is I have a secret; I've been keeping it for a while now. I'm going to tell you because you're my sister and we tell each other everything and I know you're blaming yourself. I want you to keep it a secret though. You can't tell anyone- ever.

Trent isn't who we thought he was. About two weeks ago on our date night, I was watching a movie at his apartment and he... well he raped me. I kept telling him to stop, but he just wouldn't listen. He told me that we had been together long enough... It was so awful and terrifying Maria. It hurt and it was humiliating. I mean you know that was my first time. I could never tell anyone about what happened, I mean they might not even believe me. I can't ruin our friend group, but I can't pretend that everything is fine. I can't face anyone and I can't live with this. It's all too much Maria. It haunts me when I'm awake and in my dreams. I will never be the same.

Please don't show anyone this letter. I love you forever.

Kailey