Shoni

Chapter 16

Shelbys POV, Today is August 4th. Everyone is getting really sick of fish and berries and as much as we love each other and as shitty as our families can be we are all missing them a lot. especially Martha and Toni because it's Martha's Grandmas' birthday.

"She's just so old you know she may not have many birthdays left." Martha says through tears

"I know Marty I know." Toni says while giving Matha a comforting hug 

"Yeah, I understand I really miss Nora, and my mom and dad." Rachel says softly 

The rest of us nod in agreement and then we are all silent for a moment not really knowing what to say. Eventually, Fatin speaks up.

"Yeah I really miss my family too, I wish they had never sent me away from them." Fatin says as tears begin to form in her eyes 

"Sent you away?" Dot asks 

"Oh yeah." Fatin responds awkwardly 

"You know I never asked, why is everyone here?" Toni asks 

I am not sure if  I want to answer that question, it's still kinda hard to think about let alone talk about but I trust the girls so I'm sure it will be fine.

"Well I will go first, So basically my POS dad cheated on my mom with a bunch of local whores." Fatin says blatantly

"Go on." Dot says reluctantly 

"Anyway, I found out about it when I saw the pictures on his tablet, so I did what any reasonable person would do, I took the picture and sent it to his whole contact list." Fatin tells us

Everyone's jaws dropped including my own I mean it sounds like the asshole deserved it but still.

"At first my mom was sad and pissed at my dad but then when she found out it was me who sent out the picture she took my dad's side and they decided I needed some time away from them to learn some respect." Fatin explains

"Wow well, that worked out well then because you're so respectful now." Rachel says with a laugh 

"Okay I guess all go next, so my dad... he was really sick." Dot slowly begins to tell us 

I can see tears begin to form in dots eyes so I reach my hand out to her for comfort and nod for her to continue. 

"Anyway he was getting really sick and he just couldn't do it anymore so he made arrangements for me and he surprised me with his trip, he said he wanted me to have fun and finally be able to be a kid." Dot says sourly 

" And then.... and then he died." Dot mutters out 

"I'm so sorry Dot." Martha says as she reaches over to give her a hug

Dot just nods and puts her head back down l

"I suppose I'm up now." Rachel says quietly 

We all turn our attention over to Rachel and wait patiently. 

"I was struggling a  lot, I was at a really bad time in my life, I was willing to put everything on the line just so I could dive." Rachel begins to tell us 

"I started to sacrifice my health for diving, and let's just say I was not in a very good place with food."Rachel says 

"Nora knew me so well and she knew something was wrong, so she told our parents about this trip, she told them it was an all-girls retreat and that I wasn't doing too good and I needed it." Rachel tell us with tears in her eyes 

"In hindsight she was right I wasn't okay and I needed help, I gave her so much shit for sending us here but.. but it's not her fault and she probably died thinking I was mad at her. " Rachel confesses 

I feel so bad for Rachel I know how she feels I have felt that kind of gut-wrenching guilt when someone you love is gone and you know they thought you hated them in their last moments of life. But I have a feeling Leah isn't that sad for her because she mainly just looks mad, I guess it's because Rachel talked about Nora. 

"Okay I will go now, so you have all heard about Jeff right?" Leah asks

"Yeah," We all say in agreement

"Okay well I met Jeff we started talking and things were going so  well, we went on cute dates and we talked all the time, but then he found out I lied to him about my age so he dumped me." Leah tells us

"I was so miserable I couldn't eat I couldn't sleep I was just kinda there, and all night and all day I laid in my bed like a zombie I was either balling my eyes out or completely numb." 

"Eventually I started going out again, I went to a few places with my friend Ian and I thought I was getting better, now I'm not normally a party person but I thought it might be fun and I wanted to go... So I went and on my walk home, I was being an idiot I was walking in the middle of the road with my earbuds in and I uh...I got hit with a car." 

"Wait what... a car Jesus Leah." Toni exclaims 

"yeah after that I fell back into my depressive state in the hospital and when they finally let me out my parents told me about this trip they said it would be fun and I needed it to get out of my.... funk . "  Leah tells us 

Everyone is quiet for a while after, we were all waiting for the next volunteer but Martha, Toni, and I stay silent. 

"How about you Toni why are you here." Fatin asks 

Toni's face gets red and I can see her anxiety rising, I put my hand on her back to comfort her but now that I think about it she never told me why she was here which is kinda weird. 

"Um Marthas mom wanted Marty to go and she didn't want her to be alone, plus I had been having some issues dealing with my anger so she decided to send me along with her." Toni says nervously 

"Why did Martha's mom want her to go?" Leah asks 

Toni looks over to Martha who is looking down seemingly scared.

"She just did." Toni quickly responds 

Everyone looks confused but no one says anything else about it because it seems like a touchy subject. 

"Alrighty then Shelby your up."Leah says to me

"Right yeah so, my dad and I were really close but then he found out that I wasn't straight, it was horrible he would not talk to me he wouldn't even look at me then some stuff had happened with a friend of mine shortly after and I was just in a really bad place so my dad decided to send me on this trip." I explain

"He thought it would make me less depressed and gay, but uh as you can see it didn't work." I say with a laugh

"Well that's on him I mean why would he send you to an all-girls retreat to make you less gay." Fatin says with a laugh

"Martha are you okay? You've been really quiet." Rachel says

Martha just nods and stays silent

"You can talk to us about anything." Rachel says trying to reassure Martha

"I know it's just hard but I think it might help to tell you guys... anyway when I was little I got injured really badly and so I had this physical therapist his name was Dr. Ted." Martha begins to tell us

"Well awhile ago a bunch of girls came out and said he assaulted them."

"That's horrible." Leah exclaims

"Yeah well he...he did it to me too and it took me a really long time to process that." Martha tells us as tears fill her eyes

Toni leans over to hug her and calm her down.

"Wait so did you testify against him, did he go to jail?" Dot asks

"Well I tried to but I chickened out, anyway I wasn't doing well mentally and my mom told me about this retreat and it sounded fun and we thought it might help." Martha explained

"Well, I'm glad you told us, Martha," Rachel says

"Me too." Martha replies

Writer- Hey guys I'm, sorry it's been so long I was having some writer's block but I got it figured out and I have a few chapters lined up. xoxo