HER

Chapter 15

Nina wasn't feeling better but she was out of her own personal hell and that was one step closer to being better in her book. She had given her statement to the officers and they had asked a lot of questions which went way back to when it started. She had answered all their questions even though it had been hard but Gina had been holding her hand through it all and that was all she needed to push forward.

She was more grateful to Gina than she could ever put into words. The woman she saw as a mother was the only good thing that had come out of being with Tom because without him, she wouldn't have worked at the restaurant and met Gina.

"Everything alright?" Nina asked as Gina got off the phone.

Gina had a smile she hadn't seen before.
"I'm great actually. My daughter is coming home soon."

Nina smiled the brightest smile she could give.
"That's amazing."

"It is. Now I can't wait to introduce you two."

Gina had always wanted Nina to meet her daughter and Nina was looking forward to it.
"I can't wait."

"You focus on getting better, we'll have to hear what Doctor Lucas has to say about me taking you home early."

"And we'll see if Nina likes what I have to say."

They both turned to the door to find Lucas standing there smiling at both of them.

"Doctor Lucas!" Gina was on her feet. "Any news?"

Lucas stepped into the room, his gaze on Nina.
"Some. How are you feeling?"

Nina was still uncomfortable with his presence just like she had been with the officers. The female officer had asked the male officer to wait outside when she had noticed Nina wasn't comfortable.

"Slightly better."

He nodded.
"It's going to take time for you to heal physically. Mentally; that's all up to you."

"When can I take her home with me?" Gina asked.

"We've kept her here for twenty-four hours for monitoring and so far, nothing new has come up. She's good to go."

Nina didn't know if she was happy or frightened at the news.

"You hear that Nina?" Gina smiled at her and Nina looked up at her and forced a smile. "What's the matter?" Gina noticed it.

Nina sighed quietly.
"Is T-he..."

"He's in custody. He's going to be there till a date is set for his trial."

She felt bad that she was relieved at the news. Tom was a good man, he just happened to have made bad decisions along the way.

"This is totally none of my business why were you there?" Lucas asked.

Nina frowned.
"What do you mean?"

"From what Gina told me, you were supposed to be at her place that evening, what happened?"

Gina looked from Lucas to Nina.
"I've been wondering the same thing."

Nina looked at a spot on the blanket.
"I-I wanted to let him know I was leaving. I needed to do it not because I needed his permission but because I've always cowered at the thought of standing up to him and I wanted to do it then." She paused. "Now, I'm realizing how stupid I was to think he'd let me walk out the door like that."

"It wasn't stupid, it was brave." Lucas said

"Brave?" She looked at him. "You call getting your clothes ripped off and being tied to a bed bravery?"

Lucas was silent as he watched her, the pain in her eyes killed something in him he didn't know he had.
"You're strong Nina, you'll get through this, it's just a matter of time."

"How would you know that?"

"Because I see the same spirit in you, I saw in my sister; and she made it through."

Nina blinked away the tears. He had gotten her attention with that.

"Now go home with Gina and I'll see you next week." He turned around and made his way towards the door.

"Next week?" Nina asked looking at Gina and back at him.

Lucas turned around with a smile.
"You have to check in with me till I'm sure you're completely ok."

"Oh."

"I'll tell the nurse to check you out." Lucas was out before Nina could thank him.

Nina still stared at the door moment after he was gone.

"Everything ok?" Gina asked.

Nina looked up at her.
"Yes...yes."

"Let's get you home."

Nina smiled at her as she helped her out of bed.

Home she thought. She didn't have one; she's never had one. Tom had been her home and she'd lost that. Now all she had was a Gina and herself; she wasn't sure if the latter was true. She didn't feel like herself, she hasn't been her true self for a long time. The truth is she didn't even know what her true self was like, to know that she'd need to understand her background but she had none. She felt empty, useless and without a purpose.

Where would she start from, where was she going to, where did she want to go to? Questions started to form on her head. She had to get back to work, if she still had one that is.

"Oh my goodness, the restaurant." She blurted out; she had completely forgotten.

Gina looked at her like she had gone insane, maybe she had.
"You can't think about that now. You have to focus on getting better."

"I forgot to call in."

"Well, everyone knows you wouldn't go AWOL without any reason but either way, I called in for both of us. We've gotten some time off."

Nina studied Gina's face wondering what she had told the manager. Gina caught her and smiled at her.
"I told them you got really sick."

Nina let out a breath and nodded.
"Thank you Gina."

"You don't need to thank me." She said "You're like a daughter to me and I take care of my own."

Nina felt her eyes tear up but she held it back.

"But I can't do this without you." Gina continued. "You are stronger than you realize, don't let what has happened tear you down. You look forward and you keep going and don't let anyone bring you down, especially someone like Tom who doesn't appreciate you. You will get through this, that I'm sure of."

Nina was in tears when Gina took her into her arms.
"I don't know what I'd do without you."

"A lot." Gina said without hesitation. "Now wipe those tears and put on that pretty smile of yours."

Nina smiled as she wiped her tears away.
Gina believed in her and she wasn't going to disappoint her; not now, not ever.

"Ready?"

A sigh left her. This was just the beginning for her and she was going to make sure not a single second was spent thinking about the past. She was who she was, where she was because of every single thing that has happened. Since she couldn't change it, she'd make her future what she wanted it to be.

"I'm ready."