Through The Storm (Eminem Fan Fiction)

What It's Like, To Be Me

TRAUMA WARNING!! Domestic violence flashback, calling women nasty words, etc.

Marshall POV

Valentina finished her last day before her time off and brought her daughters directly over to my place with all their luggage. I still hadn't told Val where we were going, but I'm sure she knew it involved swimming. My daughters would be spending the night at my house too so we could all just head out on the road together in the morning. My brother Nate and his family were going to be meeting us there as well.

I was so excited! Not just for Valentina to finally be sleeping in my bed with me, but we were all going to have a blast together!

Val cooked a nice late dinner for all of us of pasta and chicken. She said it was her way of thanking me for all the nice things I do for her. Afterward, we cleaned up the dishes, piled all our bags in the foyer, tucked the little ones in, and my girls found their rooms upstairs. It was just Valentina and I awake in the big quiet house, so we went downstairs in my den for some privacy. I held Val in my arms on the couch kneading her shoulders and kissing her neck.

"So, tomorrow," I turned her around to look at me, "I'm not telling you where we're going, but the girls will have their own rooms with Hailie, Whitney, and Laney. And then you and me can spend the night together in our room." I kissed her gently. "It's gonna be dope. It has a king size bed and a fireplace. Is that ok?"

"I'm sure it will be perfect Marshall." She leaned in to kiss me and stroke under my beard as I pulled her close, so she was tight against me.

"I can't wait to be with you Valentina. I've wanted you for so long." I grinned like a schoolboy as I kissed her again and ran my hands all over her back.

I sat back a little to look at Val as she seemed distant, "Baby, are you alright? You seem kind of quiet. Look, if you don't want to go all the way or if something doesn't feel right, I can just hold you while we fall asleep. There's no pressure, ever. You know that right?"

"Oh Marshall." She smiled and ran her hand over my face, and I love when she does that. "I want to. So bad. I can't wait to be with you either, I love you, Marshall."

That was such a relief to hear her say that and I smiled to myself and drew her in tighter.

"I love you too baby." I kissed her, then looked in her hazel eyes that I had come to know so well by now stroking her cheek.

"Valentina, what's wrong?"

Val POV

I knew I had to tell Marshall this. I had to let my heart free.

"Nothing's wrong. I know I've told you a lot of stories about my past, and I see you cringe at the thought of my abuse. But there's just one story I wanted to tell you before..." I paused. "Before we're together in that way. I don't know why, I just, I want to tell you how I finally left him. You know?"

"For closure." Marshall spoke.

"For closure, but also because you're my boyfriend. I think you should know."

I always carry my journal wherever I go anymore and was about to go upstairs to find it so I could read my last couple pages to him, then stopped.

"I wrote this down in graphic detail, but I don't need to read it. I can just tell you in my own words." I turned to face him but backed up to give us some space. "I'm sorry if I cry. This is the first time I've ever said any of this out loud before."

"It's fine baby. Take your time." Marshall rubbed my thigh in encouragement.

I took a few deep breaths.

"The day I got away from Jarred for good actually lasted an entire weekend. The girls were staying at Jarred's mom's house. Thank God, because that would have been horrific for them to witness."

Breath.

"He held me captive all weekend. He wouldn't let me leave the bedroom. He would beat me; he would smother my head with a blanket. I knew one of these times" I took a deep cleansing breath, "He was going to kill me."

Marshall took my hand, "Holy fuck. Val, that's fucking horrible." He thought for a moment and hesitated, "Don't tell me he raped you Val. Did he force himself on you?"

"Surprisingly, no. Not that time. This time was more about control or punishment or whatever. It wasn't sexual."

"So anyway, he had me drive him over to his mother's house on Sunday. It was Labor Day weekend, and they were having a cookout. Bella was little at the time, in a baby seat. And when I walked in, Cassaundra hugged me, but I knew she felt the tension in the air."

Marshall shook his head in sympathy.

I continued, "Anyway, I don't even remember what started that fight, but I'll never forget when Jarred called me a fucking c--- right in front of my daughter. That's when I knew I had to get out. I had to leave. When the chance came, I jetted out the front door to my car. The girls must have been so scared, but I was only trying to get us help."

I took a moment to gather myself as my voice had just cracked. Marshall squeezed my hand and I moved over to sit back against him. His arms holding me tight and sturdy against the shaking.

"I started the car and stepped on the gas, but he was already out the door and running towards me.   As you can imagine, I started crying and tried to drive faster, but he jumped on the side of my car."

"Fuck! That shit's crazy."

"Yeah." I gave half a laugh and my eyes widened in the serious realization of how close I had come to death so many times. "I tried braking to get him to fly off, but he didn't. So, then he climbed in and got in the driver's seat. I didn't want to get into an accident, so I just stopped. I stopped the car in the middle of the intersection and was having a full-on panic attack screaming at the top of my lungs, 'Help me! Help me! Somebody, help me!'"

I flung my head back on Marshall's shoulder in tears of serenity, "And in that moment, it was all over. The cops came, Jarred got arrested, I was able to go get my daughters and they connected me with the Women's Center to start my journey of leaving for good."

We clasped our hands together and Marshall placed kisses on my temple.

"It's been so hard." 

"I'm sure it has." He stroked my neck with his thumb.

"I still can't believe that it's over." I smiled and laid my head back down on Marshall's shoulder. "I'm here. And I'm safe. And you and I are going to take the most amazing trip together."