𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 (𝘣𝘹𝘣)

thirty seven

"So? How do you feel about your mom? You know, she might be getting out?" Benjamin takes a bite of his nachos.

It was the next day, Benjamin and Elly decided they would go out to get lunch.

Elly sighs. "I dunno. It's a weird feeling. I know she wouldn't try anything but it's always in the back of my mind."

Benjamin nods. "I get that."

Elly glances up at him before shrugging. "W-What happened with Markus? Noah mentioned a little bit but...He didn't give much detail."

Benjamin sets his chip back down. "Uh...He was...Extremely abusive. Worse than my dad kind of. It was...Gradual. At first, it was all lovey-dovey and honeymoon. But soon after he became controlling,"

Benjamin shrugs. "Started hitting me and eventually it escalated to something much more than just that."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to dredge up this."

"No, it's okay. My therapist told me I should talk about it more," Benjamin looks up at her. "I relapsed and didn't tell anyone. She told me I was regressing back to my old ways. Doing what my dad taught me."

"Pills?"

Benjamin shakes his head. "No...The other thing."

"Oh. Damn, man. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Benjamin breathes out. "I'm learning to get better. I've been having more good days than bad. It just sucks. Felt like a repeat of my childhood."

**
Elly was sitting in the living room with her dad. "Hey. So I was talking with Benjamin and...Do you think I should go see Ana?"

Victor brings over two cups of coffee, setting one down in front of Elly. "Uh? Why would you do that, Mija?"

"It's just...She's getting out soon. I'm not too sure if I'd be able to live with myself knowing I still don't have closure since that night?"

"Going to see her would help?"

"I looked it up. It's called like...Exposure therapy or something. M-Maybe she's changed. If Jazz and I move back here I wanna be able to know that I don't have to be afraid while going to get groceries."

"I don't know, honey. Are you ready for that? It took you two years to even say her name."

Elly shrugs. "I think I'm ready, though. It happened a long time ago."

Victor nods his head. "If you think you're ready...Then I'll call...Set something up."

*
Noah glances over at his front door as he hears the lock turning. He smiles when he sees Benjamin walk through the door.

He reaches for the remote to turn off the TV before standing up to greet him. "Hey, babe."

Benjamin sets his things down and closes the front door. He smiles softly before taking his shoes off. "Hi."

Noah frowns and tilts his head at Benjamin. "Everything alright?"

Benjamin nods his head and looks up. "Mhm."

Noah reaches out to grab Benjamin's face, wiping the tear under his eye. "No, you're not. What's wrong, bebes?"

Benjamin shrugs his shoulders. "Just...Hard time today in therapy. I don't really wanna talk about it."

"Okay." Noah leans in to kiss him once. "What about lunch with Elly? How was that?"

"It was good. We talked a little about Ana and Markus," Benjamin wipes under his eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to cry."

Noah smiles at him. "You're welcome to cry whenever you want. Why don't we sit down? Watch a movie."

Benjamin nods his head and follows Noah into the living room. He takes a seat on the couch before looking up at Noah. "I think Elly's really thinking about moving back."

Noah takes a seat next to him. "It's cute that her and Jaz are settling down. I just hope Ana isn't an issue."

"She's thinking about going to see her."

"Oh really? She's finally made a decision?"

"Seems like it," Benjamin shrugs. "I just hope things work out for her."

"I'm sure they will," Noah throws his arm around Benjamin's shoulders. "Now...What do you wanna watch?"

**