𝖯𝖺𝗉𝖾𝗋 𝖱𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌

chapter nineteen | why don't the Dolivo brothers care about themselves?

chapter nineteen| why don't the Dolivo brothers care about themselves?

TW

Nevaeh Stolly

Somehow we ended up in a small room.

And I recognize the room where I had my first kiss with Zaiah. My first kiss ever.

We are still sitting hugged, our hands being tightly tightened around us. I feel like he doesn't want me to ever stop hugging him. And I don't even want to stop. Ever. I want to protect him. With everything in me. I know I'm not very strong but I know that if I see the person who did this to him, I will kill them myself.

I never thought that I could care for Zaiah that much. If you told me a few months ago that I would care so much for him, I would have laughed. But now, at this moment, there is no doubt.

I, Nevaeh Stolly, have feelings for Zaiah Dolivo. And I don't know if they're friendly or romantic feelings.

"Thank you, Neve. For everything. Not just for today." he whispers in my ear and his broken voice makes my heart ache.

"I'll always be here for you, Zaiah. Don't forget that." he breaks the hug but doesn't distance himself from me. Instead, he put his head on my forehead and closed his eyes, a tear leaving a trace on his beautiful face.

"Let's sit down, ok?" I nod and move around for some chairs but Zaiah puts himself on the floor and beckons me to sit next to him.

I sit next to him and he puts his head on my lap. I stop breathing for a few seconds but I shake my head and put my hand on his hair, playing with it.

"Do you remember the first day we met?" I hum the answer. I don't know why I don't speak. But Zaiah is all that matters now and he needs to be heard. Not me.

"I wasn't shy. I was scared. My…" He stops and puts an arm around him, like a shield.

"You don't need to talk if you're not ready. Don't force yourself, ok?" He needs to know that he doesn't need to talk if he can't. Yes, I want to know who did this so I could kill that monster but I don't want Zaiah to feel obliged to tell me.

"No, it's OK. I want to let it all out. Maybe I'll feel better. " he takes a deep breath and starts talking again, with a shaking voice. "Have you ever wondered why dad takes us every weekend on a small vacation?"

"Yeah." My heart beats so fast that I feel it breaking my chest. I hope he's not going to say what I think he's saying.

"When he first took us there, it was the hardest. We were awake. We could feel anything. The way he touched us, his breath on my neck, his hands all over my body-" A sob breaks his sentence and he covers his face. I lean down wanting to kiss his temple but I stop myself.

"Can I kiss your temple?" This question might not mean something to other people but for him, for every survivor, consent is something important.

He doesn't do anything, he doesn't nod, doesn't speak, he just stares at a box. He probably relives the things that his father did to him. He is stuck in that memory and I don't know what to do to help him.

"Zaiah," I speak his name. He doesn't answer. And I panic.

What can I do?

God, please! Help him. I'll do anything but just help him. Please.

I can't watch him being in pain. How can he be in pain? He can't be. He is just a boy. He doesn't deserve this. So please, God. Let me help him.

"I was seven, Nevaeh. Seven. Do you know how excited I was? I could finally spend some time with my dad. But he just ruined everything. He always does it."