For A Brief Moment

Chapter 16: A living hell

TW: Domestic Violence ----------------------------------------

It was a quiet morning, birds singing outside in the sunny weather. Cassie woke up in her own time, allowing herself to take it slow. She had a shower, quite literally washing the past few days off her. Her cut stung under the water but was clearly healing, slowly. She wore a flowery dress over a long white sleeve shirt, the cotton soothing her skin. Her hair was wet, as it travelled down her back, as she walked downstairs. It really was spotless, as if nothing happened Friday night. She walked quietly down the stairs and into the kitchen, grabbing the carton of orange juice from the fridge and pouring some into a clear, small glass. She took in the morning air, sitting on the steps of the door, listening to the birds talk with one another, feeling the cool air whistle and dance around her skin. Not long after, she walked into the living room, seeing a small note on the table. She picked it up gently, the black ink embedded on the page. She recognised the writing well, as she began to read it.

'Princess,

Me and the boys thought it would be best to leave you to get some well-deserved rest. Sorry if we made you panic at all.

Just know, we are here if you ever need us. You are strong Cassie Hassing, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

~Elijah'

Cassie couldn't help but beam at the letter she was holding close to her chest. She had never been told she was strong, so for someone to go out of their way to write it, made her tear up. Of course, she didn't believe it, but to think someone else did, well, it was enough for her.

She heard footsteps lightly walk down the stairs, turning to face Sebastian as he turned into the room. He sat on the grey sofa, patting the seat next to him.

"Did you put me to bed last night?" she questioned.

"Yeah, why did I hit your head?" Responding to her question with another one.

"No, no, just," she paused. "Thank you." She rustled the paper in her hand, which caught his attention.

"You know, I might have been a bit quick to jump to decisions about them," he wondered. He watched as her face lit up at his honesty. "I'm not saying I like the idea of you around them, I'm just saying, I know they mean well."

"Why don't you want me around them Sebastian?" she questioned, almost whispering, she didn't want to sound rude or angry, because she wasn't, just curious.

"I don't know," he explained. "I think the idea of me not being able to know where you are or help if you're in trouble, I just, I just hate the thought."

She looked at him, trying to find his eyes, which were now cloudy with tears. "Where has this all come from Sebastian? You left for three weeks without a single thought. What's changed?" She asked softly, her arm on his shoulder, gently forming figures of eight. He hesitated for a minute, his voice breaking.

"Brody." They both fell silent. "He, he said some things Friday night that just, it just didn't sit right and when I confronted him about it, well you saw."

"Like what? What did he say, Sebastian?" She pushed, she wanted to know, help if she could. She wasn't expecting Sebastian to break the way he did. His cheeks became a trail for rivers to stream as his lip quivered.

"I can't Cas, I don't," He sobbed. She pulled him in for a hug before he could finish. She wanted answers but not if it was going to eat away at him like this. She wouldn't do that. She held him, for as long as he needed to be held, allowing him to let out every emotion he needed. She had never seen him so emotional in her life and it pained her so much. "Please forgive me," he whimpered.