Autumn Showers

27- The one where I tell Scarlett

Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual assaults, this chapter goes into graphic details about the events of what happened to Autumn. Please only read if you will be okay to do so. No book is worth you mental health, I promise.

Scarlett gently guides me towards her bed, she lifts up the cover before helping me climb inside. I melt into the mattress, bringing the duvet up to my shin. She gives me a soft smile before sitting down next to me.

'You can talk to me about what happened, I won't push or force you to say anything. But sometimes it can help talking to a friend.' She whispers as she reaches out and strokes my hair.

I swallow a lump in my throat, 'I-I want to talk about it, but I don't think I can.'

'How about you start trying to talk to me, and if things get too much, we stop straight away. I won't ask any questions; I won't bring it up again unless you ask me too.'

'R-Really?'

'Really, Autie. We can do everything at your own pace.'

I inhale a deep breath, 'W-We where at a college party, O-one of Kyle's friends. T-The night started out great actually, I-I was having a lot of fun. K-Kyle was in a good mood for once.'

Scarlett reaches over and squeezes my hand, I settle my head on her shoulder, so I didn't have to look at her face as I tell her.

'T-Then one of his friends, g-gave me a cup. I-I just took it because I thought it would be safe. I guess, that's my own fault for being an idiot.'

'You aren't an idiot; most people would take a cup of someone that their boyfriend trusts.'

'U-Uh, after that things started to get blurry. I-I just remember thinking, I have never been this drunk before. K-Kyle noticed this and he...he took me into a room.'

A strangled sob escapes my lips as nausea washes over me, remembering that room makes me feel physically feel sick.

'H-His friend was sat inside of the room. I-I couldn't really make sense of what was happening, so I sat on the bed. A-After that everything went black...then I-I woke up...'

'You don't have to keep going, if you don't want too.'

Hot tears roll down my cheeks as I shake my head, 'I-I've never really got to tell anyone a-apart from my therapist. A-And I trust you...I-I want to tell you.'

'I trust you too, thank you for sharing this with me.' She murmurs before kissing the side of my head.

'I-I was completely naked, I-I had my hands tied around t-the bedframe. S-Sick was in my hair, I-I didn't even remember being sick. I-It must have happened when I was passed out.'

A small sob escapes Scarlett's lips but she tries to hide it, I think for my sake. Her grip on my tightens.

'T-They said they'd untie me if I-I didn't try to leave or scream. S-So I agreed because...I-I was so fucking terrified. T-They didn't offer me anything to cover up with they just sat and started playing video games, so when they were distracted, I tried to run. W-Will grabbed my hair, he threw me onto the bed, and h-he picked up a cigarette and started to burn it into my arm. I-It was so painful.'

I lift up my sleeve so I can show her, mostly because I didn't want anyone to think, I was lying. Logically, I knew that Scarlett would believe me, but I was so afraid that I'd share my story, and no-one would believe me. She gently grabs my arms and places a kiss against one of the burns.

'A-After that I-I decided, I wasn't going to try and leave, h-he started trying to kiss me and I-I begged him to stop, K-Kyle came over to me and I-I thought he was going to try and s-save me b-but instead, he passed W-Will a syringe, f-full of h-heroin. K-kyle started kissing my neck as h-his fucking f-friend I-injected me. T-Then t-they both started...'