Sabrina ; The next generation

31

I groaned and threw myself on the bed, completely exhausted from another day at work.

I pushed my arms under my pillow and buried my face in the pillow, hugging it as close to my face as I could.

"That was dramatic." Naomi laughed from where she sat at the desk. "Work's that hard?"

I hummed and turned my head in her direction, smiling weakly at her.

"Who's got Willow?" I asked.

Naomi wiggled her eyebrows at me while biting down on the pen she fidgeted with.

"Your parents." She answered me. "They wanted to take their granddaughter to the park."

"So we're alone?" I asked, a smile spreading across my lips.

Naomi hummed and pushed the chair closer to the bed.

"Wanna make out?" I asked, causing her to laugh. She joined me on the bed, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.

I got one of my hands free and pressed it to the nape of her neck, pulling her down to my face. I kissed her, threading my fingers through her hair.

She let out a small moan against my lips, and I gasped, and suddenly I was back in that room, his body pinning me against the mattress.

His lips were on mine, his tongue in my mouth and he was moaning against me.

Tears were streaming down my face, and then I was screaming, and I was back in my own bedroom, Naomi holding me while I was freaking out.

"It's okay." She assured me, brushing her fingers through my hair. "You're okay. You're right here with me."

My eyes were squeezed shut, my body was shaking and I felt nauseous.

"Look at me, Breena." She whispered. "Baby, look at me."

I opened my eyes and looked up, meeting her dark brown eyes.

"It's just me and you. There's no one here but us." She said softly. "We're in your bedroom. The door is closed and it's just us. No one but us."

She kept brushing her fingers through my hair until I relaxed, and she even continued soothing me when I broke into heavy sobs, hating how I couldn't even kiss her properly without the flashbacks hitting me.

Naomi leaned down and rested her forehead against mine. She didn't say anything else. She was just here, holding me in her arms and her head resting against mine.

I cried and I cried and I cried, until I ran dry. Then I just stayed here, feeling too tired to move.

I closed my eyes, trying to just be in the moment. Naomi feathered small kisses over my face, still brushing her fingers through my hair.

"I'm sorry." I whispered after a while. I sat up and pulled myself out of her arms and to the other end of the bed, pulling my knees to my chin.

"Why are you apologising?" She asked me. "Bree, there is nothing for you to apologise for."

I shook my head and rubbed the heel of my palms into my eyes.

"It's not fair to you." I said quietly. "Everything happened because of me. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been taken as well. It's all my fault and you don't deserve any of it."

"Hey!" Naomi moved closer to me, careful not to make any sudden movements. "None of it was your fault, Sabrina. Every person is responsible for their own actions, and they were responsible for theirs."

When I didn't answer, she gently grabbed my jaw and lifted my head until my eyes met hers.

"None of it was your fault, babe." She said softly, rubbing her thumb along my jaw. "Do you hear me? They hurt you, and that's their fault, not yours. They held me against my will, and that was their fault, not yours."

She pressed a quick kiss to my lips before pulling back.

"Do you need a moment for yourself?" she asked, and when I nodded, she got off the bed. "Okay. I'll go make us some food."

Once Naomi left the room, I crawled under the covers and pulled the duvet up to my chin.

I must've fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes again, the sun was on its way down, and I could hear my mother's laugh coming from the kitchen.

I sat up and rubbed a hand over my face, looking around my room.

Naomi wasn't in here, but there was a grilled cheese sandwich on my nightstand.

Willow's crib had been messed with, so she must've napped sometime while I was sleeping.

It took me a while to move. I just sat in bed and stared at the crib, wondering how I was supposed to be strong for my daughter throughout her childhood when I felt so weak.

Finally, I got out of bed, but I felt like a zombie as I made my way to the door and opened it.

The chatter and laughter coming from the kitchen got louder. I looked back at the grilled cheese and I hurried over to snatch it, taking a bite.

I made my way downstairs, slowing on the stairs when I heard Naomi's laugh coming from the kitchen.

A small smile formed on my face, and I took another bite of the grilled cheese sandwich she had made me.

"She's so adorable." I heard Mia say, and I took another step down before stopping again.

I didn't know Mia was here, but it instantly cheered me up. Walking into the kitchen, I saw mum and Mia gush over Willow.

They hadn't noticed me enter, so when I threw my arms around my sister from behind, she gasped while mum quickly turned around, relaxing when she realised it was me.

"Jesus Christ, Bree. You gave me a bloody heart attack." Mia laughed as she turned around and gave me a proper hug. "What's up? You alright?"

"Yeah." I smiled, pulling out of the hug. "But I fell asleep while Naomi went to make us food."

"That's okay. I don't blame you." Naomi stepped out of the pantry, handing mum whatever spice she went and got. "You were pretty exhausted."

I scrunched up by nose, because I disagreed. I felt totally weak just by the fact that I had fallen asleep.

Naomi wanted to make me some food after my panic attack and I fell asleep on her.

"You have to stop being so hard on yourself." Mum said softly as she brushed a lock of my hair out of my face.

"What are you talking about?"

"That scrunch of your nose." She told me. "Your signature move whenever you disagree with something. Naomi is right. No one blames you for needing a nap."

I sighed, picking Willow up.

"I have a daughter now. I can't just fall asleep like that."

"I'm here, aren't I?" Naomi pressed a kiss to my cheek before smiling at Willow. "If you need a nap or just time to yourself, I'll always be here to take care of baby Willow."

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from arguing. I didn't want to seem ungrateful, because I really was grateful for having her by my side.

I turned to Naomi, studying her face as she smiled at Willow.

"Thank you." I exhaled. "I really do appreciate everything you do for me."