Nathaniel

VIII

Nathaniel 

She never came for Christmas, she was gone, completely. 

"Now Nathaniel, I know you don't want to do this  on Christmas and neither do I so I'll strike a deal with you. If you talk to me, even if it's just a sentence, I'll shorten our session." My new therapist of the weeks says.

"Fvck off." I glared at her.

"Enough Nathaniel, I'm done getting treated this way. If you do not cooperate I'll report you and that won't look good on your record to be able to leave."

"I have nothing to say, my sister hired you, I didn't."

She sighs, "but you were the one to admit yourself because you know you needed help."

"It was either I do it or my pregnant sister would have dragged me here."

"You care for your sister, whys that?"

"Because. Now I said my piece to uphold my end of your deal so..." I gestured towards the door.

"I suppose, it was a good start. I'll see you Monday."

"There won't be a Monday, I'm making a transfer."

"I've made more progress than anyone else so there's no reason to." She argues.

"You've done very little, if you made progress you would've known why I protect and care for my sister so much. The only person that knows is...Bridget." I took a deep breath realizing how her absence was louder than the silence between my therapists.

"She was your previous therapists correct?"

"Yes."

"You know she was really into your case. An amazing therapists that has a heart of gold." 

"You knew her?"

"Oh yes, close friend in the industry."

"She can't possibly have a care in the world about my case considering she abandoned me."

The woman beside my bed took in a sharp breath, "she never abandons anyone, she was upset to let you go Nathaniel."

"Don't make her sound like a good person." I rolled my eyes.

She chuckles a bit, "Nathaniel, do you know why she quit her job?"

"I have no reason to care."

"She was raped Nathaniel, raped by her own boss," She was stern with a tinge of anger, "I think that's something you should care about." Then she sat up and left.

I didn't speak.

I couldn't speak.

Bridget was broken now, my Bridge.

Bridget 

"Two cold brews with sweet cold foam please." I say to the barista.

I was meeting up with my lawyer Jenny today to discuss the plan of action I'm taking to the court someday in the next month.

I took the two coffees and sat mine down while giving the other to the pretty blonde across form me, "thank you for meeting up with me during Christmas."

"It's no problem, I'm single and have nothing festive to do so bringing justice to women that need it than that's what I will do." Jenny says after sipping on her coffee.

"I really don't know what to do, I'm so overwhelmed." I rested my head in my hands before looking up.

"Listen honey, there's going to be challenges and a bumpy road up ahead but once he gets stripped of his title in your profession and jail time, the process would be all worth it." She smiles.

"Alright then," I took in a breath before letting it out, "what are we waiting for?"

Nathaniel 

I've never experienced a Christmas like everyone else, because my normal Christmas would have CPS and the police all over it.

I never get what I wish for, It never gets better, and Santa isn't real. Sad? well that was my motto throughout my childhood.

I wished for a family, never got it.

I wished to protect my family, never achieved that.

I wished for the abuse to stop, but that only caused pain to my sister so I'll just suck it up.

I wished for a better life, I'm in a psych ward. 

I wish Bridget was her-no I don't, keep her away.

Knock Knock 

I stayed silent because there's nothing they need to knock for, I have nothing that I have to be private for they've seen me naked, getting dressed, and stare at a wall so I'm peachy.

"Time for meds Nathaniel." Michael says wheeling in a cart of meds.

"Great." 

"They work Nathaniel."

"They say that in every horror movie before killing their victims."

"Thank goodness we're not in a movie then." He smiles.

"It's Christmas, you should be gone." Throwing my pills back and swallowing.

"I know but who would take of you then? My family understands."

"That's commitment considering I hate your presence."

"That's so sweet Nathaniel, you should write poetry."

"Hilarious." I say sarcastically.

"Well, that's it, need anything else?"

"No."

"I'll bring you to the drawing room later this evening, does that sound good?"

I scuffed.

Bridget 

I took in the sharp air in a large breath as I walked out of the café, It was a good, but long discussion. However, it gave me hope because form everything she's said from the DNA samples, security camera footage, and his various amounts of questionable search history it's starting to look good.

The scar will forever remain, instead of being a therapist I'm going to one. I just hope Nathaniel is alright I might be preoccupied now but he's in a lot more pain. I just hope he understands I haven't given up on him. 

"Excuse me ma'am? Can you move out of the way."

I screamed bloody Marry as I turned around to see a man that was the same height as my rapist.

Images formed of that night as my head spun, shortens of breath began to develop, and before I knew it I was rocking myself on the dirty, snowy, streets of New York. Nothing seemed to register as I heard humming of...maybe people? I only saw him and the panic has settled in making it hard to considerate. 

"Bridge-"

"Bridget!"

"Bridget!"

"She has PTSD, move people, move!"

Jenny's voice became clearer and I began regaining my breath, once I could concentrate again Jenny was looming over me with worry in her eyes.

"Baby, just breath, it's okay, nobody is here to harm you. He is not here, he is not here. I have you."

I shattered.

Tears.

Jenny hesitantly wrapped her arms around me while whispering reassuring things. 

I wasn't the one that helped people anymore, I needed help, I was broken.