Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 54

***TRIGGER WARNING- drugging and violence mentions***

Cat knocked on the door.

"Come in," she heard Nate's voice call out.

They walked in, and Gwen and another woman they didn't know were around Nate's bed.

"Gwen...?" Cat asked quietly.

"Hey, Cat!" Gwen looked at Mira Lynne. "You must be Mira Lynne. I'm Gwen. We spoke a few weeks ago on the phone."

"Oh, okay. Hi," Mira Lynne said.

Nate looked at the confused look on Cat's face.

"Cat, Mira Lynne, this is Becca." Nate smiled. "This is my girlfriend." He squeezed Becca's hand.

"Hello, Becca. Nate, how are you doing?"

"I've been better, but just glad I'm alive." He looked from Mira Lynne to Cat, not sure how much Mira Lynne knew. "How are you?" He asked cautiously. He saw the tops of the marks on her neck but decided not to ask.

"I've been better..." She said cautiously, not knowing if Gwen had told Nate about the incident earlier that day.

"I was talking to Gwen, and I'm glad Damien is in jail now." Nate tried being subtle with what he said, but not tell everything.

"So you know?" She asked, tugging her scarf a bit.

"Yes. Are you okay?"

"No. My neck's already started to bruise, and I don't even know how long Damien's going to be in jail."

"I'm so sorry. If we can do anything, let us know." Nate saw Mira Lynne looking uncomfortable. "Mira Lynne, are you okay?"

"Me? Oh, umm, yeah, I'm okay," Mira Lynne looks around.

"Honey, if you need to step out, you can." Cat rubbed her back gently.

"I— did Damien— I'm sorry, I shouldn't pry about what happened to you. I just learned about what all Damien did yesterday, and I'm still in shock and confused."

"We all have been affected by Damien in one way or another," Gwen said.

"It's okay that you ask. This was all Damien. He caused an accident that could have killed me," Nate clarified.

"You saw what he did to me. He strangled me." Cat murmured.

"He drugged me multiple times. Plus, he knocked Nate out when I was in the hospital the last time."

"He did?" Mira Lynne was shocked. "Why?"

"Ugh! He makes me want to scream!" Cat balled up her fists.

Mira Lynne put her hand on Cat's back to soothe her. "It's okay. I know, but he's gone for now."

"But he'll be worse when he comes back!" Cat wailed.

Mira Lynne embraced Cat to calm her. "Hey, it'll be okay. With all the evidence against him just today, and all that Gwen and everyone have gone through, he should be put away for a long time."

"We've been working with Officer Mobus, we'll have to inform her of your case. Maybe all of it together will get him put away for attempted manslaughter," Gwen pointed out.

Cat looks over at her, and nods. She coughs a little bit, rubbing her neck.

"So, on a better note, Cat, this is the girl I told you was a better girl for me. We started dating just yesterday." Nate took Becca's hand in his, trying to get their minds off Damien. "We will definitely be back to Fratelli's for a date so you can see us in a better circumstance."