IT STARTED WITH A WHISPER, Elizabeth Olsen

The trial

A FEW WEEKS LATER

"Are you ready for this?" I asked as I watched Lizzie get dressed in the outfit she prepared weeks ago.

"I don't know, but I have to do this" she gave me a weak smile. I got up, and walked towards her, gently placing my hands on her hips.

"You're the strongest, bravest, smartest woman I've ever met" I whispered in her ear as I dropped a soft kiss on her cheek.

"You have no idea how scared I am, just knowing he's going to be there" she mumbled trying to hold back tears.

"If he even tries to look at you, I'll beat the shit out of him" I threatened as I hugged her tightly.

"I know you will, that's part of the things I'm scared about" she laughed lightly. That's all I wanted to do, to make her laugh, to lighten the mood as much as I possibly could.

We headed towards the car, and I decided to drive as I was finally free to do so, and I didn't want Lizzie to have to do it. She was already so stressed about the trial, I didn't want her to worry about stuff like driving, especially at this busy hour.

I could see how worried she was, she decided to press charges against her ex-boyfriend, which is a very difficult thing to do, and I'm so incredibly proud of her for finding the courage to do it. I wanted her to know that I was here for her, but I truly didn't know how to do that. I had no idea how she felt, I could barely imagine it.

When we walked in the building, I felt her whole body tense. She looked at me, and for a second she didn't look so sure of what she was doing, even though we knew she'd win.

"Lizzie, darling, I'm beyond proud of you. I'll be sitting right behind you, okay?" I spoke as I gently cupped her face.

"I love you" she whispered as she softly pecked my lips.

The hour that followed was rough, seeing Lizzie so vulnerable was hard. She had to testify, to tell everything that happened, all over again, and it made me sick to not be able to do anything to make this easier for her. At least she won, but I don't even know if it will change anything. I mean I know it won't. It won't change what happened. She'll have to leave the rest of her life with the memories, the feeling of his hands on her body... She's another traumatised woman, and he's another man who won't get that much of a punishment. The system's so wrong.

"Are you okay?" Lizzie asked as I drove us back to my place.

"I should be the one asking that" I chuckled, avoiding the question.

"You look like you have something on your mind" she insisted, placing her hand on my thigh.

"I'm just... I want this to be easier for you, I want you to feel better, and I don't know how to do that" I shamefully admitted, avoiding her gaze.

"Y/n" she chuckled. "Just being around you makes things easier, and I know that you're scared of not being enough, I know that you're scared that I'm gonna run away from you, again, but I promise, it won't happen. I actually like who I am when I'm with you" she explained, tracing random shapes on my thigh, over the thick fabric of my jeans. "And I know that you're here for me if I need anything" she added, right before I could say it.

We made it home in a comfortable silence, and I decided to cook lasagnas for dinner. It was basically the only thing I was good at making. I placed the dish in the oven right when Lizzie walked in the kitchen.

"Hm, this smells so good, lasagnas?" she hummed as she sat on the counter.

"Yep" I smiled as I pressed my body between her thighs. "Hey" I whispered, leaning in.