SEASON OF LOVE

CHAPTER 7:- MY SECRET

"Please save me from him.", I said in a low voice.

"From who, Nancy?", he asked worriedly.

"My dad. I uhm... I couldn't breathe.", I said in a low voice.

"Okay, Nancy relax. Let's go to the terrace. You take some fresh air and you are gonna be fine.", he grabbed me and we both walked to the terrace.

I took a deep breath. Finally, I could breathe. That man, he just made my life hell. I hate him. Today, in whatever condition I am is just because of him.

"Don't you think, you need to explain something to me, Nancy.", Ethan said.

I turned around and looked at Ethan. He was looking confused.

"I don't owe you an explanation, Ethan.", I said and started walking.

"Why are you scared of your dad?", Ethan grabbed my hand.

"It's none of your business.", I said looking at him.

"Nancy, don't you think I should know your secret since you know my biggest secret? It should be fair, right?", he said.

His words, they made sense. Maybe he was right. Should I tell him how my dad used to treat me and my mom? Should I tell him that my dad was a fucking asshole? I don't know what I should do now.

"Come on, Nancy tell me. Is he your stepdad?", he asked.

"Fine, I will tell you.", I said.

"I am listening, Nancy.", he said.

"He is not my stepdad. My mother was pregnant when she was just 19 years old. Everything was fine. We all were happy. When I was 13 years old, my father started drinking. He used to come home late and started shouting at my mother.", I said.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I wiped off my tears and looked at Ethan. He became emotional. I don't know what kind of person he is. Sometimes he is too good and sometimes he is the worst.

"It's fine, Nancy. I am here with you. You don't have to be scared.", he said.

He calmed me down. His words made my heart flutter. I don't know why I am attracted to him.

"He used to beat my mom in front of me. He raped her. My mom couldn't do anything. She endured everything for me. One day, my mom found out that he was having an affair. She confronted him. My dad got angry and he beat her till the blood came out of her body. I called the ambulance. My mom sustained a lot of injuries. She couldn't make it, Ethan. She died.

"He wasn't even guilty for what he did. As soon as my mother passed away, he brought his mistress to the house. It was as if he was waiting for my mother to die. I was lonely. I had no one on my side. He didn't care for me. As I grew mature, I started confronting him. I wanted him to realize his mistake. But I was wrong."

"He started beating me. He used to lock me in the room. He used to touch me. His intentions weren't good. He tortured me for 1 year. I was scared of him. I ran away from home. I was homeless. I didn't have a place to go. I started working as a waitress. I paid for my studies. I worked harder. Now here I am. Then I met Sam, my best friend. She is an angel to me. I don't know how I can repay her. She stood with me in my bad times."

"So, yeah that was my secret.", I chuckled.

I looked at Ethan. Tears were in my eyes. Ethan just hugged me.

"I am so sorry, Nancy. I shouldn't have behaved like that. I was scared, Nancy. I didn't want to hurt you.", he said.

What? Ethan Sinclair is saying sorry. Jesus! Why is he confusing me? I thought that I could hate him but no, it even made me more closer to him now. We both know our darkest secrets. I was surprised to see him like this.

"It's okay. It was my mistake. I shouldn't have read that letter.", I said.

We both smiled. We both looked up at the sky. It was beautiful. No sight is more provocative of awe than the night sky.

"You know what, Nancy? Without the dark, we would never see the stars. There also would be no use for the moon if there was never a night.", he said looking at me.

"Woah! I have never seen this matured side of yours.", I said laughing.

He chuckled. Ah! Today was a hectic day. I never thought that I would see my dad today. Seeing him today, flashback all the memories of my past. I held him responsible for my mother's death. I wished that my mother had some courage to leave him all alone. She loved him a lot. She couldn't leave him alone. Love doesn't ask you to be in a toxic relationship.

We end up in a toxic relationship because we don't stand up for ourselves early on when red flags occur. We let them slide because we are losing a companion. How long do you let disrespect and neglect go? At some point, you have to develop healthy barriers for how you are going to be treated; you are responsible for your experience, nobody else is.