Love letters

Different this time

*Authors note~ another chapter of love letters, I haven't forgotten about happy hours it is coming for you all soon*

Trigger warnings~ rough past for r featuring abuse mental, emotional and physical and In future chapters sexual abuse

Since that evening where your solider left for the base, you'd kept it to yourself. Walking back in the rain you decided that all you could do was carry on as normal. Who would know if you'd ever hear from Emily again? Perhaps that's the only spark of joy you'd be granted in your lifetime. Stepping into the house that was never really home you were reminded of just that. Your mother passed out on the sofa with an infant by her side soundly asleep. The bottles of beer littered around her had you scooping the child up to take her away from the mess. Your mother didn't even stir but you didn't care, making a beeline for your room. Somewhat of your safe haven.

Your step brother blocked the way while he spewed words at you and the child in your arms, threatening to tell his father you were out too late, they knew you closed the cafe up and how long it should take you to get back. But you took every word silently, sheltering the child by covering her ears gently. "Are you done? Isla is asleep and I don't think your dad will be happy if you wake her up Rhys." And with that you snuck into your room breathing a sigh of relief. The day rather insane yet you couldn't stop thinking of the happiness the solider brought you for those short hours. If only she knew that you weren't as perfect as you portrayed yourself to be at work. Even your own family would remind you of how unworthy you were.

Working at the Cafe provided you some spear income, that normally your mother and stepfather would take to pay for beer or Rhys to spend, they called it rent. All while you were the only one who held down a legal job, looked after Isla and even tried to put yourself through school to ensure you could take Isla away from this toxic environment. Any tips you received at Crimson were stashed away at the cafe for you to ensure it's safety. As soon as you had enough saved you'd find an apartment and start our life.

Considering you had everything you wanted to do to escape your life, it was rare you deviated from the plans. Meeting Emily was not something you planned but for some unexplainable reason you felt a pull towards the raven haired solider. You were a firm believer in destiny, it is how you survive the current life you've experienced so far, the belief that good was on it's way to you soon. It had to be.

The sound of tiny wails broke you from your thoughts to Rhys now pounding on your locked door. Truly, this was all you know and the guilt of it being able to take Isla away from this. She may have come from a traumatic experience but she is an innocent baby who didn't deserve to suffer at the hands of people who were suppose to be family. Ignoring Rhys in favour of settling the baby, your exhaustion was wearing on you, yet you couldn't sleep now because of the assignment deadline at eleven fifty nine tonight. The assignment had been something you'd had been meaning to get around to but between the job and home you just didn't have enough hours in the day to do everything. Once Isla had been settled you managed to submit your assignment before your stepfather came stumbling in, in a drunken rage, ready to punish you for the money being low despite the fact he literally drank and gambled your weeks wages away as soon as the money hit his palm. While he lashed out all you could do is hope that fate had brought Emily to you for a good reason, yet with your track record you were certainly losing hope. Was this a cruel joke on you?