Meant to be.

Arizona's Story

⚠️- MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING FOR SEXUAL ASSULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
⚠️-  SUICIDE and SELF-HARM
PLEASE DON'T READ IF THIS WILL TRIGGER YOU, THE REST OF THE STORY WILL STILL MAKE SENSE EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT IN A HEADSPACE WHERE YOU CAN READY THIS CHAPTER. PLEASE BE SAFE.

Meredith POV

"first I want to know if you know what this means?" Arizona asked, showing me a tattoo on her hip, it was a Medusa tattoo, it was beautiful. Although it was surrounded by small circles that I don't think were actually part of the tattoo. I looked back at her and shook my head lying I knew what it meant but I didn't want it to be true.
"That's ok, This tattoo is of an Ancient Greek gorgon called Medusa," she explained to me, in a way that felt like she actually wanted to explain but no so in a way that I felt like she thought less of me for not knowing,
"And for some people such as myself get a Medusa tattoo as a symbol of strength, power and female empowerment. I got mine about three years ago, and I'll explain why in just a moment but I just wanted to make sure you were ok?" she asked, I nodded quietly, as I moved slightly so I was resting against Addie who pulled me into her lap taking my hand in hers, "ok same as when Addie was telling you her story, if at any point it gets to much or you've heard enough just tell me and I will stop, ok?" She continues and I nod again, "Meredith I need to hear you say it, ok my story although I'm not ashamed of it, is not an easy one to here I want you to know you can stop me if it gets to much," she continues, looking straight at me,
"I understand Ari," I say, i want to hear her story, hearing Addie's last night helped, it helped me feel less alone.
"Ok well, about three years ago..."

•••• Flashback 3 years ••••

Third Person POV

Arizona had just gotten home from work, when she saw the empty bottles in the sink. She let out a sigh as she took off her shoes, grimacing at the pain in her right shoulder.
"Is that you bitch!" A voice rang out from the lounge room,
"Yes, Elizabeth it's me. Did you have a good day?" Arizona asked counting the bottles that lay across the kitchen.
"No you skank I did not have a good day, there was no food in the fridge," Elizabeth yelled entering the kitchen in a half stumble.
"No I left lunch for you, I made you, your favourite Cheese pizza, you just had to heat it up." Arizona explained, checking the fridge and seeing the pizza laying underneath a carton of beers,
"It was sitting under you new..," Arizona explained, but was cut off by a hand slapping across her cheek,
"You bitch, I said there was no food, don't argue with me," Elizabeth yelled, standing right in front of Arizona. Arizona could smell the alcohol on her girlfriend's breath, she hated it. Most days she would come home to find the place a mess bottles everywhere, it wasn't uncommon to find something broken as her girlfriend had often smashed things in her rage.
"I'm sorry Liz," Ari said looking down, wincing in pain once again as she felt a hand come down on her right shoulder,
"What have I said about calling me Liz you bitch." Isabelle yelled squeezing hard on Arizona's shoulder enjoying the look on Arizona's face as she winced in pain.
"I'm sorry Libby," Arizona said holding back tears,
"Better," Elizabeth smirked, "now where is my dinner? First you didn't make me lunch now no dinner?" Elizabeth asked slipping her hand under Arizona's top,
"I um.." Arizona stuttered, "I'm about to make it now I just got home, what would you like?" Arizona asked, as she felt her girlfriends hand roam around her torso,
"Hmmm, I'm not sure," Elizabeth laughed, seeing her girlfriend tense under her touch, "take off your shirt," she demanded, looking at Arizona.
"I um..wait.." Arizona stuttered but was quickly met with another slap this time to the other side of her face.
"Shirt off now," Elizabeth demanded, again this time Arizona quickly reacting removing her shirt leaving her in only her lacey black bra. Arizona hated this bra it barely did anything and it was itchy under her scrubs but Elizabeth demanded that she wear it. "Actually take your trousers off as well," Elizabeth demanded,
"Libby is the middle of winter it's freezing please can I keep them on," Arizona asked keeping her head down in fear of being slapped again, but instead her girlfriend simply huffed before yanking on Arizona's trousers pulling them down to her ankles.
"I said off," Elizabeth said bluntly, "and when I say off, I don't want complaints," she said pushing Arizona's head up by the chin, "understand" she spat,
"Yes Elizabeth," Arizona said quietly, she stood still for a moment while her girlfriend ran her nails across her body wincing when she pressed on the bruises that where littered all over her, her breath hitching as Elizabeth's fingers reached the marks Arizona had inflicted on herself late at night long after her girlfriend had fallen asleep, as she tried to calm her mind, distract herself from the pain in other parts of her body.
"You're so selfish you know that?" Elizabeth said she she looked at the marks, none of them where deep enough they would scar but they where still scabbed over,
"I'm sorry Libby," Arizona said quietly ashamed of what she had down to her body, but also ashamed of how violated she had felt before she'd done it.
"what ever you bitch, make me dinner!" Elizabeth demanded slapping her hand against Arizona's thigh."
Arizona quickly turned not even bothering to ask if she could redress her girlfriend liked her to be near naked, she was lucky she hadn't been asked to completely strip. As she turned around she saw her girlfriend lighting a cigarette. She hated that Elizabeth smoked inside but the one time she had asked her to stop nearly resulted in a broken arm.