𝑺𝑰𝑫𝑬-𝒁 | 𝑶𝒏𝒆-𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

𝑭𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒓 - 𝑺𝒆𝒖𝒏𝒈𝑳𝒊𝒙 (2/4)

××𝙎𝙚𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙢𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙊𝙑××

I heard that voice again, I still jumped and looked behind me.

"Yeah, I'm- known to run away... sorry about that."

I apologized for leaving without telling anyone else.

"It's fine. He knew you wouldn't be able to last long in there, that's why he set that up."

The boy pointed over to a picnic table full of food and books.

"Hyunjin is something. He always knows what to do and how to help."

I admired how helpful and caring Hyunjin is. 

"Y'know there is a reason... he wanted to introduce us..."

The boy sat next to me and handed me half a chocolate bar,

"Oh? And what is the reason?"

I asked slightly amused because Hyunjin is thoughtful but also very mischievous... which is why he's my best friend, the one person I can lean on.

"We have something important in common."

"And what is it? We both have brown eyes?"

I joked wanting to keep the mood light.

"We share the same trauma... I went through the same thing you did... Just at a younger age."

my breath stopped for a moment, he... this innocent-looking, pink-haired, freckled boy in front of me, went through the same thing as me? 

"Oh-"

That was all I managed to say, still stunned by this fact.

"Yeah, uhm, took me about six years in therapy to be able to interact with people again. He wanted you to know that... you're not alone, what happened to you is more recent so, it hurts more, It happened to me when I was around thirteen."

As he spoke, I started to feel a rush of emotions.

"Though circumstances were different and the things that happened to us were different, we went through the same thing. Being Kidnapped... Beaten... SA'd... it's- not something we can forget easily. I know how it feels and what the trauma afterward is like, how it feels to think you're an outcast unworthy of this world, and Hyunjin wanted you to know that he and I- Felix by the way... are by your side. We're all here for a reason and with a purpose... the things that happened though are unfortunate, happened for a reason and we can't go back and change it, all we can do is change our future, are you going to live in the past and let yourself drown in the pain you felt two years ago or... are you going to let Hyunjin and I help you to become the person you used to be again? This pain follows you everywhere all the time, I know and it's hard to get over but, with some help and guidance from your therapist... you can start to shed the pain of the past slowly, and start living in the present and enjoy life."

Felix- Felix, I smiled internally, he was comforting, he spoke softly, and slowly, and made sure I was comfortable in between words, he made sure not to use trigger words which I guess Hyunjin told him about. Hyunjin is like God and Felix is like an angel sent to help... he- he's here talking and I don't feel fear... for the first time since I was seventeen... I'm not afraid of being close to someone who isn't Hyunjin or my Mom.

He sat a safe distance away from me, but close enough to be able to reach out and pat my knee.

"I know we just met but, I hope we can be good friends."

He gave me a big smile.

"C'mon, I think Hyunjin put ice cream in that cooler."

He stood up and reached his hand out to help me up. I smiled, a new... friend. My heart beat faster, I was happy... happy, I was able to socialize without apologizing for talking because he was the one talking, and making sure I was comfortable. I stood up and Felix and I walked to the bench and sat.

We talked, talked for an hour, not even about anything important, he talked about his sisters and I talked about my sister. The entire time we talked he made sure not to use trigger words which once again Hyunjin must've given him a list or something because he kept using alternative words, which I found funny.

He was talking about baseball, and since he couldn't say the word "baseball bat" he said "wooden club cavemen hit trees with" Every time he needed the word "bat" he said that instead, which made for an interesting conversation.

I'm grateful Hyunjin decided to introduce me to Felix. After a while, Hyunjin did show up to take me home since I can't drive in the dark.

After exchanging goodbyes I got in the car, and we drove off.

"You seem happy."

He spoke with a smile and still looking at the empty road.

"How?"

I asked with an obvious smile.

"You got in the passenger's seat without flinching or crying. And you've been smiling since I picked you up."

My eyes widened as I realized I was in fact in the passenger's seat.

"I- oh."

I just laughed and looked out the window.

"It's good, it's a good sign Minnie. I'm glad you're making progress."

Hyunjin patted my shoulder before turning back to the road.

We sat in a comfortable silence as he drove me home.

I'm making progress. I'M MAKING PROGRESS. I screamed internally and had a big smile on my face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

To Be Continued...