Breaking Free

2.

The coffee table was cluttered with remnants of a late-night conversation—empty mugs, a half-eaten plate of cookies, and a crumpled tissue. Kierra sat on the couch, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring at the muted TV. She hadn't slept much; every noise outside sent her heart racing, her mind conjuring images of Jordan finding her, dragging her back to the life she was desperately trying to leave behind.

Tasha walked in, her expression softening as she took in Kierra's huddled form. "You okay?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

Kierra looked up, her eyes hollow. "I don't know how to be okay anymore."

Tasha sat down beside her, the couch dipping slightly under her weight. "It's going to take time. You've been through hell, Kierra. No one expects you to just bounce back."

Kierra nodded, her gaze dropping to her hands. "I just keep thinking... what if he finds me? What if I can never escape him?"

Tasha reached out, placing a comforting hand on Kierra's knee. "You're safe here. I won't let him hurt you."

The words were meant to reassure, but Kierra couldn't shake the fear that had taken root deep inside her. "He's... he's smart, Tasha. Manipulative. He'll find a way to get to me."

Tasha's grip tightened, her jaw clenching. "He'd have to go through me first. And I promise you, that's not going to be easy."

Kierra managed a weak smile, appreciating Tasha's fierce protectiveness, even if she couldn't quite believe in it yet.

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of Kierra's situation hanging heavily in the air. Tasha could sense that Kierra was on the edge, teetering between hope and despair. She wanted to help, but she also knew this was a battle Kierra had to fight on her own terms.

"Tasha... what if I just left? Disappeared? Started over somewhere far away?" Kierra's voice was barely above a whisper, as if speaking the thought aloud made it more real, more terrifying.

Tasha hesitated, not wanting to dismiss the idea but also knowing the complexities involved. "It's an option, but running isn't the same as being free, Kierra. Jordan's hold on you is more than just physical. If you leave without confronting what he's done to you, he'll still have power over you, no matter where you are."

Kierra shivered at the truth of Tasha's words. "I don't know if I'm strong enough to face him."

"You are," Tasha said firmly. "You've already done the hardest part by leaving. The rest... we'll figure it out together."

Kierra looked at Tasha, seeing the determination in her eyes. It was that strength, that unwavering support, that had given her the courage to leave Jordan in the first place. But now, the severity of what she had done—and what still needed to be done—was crashing down on her.

The sound of a phone ringing broke the silence, making Kierra jump. Tasha quickly grabbed her phone from the table, her face hardening as she saw the caller ID.

"It's him, isn't it?" Kierra asked, her voice trembling.

Tasha nodded, muting the call and setting the phone back down. "He's not going to stop," she said, more to herself than to Kierra.

Kierra's breath hitched, panic rising in her chest. "What do we do?"

Tasha took a deep breath, steadying herself. "We stay calm. We don't let him scare us. And we take this one step at a time."

Kierra wanted to believe her, wanted to find some comfort in Tasha's words. But all she could think about was Jordan's relentless pursuit, the way he always seemed to be one step ahead. She could feel the walls closing in, the escape she had hoped for slipping further and further away.

Tasha saw the fear in Kierra's eyes, and it broke her heart. She wished she could do more, be more for Kierra in this moment. But all she could offer was her presence, her support, and the promise that she wouldn't let Kierra face this alone.

"We're going to get through this," Tasha said, pulling Kierra into a tight embrace. "I'm not going to let him take you back."

For the first time in days, Kierra allowed herself to cry, letting the tears flow freely as Tasha held her. It was a release, a small step towards healing, even if the road ahead still seemed impossibly long.

As the tears subsided, Kierra pulled back, wiping her eyes. "Thank you, Tasha. For everything."

Tasha smiled, though her eyes remained serious. "You don't have to thank me. We're in this together."

Kierra nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. It wasn't much, but it was something. And right now, that was enough to keep her going.