Echoes of Courage [SHORT FREENBECKY AU STORY]

Chapter 10: A New Beginning

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The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm, golden glow across the small room. Becky sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers gently tracing the bandages on her wrists. The physical wounds were treated, but the emotional scars ran deep. Yet, for the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t alone.

The door creaked open, and Freen stepped inside, her presence calm and reassuring. She entered the room, carrying a tray with breakfast. “How are you feeling today?” she asked, her voice soft yet encouraging.

Becky looked up, a small but genuine smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Better… I think,” she replied, her voice still a bit shaky but steadier than before. “It’s strange… not feeling like I have to be on guard all the time.”

Freen nodded, placing the tray on the bedside table before sitting down beside Becky. “It’ll take time to adjust,” she said gently. “But you’re doing amazingly well. You’re stronger than you know.”

Becky’s smile grew a little more, the warmth of Freen’s words slowly melting away the lingering frost of fear that clung to her. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help,” she admitted, her eyes meeting Freen’s with gratitude and something deeper—something like trust.

Freen reached out, taking Becky’s hand in hers. “You don’t have to think about that now. What matters is that you’re here, and you’re safe. We’ll take it one step at a time, and I’ll be here with you every step of the way.”

Becky squeezed Freen’s hand, drawing strength from the contact. “Thank you… for everything,” she whispered.

There was a moment of silence, then Freen spoke, breaking the ice.

“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced,” Freen said with a gentle smile, extending her right hand. “I’m Freen Chankimha.”

Becky reached out, her hand trembling slightly as she took Freen’s. “Rebecca Armstrong, but you can call me Becky.” she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Freen’s smile widened, warmth radiating from her. “It’s good to finally meet you, Becky,” she said, her tone sincere.

Becky offered a small, tentative smile, feeling a spark of hope ignited within her. For the first time, she felt like she had someone on her side—someone she could trust.

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It was late in the evening when Freen’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. She was in the middle of making tea, her thoughts drifting to Becky and how well she had been progressing just 24 hours after they rescue her. The sound of her phone snapped her back to the present. She quickly wiped her hands on a towel and picked up the phone, seeing Nam’s name flashing on the screen.

“Nam, hey,” Freen answered, her voice warm but curious. It wasn’t often that Nam called at this hour.

“Freen, I’ve got some news,” Nam’s voice came through the line, serious but with a hint of satisfaction. “Nop’s trial is set for tomorrow morning.”

Freen paused, processing the information. “Tomorrow? That’s sooner than I expected,” she replied, a mixture of surprise and anticipation in her tone.

“Yeah, they managed to fast-track it given the evidence we gathered,” Nam explained. “It’s going to be a closed session, but we’re allowed to be there as witnesses.”

Freen nodded, even though Nam couldn’t see her. “Good. I want to be there, and I’m sure Becky will want to be there too, if she’s up for it.”

“She’s stronger than we give her credit for,” Nam said, admiration in her voice. “But I wanted to give you a heads-up so you can prepare her for it. It’s going to be a big day.”

Freen took a deep breath, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Thanks for letting me know, Nam. I’ll talk to her tonight and make sure she’s ready. We’ll be there.”

“Alright, see you in the morning then,” Nam said, her tone more relaxed now. “We’re almost at the finish line.”

Freen smiled, though there was still a weight in her chest. “Yeah, we are. Thanks again, Nam.”

“Anytime,” Nam replied before ending the call.

Freen put down the phone, her thoughts turning to Becky. Tomorrow was going to be a difficult day, but it was also the day that would bring closure to the nightmare Becky had been living through.

With a determined look, Freen made her way to the living room where Becky was sitting, lost in thought. Freen took a seat beside her, her voice gentle but firm.

“Becky, there’s something we need to talk about,” Freen began, her eyes meeting Becky’s. “Nam just called. Nop’s trial is happening tomorrow.”

Becky’s eyes widened slightly, her hands instinctively clutching the edge of the couch. “Tomorrow?” she echoed, her voice trembling a bit.

Freen nodded, placing a reassuring hand on Becky’s. “I know it’s sudden, but this is the moment we’ve been working toward. You don’t have to go if you’re not ready, but I think it would help to see it through, to know that justice is being served.”

Becky was silent for a moment, her mind racing. Then she took a deep breath, the fear in her eyes slowly giving way to resolve. “I want to be there, Freen. I need to see it for myself.”

Freen smiled, proud of the strength she saw in Becky. “Then we’ll go together,” she said. “And we’ll see this through, no matter what.”

Becky nodded, the resolve in her eyes growing stronger. “Together.”

As they sat there, hand in hand, Freen knew that tomorrow would be a turning point for both of them. It would be the day that Becky finally put her past behind her and began to truly embrace her future. And Freen would be right there by her side, every step of the way.

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to be continue.....