Echoes of Courage [SHORT FREENBECKY AU STORY] COMPLETED

Chapter 12: Realization

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The days following the trial were a whirlwind of emotions for Becky. The sense of relief from knowing Nop was behind bars was profound, but the scars he left behind were deep. Each night, as she tried to find peace in sleep, the nightmares would come—dark, suffocating memories of her past.

But Freen was always there.

On the nights when Becky would wake up in a cold sweat, heart racing, Freen would be at her side in an instant. She’d sit by Becky’s bed, offering a calming presence, holding her hand, or simply being there until the fear subsided.

One night, after a particularly vivid nightmare, Becky sat up, gasping for breath. Freen, who had been sleeping on the couch nearby, was at her side within seconds.

“Becky, it’s okay. I’m here,” Freen whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed, gently rubbing Becky’s back. “You’re safe now.”

Becky leaned into Freen’s comforting touch, her breathing slowly steadying. “It’s just… it feels so real sometimes. Like I’m still trapped.”

“I know,” Freen said softly. “But you’re not alone anymore. I'm here. I will never leave you.”

As the days turned into weeks, Freen made it her mission to bring light back into Becky’s life. She found small ways to make Becky smile, whether it was cooking her favorite meals, taking her to places that brought her joy, or simply sitting with her and talking about anything but the past.

One afternoon, they were walking through a serene park, the same park where Freen had first seen Nop’s cruelty. But today, the air was different—lighter, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the sound of birds singing.

“This place… it doesn’t feel as scary as it used to,” Becky said, her voice soft as she looked around.

“That’s because you’re seeing it with new eyes,” Freen replied, smiling at her. “It’s like the world is opening up again, piece by piece.”

Becky glanced at Freen, her eyes filled with gratitude. “You’ve done so much for me, Freen. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

“You don’t have to repay me,” Freen said, stopping to face Becky, her expression earnest. “I’m just glad I can be here for you. You deserve happiness, Becky. And if I can help you find that, then that’s enough for me.”

But that evening, in Freen’s house while Becky was already asleep, the soft hum of the city outside barely noticeable through the windows. Freen sat at the kitchen table, a cup of tea in her hands, staring out at the fading light. She had always valued her solitude, the calm after a long day, but tonight, her thoughts were restless, circling around one person: Becky.

Over the past weeks, Freen had dedicated herself to helping Becky rebuild her life. It had started as a simple act of kindness, a sense of responsibility to right the wrongs she had witnessed. But lately, something had shifted within her, something she hadn’t fully acknowledged until now.

Freen’s mind drifted back to that first night after the trial when Becky had woken from a nightmare. The fear in Becky’s eyes had struck a chord deep within Freen, compelling her to stay close, to offer comfort in any way she could. At the time, she had chalked it up to empathy, to a desire to protect someone who had been through so much. But now, sitting in the quiet of her home, Freen realized it was more than that.

“What is happening to me?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “This wasn’t supposed to happen… I was just trying to help her.”

She thought about the way her heart seemed to soften whenever Becky smiled, the way her chest tightened with concern when Becky felt hurt. There was a warmth in Becky’s presence, a gentle pull that Freen found herself gravitating towards, more and more with each passing day.

She closed her eyes, the image of Becky’s smile flashing in her mind. “But it’s more than that, isn’t it?” Freen continued talking to herself, her words soft and uncertain. “I’m not just helping her because it’s the right thing to do. I care about her… more than I should.”

As she sipped her tea, Freen let out a slow breath, the realization settling over her like a soft blanket. She wasn’t just helping Becky out of kindness or duty anymore. She was helping her because she cared—deeply. More deeply than she had intended or expected.

Freen set the cup down, her fingers lingering on the rim as she stared at the steam curling upwards. She had always been careful with her emotions, especially when it came to relationships. Her life was complicated enough with her career and her hidden responsibilities. But Becky… Becky had found her way into Freen’s heart without even trying.

The realization was both exhilarating and terrifying. Freen wasn’t sure when it had happened—perhaps it was in the small, quiet moments they shared, or in the way Becky’s eyes lit up when she felt safe, or maybe it was simply the connection they had forged through shared pain and healing. Whatever it was, Freen couldn’t deny it any longer: she was falling for Becky.

“I’m.... I'm falling for her." she said, almost in disbelief.

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to be continue.....