The Past Within - Mialotte - TNN

Gossip

TW sexual assault

It was an ordinary day at the nursery for Charlotte, filled with the usual tasks of helping the kids with their crafts, singing songs, and making sure everything ran smoothly. The sun hung low in the sky by the time the parents started arriving for pick-up, and Charlotte was already thinking about getting home and unwinding with Mia.

As she stood by the door, handing out artwork and saying goodbye to the children, she caught the tail end of a conversation between two of the dads standing nearby. They were chatting casually, laughing about something she didn't quite catch. She smiled politely as they walked past, but her smile froze when she heard one of them speak again.

"Yeah, I heard she's divorced now. Means she's a free game, right? Man, I'd love to get with her."

Charlotte felt her stomach drop. She didn't need to turn around to know they were talking about her. The tone, the casual objectification—it made her skin crawl. She gripped the edge of the sign-out sheet a little too tightly, her knuckles whitening as she tried to keep her composure. She had learned to handle a lot over the years, but something about the way he said it made her feel... exposed, and vulnerable.

"Bet she's wild now," the man continued, chuckling.

Charlotte forced herself to stay calm, focusing on the task at hand as she greeted the next parent with a forced smile. Her heart pounded in her chest, the words swirling around in her head. She wasn't just creeped out—she was angry, too. Angry that someone could reduce her to just a status, like being divorced suddenly made her a target for unwanted attention. She wasn't a "free game." She wasn't some prize to be won.

The last child was picked up, and as the door closed behind them, Charlotte finally let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. The nursery was quiet now, the day was finally over, but she felt far from okay.

Charlotte grabbed her things, the weight of the comment hanging over her as she left for the day. She didn't feel safe or comfortable in her own skin, and the thought of facing this man again made her uneasy. As she walked out of her car, she quickly dialled Mia's number, wanting to hear her voice, needing something to remind her that she wasn't alone in this. 

Before Mia could pick up, Charlotte felt a presence nearby. She looked up, and her heart sank. It was the same dad who had made the crude remarks earlier. His smile was too wide, his eyes scanning her in a way that made her skin crawl.

"Hey, Charlotte," he said, his voice oozing with unwelcome familiarity. "You heading out? I could walk you to your car, you know... make sure you're safe."

Charlotte's grip tightened on her phone, anxiety bubbling up in her chest. "No, I'm fine. I'm meeting someone," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Meeting someone? That's a shame. You know, we could grab a drink instead. You're single now, right?" His words were laced with entitlement as he stepped closer, cutting off her path.

Charlotte took a step back, her heart racing. "I really need to go," she said firmly, trying to walk past him, but he blocked her path again, this time reaching out to grab her arm.

"Come on, don't be like that. We could have some fun," he said, his grip tightening as he tried to pull her closer.

Panic surged through her. "Let go!" she shouted, twisting her arm in an attempt to free herself. She tried to yank her phone up to call Mia for help, but her hand was shaking too much to focus.

Mia had picked up the call just in time to hear Charlotte's panicked voice. "Charlotte? What's going on? Charlotte!" Mia's voice echoed through the phone, filled with concern and fear.