Stepdad's Obsession

7. We Were Married?

The doctor gave Petal some medicine, and soon she drifted back to sleep.

Maya sat beside her, gently stroking her head, her gaze full of worry.

"Mr. William, may I have a word with you?" the doctor asked softly, glancing between the two of them.

Maya and William exchanged a concerned look, unsure of what the doctor might need to discuss.

"Of course," William replied, standing up. "Please," he added, motioning for the doctor to step outside for a private conversation.

...

Once they were outside, the doctor sighed, looking at William with a serious expression. "Mr. William, I believe the psychiatrist has already advised you, but I must emphasize this-you really need to talk to Petal about her nightmares. She's starting to piece together the memories of the man she keeps seeing in her dreams. The triggers she's experiencing are bringing back fragments of her past. It won't be long before she remembers everything. But if she recovers those memories on her own, without any preparation, it could be dangerous."

William felt his stomach tighten. "Dangerous? What exactly do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice trembling.

The doctor exhaled heavily, clearly choosing his words carefully. "Her mental state is fragile, Mr. William. The trauma she endured... it's extensive. If those memories resurface too suddenly, without the proper emotional support, it could overwhelm her. She's vulnerable right now, and if she relives that pain unexpectedly, she could spiral. That's why it's crucial for you to prepare her. You need to confront this with her before it gets worse."

William swallowed hard, dread pooling in his chest. "But... how do I tell her? How can I explain something so horrifying? I can't even think about it without..." His voice cracked, and he paused, trying to hold back the flood of emotions. "Without breaking down myself."

"I understand how difficult this is for you," the doctor said gently. "But for her sake, you have to find the strength to do it. She needs to hear from you that you'll be there for her, especially when she confronts the man from her nightmares. She needs that reassurance. If she faces this alone, the consequences could be catastrophic."

William shook his head, anguish visible in his eyes. "But how can I look her in the eyes and tell her about the horrors he put her through? How do I shatter her like that? I don't think I can bear it."

The doctor placed a comforting hand on William's shoulder. "You won't be breaking her, William. You'll be saving her. By not telling her, you risk far worse. She needs to be prepared, to understand what's happening to her. This isn't a chance we can afford to take."

William's heart raced as fear and guilt twisted inside him. "I just... I don't know if I'm strong enough. What if she blames me? What if she hates me for not protecting her from him sooner? What if-"

"You did everything you could back then," the doctor interrupted softly but firmly. "But now, your role is different. Now, you have to protect her from reliving that pain on her own. Believe me, it's far better for her to hear the truth from you, someone she trusts, than to have those memories crash over her like a tidal wave. She needs to know she's not alone in this. You're the one who can give her that strength."

William stared off into the distance, his thoughts spiraling. How could he possibly find the words? How could he explain to Petal the nightmare she was unknowingly reliving? He felt utterly lost, terrified of what might happen once those buried memories fully resurfaced. The weight of it all threatened to crush him.

"Take your time," the doctor said, his voice steady and calm. "But don't wait too long. The longer you delay, the more dangerous it becomes for her. You're her anchor in this storm, William. She needs you now more than ever."