Sibling spotlight - billie and Finneas story

Truama

Chapter 29: Truama

TW: ABUSE AND IMPLIED SA/R@P3

The room fell into a tense silence after Y/N’s last words. Everyone was waiting, knowing that Y/N was trying to find the strength to open up about what happened to her, but also aware that it might be too soon. Billie tightened her grip on Y/N, offering a silent source of comfort, while Finneas kept his eyes locked on her, bracing for what might come next.

Y/N swallowed hard, her hands shaking as she wiped the tears from her face. She hadn’t talked about it—not really, not even to herself. It had all been too terrifying, too painful to say out loud. But a part of her knew that if she didn’t start now, she might never be able to get past it.

“I don’t remember everything,” Y/N started, her voice a soft tremble. “A lot of it’s… blurry.”

Billie nodded gently. “That’s okay, Y/N. You don’t have to remember everything.”

Y/N’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she continued. “He… he kept telling me things. That I was worthless, that no one would ever find me. That no one cared enough to look.” Her voice cracked as the words came tumbling out, each one stabbing at the hearts of her family.

Her father, who stood just out of her line of sight, turned away slightly, hiding the way his face crumpled with grief. Maggie squeezed his hand tightly, trying to keep him grounded while holding back her own tears.

“He made me feel like I didn’t exist,” Y/N whispered, her body curling into itself as if she was trying to make herself as small as possible. “Like I was nothing.”

Billie pressed a soft kiss to Y/N’s forehead, her own tears threatening to fall. “But you’re not nothing, Y/N,” she whispered fiercely. “You are everything to us.”

Finneas’s throat tightened as he listened, his heart breaking at the thought of what Y/N had endured. He’d been trying so hard to be strong, to keep it together for her, but hearing the pain in her voice made it almost impossible.

Y/N took a shaky breath, her eyes distant as she relived the memories. “He hurt me. Not just with words. Sometimes he’d hit me when I cried. Told me I had no reason to be upset.” She winced as the memories surfaced, her hand absentmindedly reaching up to touch the bruises that had long since faded but still felt fresh in her mind.

Finneas couldn’t hold back anymore. “I’m so sorry, Y/N,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m sorry we couldn’t find you sooner.”

Y/N shook her head quickly. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know.”

Her father, standing in the corner of the room, seemed to crumple even more at her words. He hadn’t said a word since Y/N started talking, too afraid that his presence would only make her retreat back into silence. But the guilt was eating him alive. He couldn’t stop the thoughts that plagued his mind—what if he had done more? What if they had found her sooner?

“There’s more,” Y/N said softly, her voice barely a whisper now. Billie’s heart ached as she held her closer, feeling how fragile her sister had become, both physically and emotionally. “He made me do things,” Y/N choked out, her eyes filling with tears again. “Things I didn’t want to do.”

Billie’s arms tightened around her, her whole body stiffening as the realization hit her. “Y/N…” she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks.

Y/N didn’t say anything more, and Billie didn’t push her. There was nothing more that needed to be said for them to understand the horror of what Y/N had gone through. The pain in her eyes spoke volumes, and every word she had forced herself to say felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

Finneas turned away slightly, unable to bear the weight of what his little sister had just revealed. He clenched his fists, his mind racing with anger and helplessness. How could someone do this to her? How could they break her down so completely?

“I… I tried to fight,” Y/N said, her voice barely audible. “But he was too strong. And every time I tried, it just made it worse.”

Billie buried her face in Y/N’s hair, her tears soaking into her sister’s hoodie. “You were so brave,” she whispered through her sobs. “You survived, Y/N. That’s all that matters now. You survived.”

Their father took a deep breath, his voice trembling as he finally spoke. “Y/N… I wish I could take all of this pain away. I wish I could make everything better.”

Y/N turned her head slightly, her tear-filled eyes meeting his for the first time in what felt like forever. She saw the pain in his eyes, the guilt and the love, and for a brief moment, her fear lessened. It was still there, but it wasn’t as all-consuming as it had been before.

“I know,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I know you do.”

Finneas finally moved forward, placing a gentle hand on Y/N’s shoulder. “We’re going to get through this, Y/N,” he said firmly. “No matter how long it takes, we’re going to help you heal.”

Y/N nodded weakly, though her body still trembled. She had said more than she ever thought she’d be able to, but the weight of it still hung over her like a storm cloud. The road to healing felt impossibly long, and she wasn’t sure how to take the next step. But for the first time, she wasn’t facing it alone. She had her family, and though they couldn’t erase what had happened, they would be there to carry her through the darkest parts of it.

“I love you guys,” Y/N whispered, her voice barely audible.

“We love you too, Y/N,” Billie whispered back, her voice thick with emotion. “So much.”