Breaking Free🤍

Chapter 1- Are you okay?

Siobhan and Vivian hadn't known each other long but they had become very close over a few weeks.

The two women chatted and laughed with each other whenever they were simply passing in the corridor or having an arranged meeting.

Every time they had a meeting arranged, it made Siobhan feel comfortable. Roger wasn't peering over his every move when she was talking to Vivian. He didn't know.

They had a meeting scheduled for Thursday. Siobhan always had these meetings with Vivian privately, nobody else attended. Making small talk with Vivian comforted Siobhan in a sense. Being close to her made her feel safe. It was like a new reality had opened up for the woman.

** The day of the Meeting **

Vivian walked into the meeting room, greeted by Siobhan inviting her to sit down. She held two coffees in her hand and a small box of glazed doughnuts for the pair to share.

"Hi, Viv!" Siobhan snapped out of her daydream as she spotted Vivian in the doorway. Before she noticed Viv, her expression looked cold and unfocused. Something was definitely on her mind.

"You alright, Bon Bon?" Viv noticed her expression and was deeply concerned for her... friend.

"Yes, I'm fine. Didn't get much sleep last night but overall I'm doing okay. How are you this morning?"

"I'm doing alright thank you. I've just dropped Jamie off with Charlotte and the hospital has been running semi-smoothly so everything is just usual." Vivian responded to her as she looked into Siobhan's deep blue eyes.

She looked closely into her eyes without trying to look odd. The way her Bon Bons eyes glistened when the sunlight hit them. Her eyes looked slightly red, almost as if she'd been crying a little. She came to the decision not to question it.

Small talk was being made between the women. Siobhan had a soft spot for Vivian in her heart. Something about her just gave Shibby a sense of security. Nothing would hurt her. Viv would protect her.

As Siobhan was talking, she didn't realise that she pulled up her sleeves, pulling up sleeves resulted in cuts and bruises being visible.

Vivian felt her heart sink when she took a look at the arms of the woman sitting in front of her. The bruises looked very new on the skin.

Siobhan's partner, Roger was known to be a very self-absorbed, greedy man. Money and power were his number one priorities. The man was an alcoholic. When he is intoxicated, he becomes extremely aggressive, especially towards Siobhan.

The relationship between Roger and Siobhan did not feel loving at all in the blonde's eyes. The fear of going home and just wanting a peaceful night on the couch, trying to debrief her day. Working in an office isn't the most enjoyable job in her opinion but she tried her hardest.

Viv didn't know a lot about her new friend. They were just getting to know each other. Every few seconds, she would try to catch a glance at her arms without it being noticeable.

"Bon, are you okay? Your arms look sore. What happened?" The words sped out of Vivian's mouth as Siobhan finally noticed she had put her arms in view for her new friend to see. Siobhan quickly pulled her sleeves down, leaving the cuts and bruises unrevealed once again.

"Well, Ro-" She started but then she cut herself by biting her tongue.

"I'm quite a clumsy person, it's not intentional, I promise." Siobhan felt a lump in her throat at even the thought of the man who had put her through so much stress and pain.

"Would you like me to take a look at your arms? Some of those cuts look quite deep. I know what I'm doing." The way Vivian proposed the idea was so gentle and loving. The tone that she hadn't heard Roger use since the beginning of their relationship.

"No thank you, I'm okay Viv. Don't worry, they'll heal in a day or two." Saying this hurt Siobhan's feelings. If only she had the confidence to stand up to Roger and tell Vivian everything. It's easier to be said than done.

Vivian didn't want to push the situation any further as she could see the expression on Siobhan's face change from a slight smile to a cold, emotionless expression. The face she made was very similar to the one that was painted across her face before Viv walked in.

The two women went back to making conversation about the nursery. The entire time, Vivian was trying to work out what was happening between Bon Bon and Roger.

The thought of domestic violence made her feel sick. It was one of the only explanations for the state of her arms.

** 1 hour later **

Happiness filled the air between them. Their time was running out when Siobhan's phone started blowing up for the umpteenth time.

"I better go, it's Roger. He's eager to see me."

"Right, I'll let you get back to Mr Relentless." The air in the room went cold at the mention of Roger.

"Goodbye Viv."

"Bye Bon."

** Later that same day **

Vivian had just put Jamie to bed, and the house filled with an unsettling silence. She couldn't think about anything other than Siobhan. Not in the usual loving way, but in the deeply concerned way.

These thoughts consumed loads of time. The possible outcome of being wrong. What if Siobhan was clumsy and she was just overthinking the entire situation? Something in her told her that this outcome wasn't correct.

The relationship never sat right with Vivian. Every time Viv asked how he was, Siobhan's demeanour went cold.

Viv thought it was best to try to get some sleep. Given it had been a long day, maybe some rest would help ease her mind.

The problem was, her mind wasn't shutting off. After she had changed into something comfortable, she lay in bed and stared at the ceiling for what felt like years.

How can I help her?
Am I overthinking this?
Bon Bon is my friend, she would tell me if something was wrong.

She didn't know what to do.
There was nobody else she could ask.

Vivian was Siobhan's only friend.

____________________

A/N- I have no idea what this is. I'm so sorry. Sad storylines aren't my strong suit but something inside me told me to write about the build-up of their relationship.

This will not jump directly into their getting together. It will be what the effects can be, and especially how she feels and how she escapes.

Buckle in!