Unbroken Vows

Chapter 20

"YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOURSELF TIME AND NOT GO ACCORDING TO SOCIETAL NORMS, MR. TUL. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF," the doctor’s voice echoed in Tul’s ears as he lay in the hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Tul felt the weight of the past few years crashing down on him—years of abuse, mental harassment, the constant fear and uncertainty, and now the pregnancy that had taken a toll on his body. He knew his body was shutting down, no longer able to carry the immense burden he'd forced upon himself. He had pushed every thought of his pain and suffering aside, focusing on his children, his family—but now, the thoughts flooded in uncontrollably.

The doctor handed Mew a list of medications, along with strict instructions. "Tul’s postpartum period is going to be tough, even more difficult than the pregnancy. His body is exhausted, his mind fragile. He’ll need care—both physically and emotionally."

Mew nodded, taking in everything the doctor said. He had to be there for Tul. "I’ll take care of him," Mew promised quietly, looking at the sedated form of his husband lying on the bed. Tul had been through so much. Too much.

As the night wore on, Mew sat by Tul's bedside, watching over him. But suddenly, he was startled by a frightened voice.

“Please... don’t hurt me... stop... I’m in pain...” Tul mumbled in his sleep, his body thrashing slightly against the sheets. His voice was filled with fear and desperation. “Please... stop.”

Mew’s heart clenched. Tul was dreaming—no, reliving those horrible moments. Mew rushed to him, trying to wrap his arms around Tul to comfort him.

"Tul, it's okay. You're safe, I’m here," Mew whispered, but Tul pushed him away violently, eyes still closed, locked in his nightmare.

Mew’s eyes filled with tears, but he didn’t give up. He gently kissed Tul’s forehead and, with a soft voice, said, "Hold on, Tul. I’ll be right back."

He rushed to the next room and brought Mayera and Mayesha, their little hands clutching his shirt. He gently placed them beside Tul, hoping their presence would soothe him.

Tul’s breath hitched, his body relaxing ever so slightly as the girls lay next to him. “Papa...” one of them murmured in her sleep, clutching Tul’s hand.

Mew watched as the tension in Tul’s body began to dissipate. The doctor had warned him—Tul would have many triggers during his recovery. He would have to be patient. But Mew was determined not to give up, no matter how hard the road ahead would be.

The next morning, Tul woke up, and as usual, his first instinct was to get up and check on the children. But something was wrong—he couldn’t find them anywhere. Panic began to crawl into his heart.

"Mew?" Tul’s voice was shaky as he rushed to the living room, his heart pounding in his chest. "Where are the children?"

Mew was waiting for him, sitting on the couch. He stood up, walking over to Tul, his expression calm but serious. "They’re with Tyler for the day. I asked him to take care of them so we could talk."

Tul’s eyes widened, a flicker of fear flashing across his face. "Talk about what?" he asked, his voice defensive.

"Only after you see them," Mew replied gently, pulling out his phone and dialing Tyler. He held it up for a video call, and soon, Tul saw Mayera and Mayesha’s smiling faces on the screen.

“Papa! Dada!” they squealed, waving at him.

Tul smiled in relief, tears welling in his eyes. "Hi, my angels... Papa will see you soon, okay?"

After the call ended, Mew gestured for Tul to sit down. Tul was still hesitant but agreed, only after ensuring his children were fine.

Mew sat down across from him, taking a deep breath. "Tul... we need to talk about what happened with Max."

Tul flinched, his body tensing up immediately at the mention of Max's name. "No... I-I can’t, Mew. I don’t want to go there."

Mew leaned forward, taking Tul’s hands in his own, his voice firm yet full of love. "I know it's hard, Tul. But this is the first step. You have to face it, or it’ll keep haunting you. I’ll be with you every step of the way. I promise you."

Tul’s hands trembled, his breath shallow. He could feel the memories resurfacing, the pain creeping back into his chest. But Mew’s grip was steady, and somehow, Tul found the strength to nod.

"Okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Mew squeezed his hands gently. "Whenever you’re ready."

Tul took a deep breath, his voice shaking as he began. "Max... Max used to hit me for everything. Every little mistake... he would hit me. If I didn’t respond the way he wanted, if I wasn’t quick enough to follow his orders, he’d... he’d punish me." His eyes began to glisten with tears, but he continued. "It started small, just slaps, pushes... but then it got worse. He’d punch me, kick me... sometimes I couldn't even get up after."

Mew’s heart broke with every word, but he stayed silent, letting Tul speak.

"And then... the assaults," Tul continued, his voice barely a whisper now. "He’d... he’d force himself on me, Mew. It didn’t matter if I cried or begged him to stop. He didn’t care. He just... kept going."

Tears streamed down Tul’s face now, his body shaking as the memories overwhelmed him. "There were nights where I thought I wouldn’t survive. The pain... the fear... it was too much. And all I could think about was how much I missed you, Mew. How much I wanted to be with you and the children."

Mew pulled Tul into his arms, holding him tightly as he sobbed. "I’m so sorry, Tul. I’m so sorry you had to go through that."

Tul clung to him, his tears soaking into Mew’s shirt. "I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay again, Mew. I don’t know if I can be strong enough."

Mew kissed the top of his head, his voice filled with love and determination. "You are strong, Tul. You’re the strongest person I know. And you don’t have to do this alone. We’ll get through this together."

Tul stayed in Mew’s arms for a long time, letting the emotions flow out of him. He had finally spoken the truth. And though it was painful, it was the first step in a long journey toward healing.

To be continued...