Healing In Love With You

Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past

Lily

My date last Friday night with Gabriel was absolutely fantastic! The food was delicious, the flowers were beautiful, and the candles created the perfect ambiance. But what I'll always remember is how stunning the stars looked that night—and, of course, Gabriel himself. He's incredibly handsome.

It's Sunday, which means it's Riley and Lily Day. We decided to clear our calendars every Sunday to make time for each other. Today, we're heading to the park for a picnic, where we can talk about everything happening in our little lives.

I was the first to arrive at the park, which was the perfect spot for our picnic. The grass was lush and green, the open area inviting, and the trees swayed gently in the breeze. Kids were playing and laughing nearby, adding to the cheerful atmosphere. I set up the mat on the ground and arranged the snacks and drinks I had brought. I also packed my favorite book, It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. It feels strange to read my own written work, so I prefer immersing myself in someone else's story.

I settled onto the grass and pulled out my phone to text Riley.

"What's taking you so long?" I sent the message, and it was read immediately.

"Almost there, honey!" she replied.

I placed my phone down and lay back on the soft grass. The sky was so beautiful today; the weather always calms me. Just as I closed my eyes, I felt a gentle tap on my nose.

"Missed me already?" Riley teased.

I sat up, playfully retorting, "You're always taking forever!"

She chuckled, "Apologies, my Princess," and bowed her head dramatically.

"Apology accepted." I grabbed her hand and pulled her down beside me.

"I brought you coffee!" she said, handing me a cup.

"You know me so well," I replied with a smile.

"Thanks, Riley," I added as I took a sip of the iced coffee.

She looked at me, confused. "For what? For your coffee?"

I just smiled back, "Yeah, and for everything."

As I turned to face her, she immediately enveloped me in a tight hug. I felt a momentary panic; I wasn't fond of being overly touched. But with Riley, it was different.

"Are you okay, honey?" she asked, her eyes wide and concerned.

"I'm fine, I guess," I replied.

She smiled warmly and hugged me again. "Are you sure? I'm always here, okay?"

"I'm sure. Thanks, Riley," I said, returning the embrace.

There's something indescribable about the comfort I find in her arms. It's like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold, rainy night. I'm so grateful she came into my life. Riley is my childhood best friend. We've navigated life's ups and downs together, growing through puberty and aging side by side, even though I'm just one month older than her.

Lily was just 7 years old when she started experiencing being sexually harassed by her brothers, 3 brothers to be exact. Lily is the youngest child, and some people will say that the youngest child is the most favored one and is the favorite one. But that's not true, or maybe only in Lily's situation. It started happening when she was only 7 years old.

At night, when everyone is asleep. Lily was woken up by her brother with his hand on her private parts. Despite the horrifying feeling that she feels, she never fights back or even screams for help. She just cried and cried until her brother was already done doing nasty things to her. The same thing happens to her other 2 brothers, they will just take a good time to sexually harass her in their own home, in her bed. Rape is the perfect word to describe what they did to her, but as a 7-year-old little girl who is scared to be killed by her brother, she kept quiet and did nothing. This happened to her not only once, twice, or even thrice... it happened so many times that you might have lost count of it.

8 Years Ago

As Lily grew up, she remained silent about her past. Not a single word escaped her lips to anyone—except for her best friend, Riley. Determined to finally share her story, Lily sent a message: "Let's meet."

Riley responded instantly, "Off we go to the beach!"

Within the hour, Riley's car pulled up outside, the horn beeping impatiently. Lily hurriedly slipped on her shoes and rushed outside.

The ride to the beach was filled with an uneasy silence, the kind that hangs heavily in the air. Not a single sound broke the quiet inside the car. After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at the beach, just as the sun began its descent toward the horizon. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink, signaling the end of the day.