Her Dad's Best Friend

Breaking Point

The first thing I felt when I woke up was pain. My face was swollen, bruised, and burning like fire. Every breath hurt, every movement felt like a struggle. I blinked against the harsh hospital lights, trying to remember how I got here. Then it all came rushing back. Chris.

The thought of him made my stomach twist in knots. I felt sick, weak, but mostly... terrified. The memory of his fists, his rage, the helplessness—I hadn't felt that kind of fear since I escaped him the first time. Now, lying here, bruised and broken, it was like I was right back in that dark place.

Jordan was sitting next to me, his face tight with a mixture of rage and worry. His hand was gripping mine, but he didn't notice how hard it was shaking. The room felt too small, too quiet, despite the machines beeping around me. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears, faster, louder, as the panic started creeping up again.

My dad was pacing near the window, his hands clenched into fists. I could see the fury in his eyes, the same fury Jordan had—the same fury I wished I could feel, but all I had was fear.

"Hailey," Jordan's voice broke through the silence, soft but firm. "You're awake."

I nodded weakly, my throat dry, my voice barely above a whisper. "Where's Aiden?"

"He's with my parents," Jordan reassured me, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. "He's safe."

I let out a shaky breath, but the relief didn't last long. Instead, a wave of guilt hit me hard. I couldn't protect him. Chris had been there, and I couldn't stop him. What if... what if I hadn't been able to stop him from hurting Aiden?

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I stared down at the hospital blanket, unable to look at Jordan. "I'm sorry," I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Jordan frowned, confused. "Sorry for what?"

"For everything," I choked, my chest tightening as the anxiety clawed at me. "For not being strong enough. For not protecting Aiden. For letting this happen again."

"Hailey, no—" Jordan started, but I shook my head, the tears spilling over now.

"I was so scared..., and i couldn't stop him." I whispered, my voice trembling. "I felt like a little girl again, helpless... useless. I couldn't stop him. I couldn't stop him from hurting me, and I couldn't protect our son."

Jordan's grip tightened, and I could see the pain in his eyes, the frustration. "None of this is your fault. Do you hear me? You are strong, Hailey. Stronger than anyone I know."

But his words didn't reach me. All I could think about was how terrified I had been, how powerless I felt as Chris cornered me, his fists landing blow after blow. I hadn't felt this broken in so long, and now... now I felt like I was crumbling.

"I can't stop feeling like he's going to come back," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Like he's still watching, waiting for another chance."

Jordan leaned in closer, cupping my face gently despite the bruises. His eyes were filled with determination, a fierceness that made me feel just a little less alone. "I swear to you, Hailey, I will never let him hurt you again. Never."

But no matter how much I wanted to believe him, the fear was still there, gnawing at me from the inside.

My dad finally stopped pacing, turning to face us, his voice rough with barely contained anger. "We're going to find him, Hailey. He won't get away with this."

I nodded weakly, but deep down, I didn't feel any better. I didn't feel safe. My heart was still racing, my hands still shaking. The anxiety was suffocating, wrapping around me like a heavy blanket I couldn't escape from. I felt so small. So scared.

"I just... I just want to feel safe again," I whispered, my voice breaking.

Jordan pressed his forehead against mine, his fingers gently brushing my cheek. "You *are* safe, Hailey. I'm here. We'll get through this. Together."

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But all I could do was cry softly into his chest, feeling more broken than I ever had before. The strength I had once felt—the determination to stand tall, to fight back—was gone, replaced by fear, anxiety, panic, and the crushing weight of everything Chris had taken from me.

As I sobbed into Jordan's arms, I realized that healing wasn't going to be easy. I wasn't sure when, or if, I'd ever feel like myself again. But for now, I had to hold on. For Aiden. For Jordan. Even if I felt weak, I couldn't let Chris win. I couldn't let him take any more from me than he already had.

Even in my weakest moment, I had to find the strength to stand tall. But right now, all I could do was cry, feeling more alone and scared than ever.