Manage My Heart (Book 1)

Chapter 22 ⚠️⚠️

Before we start this chapter ^ this is a trigger warning, if u didn't already know, another thing, everything in this chapter is 100% true from my past experience. I am willing to share it with u all because i feel this is a judgement free zone and i can trust u guys

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"Mel? Please talk to me?" Ruby rubs her arm. Mel sighs and leans back. "I don't even know how old i was. I was clearly too young to understand what was happening." Ruby leans back against her and looks at her. "Go on." "I was still in elementary school, I don't know how old i was, i have a big family, you know?" Ruby nods. "We were visiting my grandparents and my aunt and uncle. This was before they met my other aunt and uncle. I think my uncle was like in his early twenties or something? Maybe late teens? My dad is the oldest out of eight, so.... Anyways, you know Jesse, my older brother." Ruby nods. "Mhm." "He's five and a half years older than me so at the time, i was just a kid, he was a teenager, he was busy texting friends or watching sports with my dad or something. I don't even remember. But i was in the room, playing video games. My uncle was watching me. He sat behind me while i was playing. He was touching my hair or playing with it or something, I don't know." Ruby nods. "Mhm." That's why....

"I was playing but i was well aware of what was going on. I knew what he was doing. I knew it was wrong. But for whatever reason, i froze. I mean, i was a kid, of course i did. I felt his hand move around my front....and he started touching me...." Mel sighs. Ruby tries her best not to burst into flames of rage as she waits for her to continue. She looks at her with a defeated expression. "He started on the outside and then he slowly moved his hand into my pants....and into my underwear." She whispered. Ruby swallows whatever bile was ready to spew out of her mouth. How fucking dare he?! Mel seems lost in thought. "Baby?" She touches her cheek. "He started fingering me, I didn't know what was happening. I didn't understand. Was this normal? Should i be telling someone? But I didn't wanna look stupid if this was normal, so I didn't say anything. So whenever we would visit, he would touch me sometimes. It stopped a while later, probably cause i was getting older and he thought i was beginning to understand things." Ruby takes a deep breath as she squeezes Mel's arms. "Did you tell anyone?" Mel nods. "I told my mom and my brother. But by then, i was already older and it had already stopped." Ruby sniffles. "And your dad? He was his brother after all." Mel sighs and shakes her head. "No, he doesn't know. My mom told me not to tell him cause it happened so long ago and at the time, he was really talking to my other aunt's, my mom was worried he'd cut off everyone and isolate himself or something, i don't know." Ruby turns around and stares at her. "Your dad doesn't know this?!" Mel shakes her head. "No." "And your mom and brother know?" She nods. "And they don't bother telling him?!"

Mel sighs. "Baby, it was years ago." "But it still effects you. Is he still in your life?! Do you still talk to him?!" Ruby demanded. "Yes." Mel sighs. "He has a wife and two kids now." "Are they girls?" Ruby quickly asks. "No, both boys." Ruby sighs. Suddenly, she stands and grabs the towel and wraps it around herself. "Where are you going?" Mel asks as she stands and grabs the other towel. "I'm calling your mom!" Ruby grabs her phone before Mel grabs it back. "You're not gonna do that." "Yes i am, give it back." "No, you're not!" "Yes i am! How could you just let this happen?! Like you don't matter?!" Ruby shouts. "You think i let myself be molested?!" Mel shouts back. "That's not what i meant and you know it! Give me the phone, I'm calling your mom!" Mel nods. "Good luck with the language barrier." She smirks. "You may be Vietnamese, but I'm sure even your mother would understand the words 'how could you?!' Seriously, Mel! You're her only daughter! How could she let this happen to you?!" Mel sighs. "She didn't let this happen to me!" "By letting your uncle walk free all these, that's letting happen!"

"Can we please just move on?" Mel asks calmly. "No, why would i move on from this?! The love of my life was molested and no one's doing a damn thing about it! Not your mom! Not your brother! Not even you! No one!" Mel sighs. "Who else knows?" "What?" "Who else knows? Does Kylie know?" Mel shakes her head. "No, i never told anyone. Just you." Ruby sighs. "Ruby, please. It happened years ago. It's done." Mel begs. She's gonna regret this, isn't she? "Fine. I'll let it go...." Ruby whispered. "Thank you." "But if i see him, all hell will break loose." "I doubt you'll ever run into him, he's pretty busy." Mel shrugs. "Still." "Can we please cuddle now?" Mel wraps her arms around her waist. "Fine." Ruby pouts. They go to bed, still naked from their bath and cuddle. Mel falls asleep as Ruby rests her head on her chest. This didn't feel right, she felt like she should be holding Mel. Not the other way around. She quickly switches positions and smiles as Mel cuddles into her side and buries her face in her hair. She kisses her forehead. "I'm so sorry that happened to you." She whispered. Was this why she was so overly protective? How much of this event affects her perspective on things? Whatever the reason, if she ever runs into this uncle, all hell will break loose.