Mia loved flying. No matter how long the flight, she loved looking out of the window, watching as the clouds passed by. Somehow, everything seemed different when she was up in the air, far away from the things that weighed her down. Nobody could reach her, nobody could hurt her, nobody could tell her what to do. The thing was, Mia had finally found someone she wanted to stay on the ground with. Charlotte had taught her that some people were worth staying for and as such, that's what Mia was trying to do. She'd only been away for one week this time and she was already on her way back, eager to see Charlottes happy, beaming face.
Once Mia had retrieved her luggage and called herself a taxi, she text Charlotte to let her know that she was on her way. It was just the two of them tonight and Mia was willing herself to open up to her girlfriend. Recently, she'd started to feel comfortable telling Charlotte things she'd never told anyone and much to her surprise, her shoulders felt a little lighter. The moment her taxi arrived outside Charlottes house, the brunette came rushing out to greet her. It still felt new to Mia, seeing someone so genuinely pleased to see her. It was freezing, so Charlotte hurriedly steered the red head inside, already asking lots of questions about Mia's trip. Once they were settled together on the sofa, they chatted for a while. Mia searched through her luggage to find the gift she'd bought for Charlotte, a pretty black ring shaped like a rose. She watched as Charlotte immediately put the ring on, her eyes sparkling with appreciation for the thoughtful present.
Initially, the couple simply cuddled together, watching television and sharing a takeaway as they talked. Mia told Charlotte all about her week in Krakow, promising to take the brunette one day, she was sure she'd love it. Eventually, Charlotte caught Mia's hand in hers as she gently asked "how are you feeling about everything? Do you want to talk any more about it?" The red head nodded hesitantly before replying "I feel okay. I think I'd like to. I'm not sure how far I really want to go tonight." She sighed and continued "it's just a lot. It's the majority of my life." Charlotte's eyes were soft and full of understanding "we can do it exactly like last time. Start anywhere and talk until you've had enough. As soon as you want to stop, we'll stop."
Mia took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling momentarily as she decided which thread she felt comfortable pulling at. As she looked back down and into Charlotte's eyes, she began to speak. "I feel like I'm still chained to my past. No matter what I do, I can still hear Roger's voice. I'm scared I'll never truly find peace, away from him and his taunts." She looked down slightly as she whispered "I just want him to leave me alone Char." The brunette moved slightly closer to Mia as she placed her hand on the red heads lower back. "He was controlling your life for over two decades, I'm not surprised you're finding it hard to feel free of him."
Leaning against Charlottes body made Mia feel warm and safe, so she felt confident to continue. "I know he groomed me, but I feel so guilty for the things I did. I put up a front and act like I don't care, but I do. I'm not heartless, I know I've caused damage to Aut and Reece. I thought in the end it would be worth it, but it hasn't been." Her voice wavered slightly "none of it was worth it." Seeing Mia so vulnerable and upset was breaking Charlottes heart, but she was so proud of her. "I know you miss them, but you were a child when he got his claws into you." The brunette placed one hand on Mia's cheek and looked into her eyes as she repeated "you were a child." As she tucked Mia's hair behind her ear, she continued "it wasn't your fault. You were never given a chance, he took that from you, because he's a sick, evil monster." Charlotte had never seen the look she was currently seeing on Mia's face before, a contradictory mixture of hope and soul crushing doubt. She began to reply "but..." prompting Charlotte to do something she rarely did - she interrupted Mia. "No. It's not your fault."
Charlotte understood that Mia was an adult now, and she knew how others saw the red head. Confident, sometimes arrogant, uncaring, unfeeling - everything Charlotte knew Mia absolutely was not. Truthfully, she was a fragile little thing, destined to wonder why she'd been abandoned by the person she'd believed would stay forever. So, she'd sought security in a father like figure and become trapped in his web, fighting to maintain a semblance of self. Mia had told Charlotte how many times she'd said 'no more', only to be shouted down by Roger. He'd remind her how unwanted she truly was before listing off the things he'd done for and the money he'd spent.
Gradually, Mia was finally beginning to see the truth about the trauma she'd experienced. At one point, she hadn't even realised she'd experienced trauma, she'd simply believed that she was a bad person. She nodded slowly once again as she repeated "it wasn't my fault." The look on Charlottes face made her heart swell slightly, the woman she loved was proud of her. Mia knew she wasn't perfect and she knew she'd made mistakes, but she was finally beginning to accept the truth. She wanted to live her life, down on the ground with Charlotte. She wanted to show Autumn and Reece how sorry she was, and how happy she was to see them thriving.
Mia would always love the sky. Perhaps that's why she'd fallen in love with Charlottes eyes first. Her own beautiful blue skies to get lost in, whenever she felt anxious. Little by little, she was finding her feet on the ground, as the chains began to break.
