Should've Been Us (Camren)

VI

"I think I'm ready to tell you about my past."

Camila let out the breath she had been holding in. She hadn't been expecting the older woman to be opening up to her tonight. This was an incredible breakthrough in their tumultuous relationship. It was rather late already as they'd been talking all night. The brunette was supposed to be going in to work in the morning, but she decided that she'd be calling in. Hearing what Lauren had to say was much more important to her.

"I'm not even sure where to begin." Lauren said while rubbing the back of her neck. Camila sat there patiently waiting for Lauren to find her words. She knew spilling her feelings didn't come easy to the dark haired woman. Camila didn't want to push Lauren in any way, so she stayed silent. Lauren closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "When I was eight years old, my brother, sister and I were put into foster care. I'm not sure what happened to my parents. They were supposed to pick me up one day, but they never came. We never heard from them again."

"The people my siblings and I were put with weren't very loving people. Often times we went without dinner because they were out partying instead of home taking care of us. Somehow we managed to live under their care until I turned eighteen, then Chris and Taylor were sent to a different family. I spent the majority of my childhood raising two children essentially on my own. Helping them with schoolwork, I even learned to cook for their sake. Keeping myself engrossed in school and sports was the only thing that helped me stay sane."

Camila listened intently to Lauren's words. She felt a pang of sadness in her heart, because she knew exactly what it was like to have people who are supposed to love and care for you, treat you like you don't mean a thing. "The worst thing of it all is the only memory I retain of my real parents is that they were happy, loving people. And I never got the chance to grow up with positive figures in my life." The brunette wiped the tears from Lauren's face and pulled the weeping woman in for a tight hug.

After a few minutes, Lauren pulled herself from Camila's embrace, wiping the excess tears from her flushed cheeks. Camila never saw the green eyed beauty in such a vulnerable state, and it was heartbreaking to say the least. "Once high school was over, I met Nadia. I was stranded at an airport in Ohio and we struck up a conversation with each other. From day one I was smitten. We'd talk everyday, I flew to see her, she flew to see me. This went on for a year until she decided to move here so we could be together instead of doing the long distance deal."

"A month after she moved here life took a turn for the worse for both of us..." Lauren drifted off in thought. Camila thought she had an idea of where this was going, so she prepared herself mentally. "Nadia's younger brother was brutally murdered as a result of a hate crime. She started drinking heavily because she couldn't handle the pain of him being gone. First, I endured emotional abuse from her when she was in her drunken stupors. Constantly belittling me with no hesitation."

"I hated seeing her like that, but I stuck around. I really wanted to help her heal. As the months went on, the put downs were harsher and she... S-she started hitting me and pushing me around. I cried myself to sleep every night." By now, Lauren was bawling. Having to relive these moments were agonizing for Lauren, but she was proud of herself for opening up. She hadn't told a single soul anything about her life before, and it felt as though a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders.

"I stayed with her for five months after her brother passed. Finally I was able to convince myself that nothing was going to change, so I packed up my belongings, and found the courage to leave her. I haven't talked to her since. Six months later I found you at that book store." Lauren chuckled lightly at the memory. "I wasn't even going to talk to you, but then I literally ran into you. Since then I've been happier than ever. I can't describe the way you make me feel, Camila. You've made me a better person, even though it doesn't seem like it. But I'm still in constant battle with my demons."