Anger

Chapter Six

The paperwork was endless. The questions were endless. The examinations were endless. I was just happy it was over and Isaac got what he deserved. I finally got to tell the police what happened to me. I sat in a cold interrogation room, my face black and blue and swollen. A police officer came in with a pen and paper and sat in front of me.
"Hello Juniper Lovelace. My name is detective Hollow, I just need to ask you a few questions."
"Whatever it takes to put him away." He nodded and wrote something down.
"Isaac Lewis is the father of your son, correct?"
"Unfortunately." He nodded again and wrote something down.
"Can you please explain in detail what happened six years ago on the night of May 16, 2010, if you're comfortable?" I nodded and remembered every disgusting detail that gave me nightmares.
"Isaac and I were dating. He was popular, handsome, football player, I was music and theatre geek, unpopular. For some reason he chose me and I thought I was special. We were together for about 6 or 7 months when... when he proved who he really was." I took a hard swallow, tears forming as the detective wrote.
"We went to prom together. Everything was fine. We snuck away into one of the classrooms and he had a flask. I said no to the flask but he said everything was fine because I was with him. I trusted him and I drank it... but it was drugged I think. I started to feel dizzy and weak and he started kissing me. He put his hands all over me and I tried to push him away and say no. He pushed me to the ground and..." the tears began to fall and the detective touched my hand.
"Take your time. Please, I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"I'm fine... I just want justice... He... He raped me and afterwards he threw twenty dollars at me... He called me a whore and thanked me for my time, telling me to get home safely... I walked home from the high school, about a 20 minute walk I think. I told no one except my best friend and my brother, but I begged them not to get the police involved. I didn't want my parents to be disappointed for getting myself into this mess..."
"Hey, it's not your fault. I've dealt with plenty of rape victims and they all say it's their fault and it's not. The only blame goes to the sick son of a bitch that does it." I nodded, crying harder.
"I found out I was pregnant, but I couldn't bring myself to get rid of the baby. So... I ran away, started a new life and never told my son Henry about his father. It wasn't Henry's fault that his father was who he was. The only good thing thag came from it was Henry.. how is he?" I was worried. What had happened? Was he traumatized?
"He's fine. A counselor is talking to him right now, and another detective is questioning Isaac. Can you tell me what happened last night?"
"I came back to the town because my mother had died, my father passed a few years ago. She left the house to Nicholas and I so I came back with Henry. I tried my best to keep him hidden and stay away from Isaac but I ran into him at a bar with my brother. He threatened me and then called my house later in the week. When he called my house I knew I had to leave. I took Henry, went to the motel and Isaac followed me. I hid Henry in the bathroom, knowing Isaac didn't know he was there. Henry knows about 911 procedure so I gave him my phone and told him if he got scared, call the police. Isaac tried to rape me again and that's when the police came."
The detective nodded and wrote some things down and stood.
"Detective." I said before he left. He turned to me and nodded.
"Can I see isaac? I just want to tell him something." The detective thought about it and nodded, waving for me to follow. All the eyes in the department were watching me, and I felt disgusting. I followed the detective to another interrogation room where Isaac and his lawyer sat. He looked up at me and sighed, looking away. He refused to look in my eyes.
"Isaac, I forgive you. I forgive you for raping me and for making me feel like I was worthless. I forgive you for all the anger I built up inside of me, and all the hate I had for myself. I forgive you but I will never, ever forget. I also thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have my beautiful and wonderful son Henry. He is a good boy and you will never ever see him. You will rot in jail and you will get raped like you did to me." He looked me into my eyes with what looked like concern but all I did was smile at the weight that lifted off my shoulders as they made him stand up and cuffed him.

I got to be with my son again. He was fine, just a little scared. I promised him nothing would hurt him and that the bad man that hurt me was going away for a long time. I was relieved. Now I could go back to my town, where everyone knew what kind of person Isaac was now. I could raise my child like my parents raised me, and Henry didn't need a father. He had Nicholas and Franki and Rian to help me. We were safe.
"Where are we going now mommy?" Henry asked As we walked hand in hand to Nicholas' car.
"We're going home, Henry. We're going home."
"To live with uncle Nick and aunt Rian?" I nodded and he giggled his adorable giggle.
Not all victims got a happy ending like I did. I was lucky. I got out alive and safe. Most importantly, my son was safe, and nothing would ever harm him again.
Finally I could forgive but not forget and I could let go of all my anger.