Through the Dark

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I stayed pressed against Harry's chest, letting his warmth ground me, though the knot in my chest refused to ease. I knew I couldn't hold it in forever—I had to tell him. Someone had to know.

"I... I need to tell you something," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "About... about my past."

Harry tightened his arms around me, rubbing gentle circles on my back. "Hey... hey, take your time, Sammy. Whenever you're ready, I'm here. You can tell me anything. I promise I'll listen."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry, but the words started spilling out. "I was ten. My parents decided to take a mini vacation and surprised me by taking me to the beach. We had so much fun that day. Little did I know it would be the last time I'd see them alive." I closed my eyes, remembering the tragedy. "It was raining on the way back. The roads were wet, the sky dark. My dad was tired and driving too fast. We lost control, the car flipped, and hit a tree. Both of my parents died. I was the only one who survived. After that, the police forced me to live with my Aunt Martha, my dad's sister."

I looked at Harry's face, seeing him close his eyes as he absorbed every word. "Do you remember the phone call I got at the office?" He nodded. "That was her. She has no family—my dad was the only one she had. I lived with her for four years. It was hell. She made me feel worthless, Harry... she would beat me if I didn't do what she wanted. I had to leave her to escape." I felt Harry squeeze my hand, grounding me.

"When I turned fourteen, I ran away. I became homeless. I had nowhere to go, no way to survive. Jobs wouldn't take me because of my age. The only thing I could think of... was selling myself... for money, just to survive. I cried for years. I felt so helpless. I thought... that was all I'd ever be." My voice cracked, and I buried my face back into his chest.

"The only way I could survive was by selling my body," I whispered. "I earned a lot, Harry... enough to rent a place, buy food, clothes, finish school. I kept going, but it was never easy. Mrs. Williams' husband... he was one of my clients. He paid more than anyone else. One day, Mrs. Williams found out. She stormed into my apartment, yelling, throwing things... it was chaos. She filed for divorce immediately. Everything I earned... I used it to survive, to live, to get my degree. Then I bought a plane ticket to London. I met Stacy at the airport, and she let me stay with her. I met James at a pub nearby. They're the only ones I trust—they're like family. The only family I have."

I paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I came to London to escape, to start over. To live peacefully. But it feels like my past keeps finding me. First that phone call from my aunt... now Mrs. Williams appearing at dinner. I just want to forget. I just want a happy life."

I cried into his shirt, soaking it with my tears. "That's why I don't believe in love. I hoped... I hoped that maybe someone would love me, not for what I could give them... but for me. But it never happened. So I shut myself off. Focused on surviving... on my future."

Harry held me tighter, brushing a kiss to the top of my head. "Shh... shh. It's okay. You survived that. You're here now. You're alive, and you're standing strong, even if it doesn't feel like it."

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "But... I've carried all this... anger, shame, fear... for so long. I don't know how to... let it go. I'm scared, Harry. Scared it'll happen again. Scared to let anyone in."

"I know, Sammy," he said softly, tilting my chin so our eyes met. His green eyes held nothing but sincerity. "It's okay to be scared. I'm not asking you to let it all go at once. You don't have to trust anyone immediately. But know this—I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to stay. To protect you. You don't have to carry this burden anymore. Not with me."

I blinked through my tears, a tiny fraction of the weight lifting. "How... how can I believe you?"

Harry cupped my face, brushing away my tears. "Actions speak louder than words. I'll prove it every day, Sammy. You are not defined by what you had to do to survive. You are strong. You are worth love. You are not shameful."

I exhaled shakily, letting a small thread of trust take root. "I... I want to believe you," I whispered.

Harry leaned down, pressing his forehead to mine. "Then we start there. Together. One step at a time. I'll never let anyone hurt you again—not your past, not anyone. You're safe with me."

For the first time in years, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe I could let someone in. Maybe I could finally begin to heal.

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