Moments in Love

Trials and Tribulations: Part 2

AN: Trigger Warning for the beginning of this chapter

Jennifer woke to the early morning sunlight of summer streaming through the window. It was very welcome after being held captive shackled to a pillar in the dark musty basement of her own home for months.

As she had for the last three days every morning, Jennifer opened the window and breathed in the fresh air, finding a small measure of solace in the bright blue sky and puffy little clouds scudding by. But despite all, Jennifer was still unhappy and frightened; she could find little pleasure in the cool breeze and the beauty outside, and wondered if she would would ever know joy again.

And Jennifer was very puzzled as to where she was; all she knew was that she was obviously in a private ward of some sort of hospital. It certainly wasn't in Dorset judging by the mountains, and the woods nearby full of ancient oaks and tall evergreens looked too old to be anywhere in England. And the shimmering blue lake was the largest she had ever seen.

Nor was there any indication that she was in a city or town. There wasn't a single tall building in sight, nor any buildings for that matter, as if the hospital were sitting all alone in the middle of the countryside. Which was very odd considering that her hospital room appeared to be very high up from the verdant green lawn which she could see down below.

Jennifer began to wonder if she was in some sort of mental hospital. All of the creepy ones in films appeared to always be in some out of the way location, as if the residents were too deranged to be housed anywhere near polite society. Given some of the bizarre things she had seen which couldn't possibly be real, Jennifer considered the possibility that the hallucinations indicated that she belonged in an institution.

The soft nightgown against her skin was only moderately comforting as well; Jennifer was still haunted by the humiliation and degradation... She could still see the men at the top of stairs ogling her, stayed only by the jealousy of her tormenter. Jennifer still felt exposed, and she wondered if she would ever get over the shame of it.

Though she had obviously been cleaned on the outside, Jennifer doubted that the dirt and filth inside her could ever be scrubbed away. Ratface had stripped her of every last bit of dignity, violated her in every way imaginable - the betrayal of her sanity by her own responses - the guilt was too much to bear.

Jennifer couldn't escape him in her dreams or her waking moments - she couldn't escape the fear. She could still feel him on top of her. She could still smell the stench of his breath, still see his leering face looming over her.

No amount of fresh air, no amount of sunshine, no amount of clean clothes could ever make up for that.

And though she was grateful to her rescuer, to be found in such a state by the old man with a long white beard was mortifying. And though the nurse who looked after her was kind and gentle, Jennifer could never meet her eyes, afraid that the nurse would be able to see what she had become.

Jennifer heard voices approaching her room on the other side of the doorway. Instinctively she returned to her bed and huddled in the corner, drawing her knees to her chest and letting her long ebony hair cover her face.

"...I'm not sure Albus. It may be too soon. The poor thing hasn't said a single word to me in four days..."

Jennifer heard a sigh, and she recognised the warm voice of the old man replying.

"I understand Poppy, but if I am to help... to explain in a way which will help Miss Watts begin to make sense of things and move forward, then I need to see her. Perhaps a calming draught would be of some benefit before I enter."

"Very well Albus... Just a moment then."

The door opened and the nurse entered the room. Smiling kindly, she handed Jennifer a little vial.