recover // c.h. au (DISCONTINUED)

One

. : | O N E | : .

*Three years later.*

"Lucy! Hold up, oh for God's sakes," I said as I brought a palm up to wipe the sweat off my forehead. I followed my daughter out of the front door of my parents' house. It was moving day. I was finally moving out of my mum and dad's house and into my own apartment. I struggled to bring out mine and Lucy's suitcases, plus two other hand-carries out of the house.

My father came into my aid and took both of the suitcases, leaving the two hand-carries with me. I smiled at him in appreciation and jogged down the porch's steps. We loaded the car with our stuff and I came up to my two and a half year-old daughter and bopped her nose. She giggled and hugged my legs. She was still too short and small.

"You ready for the big move, darlin'?" I questioned Lucy. She smiled up at me and nodded, showing me her toothy grin.

"Great," I grinned, rubbing her back and said, "Go give grandma a kiss goodbye." I patted her buttocks and she squealed running back up to the house, her chubby legs bouncing as she did so. My mother stood at the porch and she bent down to carry Lucy, giving her a loud peck on the cheek. I watched their exchange in admiration and shut the trunk with my hands. I'm surely going to miss my parents and older brother, but I wanted nothing more to do with this town.

There were too many horrible memories here that I wanted to leave behind but this is where I grew up. Texas. A place where most of my childhood memories were created, and also a place where my childhood was cut short. To put it nicely, I was raped by a man who still wasn't put to jail because of what he had done.

I had to experience the most excruciating 9 months of my life, before Lucy was born. I remember being depressed the whole time. I hadn't been eating, sleeping, nor even going out of my own house to go to school. I had to hide my ever-growing baby belly. I was ashamed of what had happened. I had even thought to have an abortion, but even though I was mad, I couldn't do that to my child.

I had to go through court orders and I've been in and out of hospitals due to stress and depression but the medication didn't work, especially when I had to stop it because of the side effects it was giving me and Lucy. We both almost didn't make it but then, she was born. And she was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.

I would never change that for anything. Looking at everything right now, I knew I had made the right decision. I just wish that they have found the criminal that ruined and at the same time, made me into this well-off person I am right now.

I'm still traumatized over what had happened but I can't say that I'm not grateful for Lucy right now. I love her with every fiber of my being and I will always, always, put her first. And this move is going to help the both of us. Mostly me, but it's going to be great. Australia's going to be great. I could already feel it.

I walked back up to my mother and pecked her on the cheek. "Say goodbye to Connor for me," I said, smiling at my mother. Connor was my older brother. He was working the graveyard shift at the office and he still hasn't come home. She mirrored my smile, the corner of her eyes crinkling and her hair falling down her face. I leaned forward to give her a warm embrace with Lucy still in her arms.

"Mummy! Air!" Lucy giggled and squirmed in the middle of our embrace. I laughed and took her from my mother.

"I swear, that little girl is growing up fast, and heavier," mum cooed as she tucked the few pieces of stray hair off Lucy's face. Lucy smiled bashfully at the mention of little girl because it was what mostly my mum and dad call her. I grinned and placed a sloppy kiss on Lucy's cheek, making her squeal and press her hand to my mouth as she pushed my face away.