That Fateful Night (ON HOLD)

The Truth

The evening was quiet.

We ate.

We did the dishes.

We didn't exchange a single word.

But we continued our routine.

When I came into the lounge after putting Emily in her crib, Cameron was standing by the window watching the trees rustle in the wind. The only light in the room, a small lamp in the corner, neatly outlining his tall figure. He must of heard me come in, because he spoke without turning around.

"Wine?" His voice was surprisingly soft. I thought it would rougher after he was so quiet the whole night.

"Yes, please," I whispered, he turned around and filled the two glasses on the side table with a rich red wine.

I knew what was expected of me, but somehow the words didn't want to come. We sat in the dim room, silently drinking our wine. When our glasses emptied, Cam silently poured us another one.

"Thank you," I eventually got out.

"For?" He said frowning.

"For being so patient with me tonight," I respond softly.

"All I have is patients for you, Gen," his voice soft, "you came into my life like a hurricane, and now I'm just so afraid that what brought you here, will take you back."

I saw the fear in his eyes now, and even more so I could hear it in his voice.

"It's okay," how the tables have turned, i put my hand on his and gently squeezed it. He turned his hand around in mine and gently squeezed it back.

"It all started with a dance," I started, "It was our school farewell, I didn't really want to be there, but it was compulsory, so there I was. I never really had any friends, my family life wasn't very great, I never felt comfortable with other people, you know, anyway, moving on. So at this dance Kennedy came up to me. Kennedy was the popular guy, you know THAT guy,"

I took a deep breath, realising that I'm rambling, Cameron squeezed my hand again in silent encouragement, "we talked a bit, we danced, one thing led to another and we clicked, or atleast that's how I felt. For weeks after school ended we went on one date after another. I was in love. It was perfect. It wasn't long until we were kissing, and 6 months into the relationship he kept making dates at one empty house after another. Stuff happened when I was younger, I wasn't ready to go to the level that he was clearly hinting at, and he grew angry. One night, he went too far, he forced himself on me, called me a tease and a thousand other nasty things," my chest started heaving slightly.

"I have never said this outloud, but he r- raped me," I ignored his very audible intake of breath and soldiered on, knowing that if I don't continue now, i probably never will.

"I passed out," i giggled nervously then, "like I always seem to do," he doesn't laugh, so I continue, "while I was coming to, I heard him pacing up and down, taking to himself, saying things like: 'what have I done!" He seemed devastated. When I opened my eyes, I could only open one, as the other was swollen shut," I felt Cam squeeze my hand harder this time, I carried on, "I tried to move, but i couldn't, I was tied to the bed."