On My Own: Summer Vacation a Diggy Simmons Love Story

Chapter 31: The truth shall set you free

~~One week later

Diggy P.O.V

I finally came back to the house. I was happy to be home and I could walk again. My torso still ached but the good part was I wasn’t going to get any scars if I didn’t mess with my wound. I rarely see Elana but I see Khalil often. I found out everyone was pissed at him and Elana so that’s why the kept their distance. Sometimes I wish no one of this happened so I could be enjoying summer right about instead of being in the house all day long. The doorbell rang and a maid opened it. In came some police officer.

“Hey Daniel I’m Officer Hernandez. Elana knows me but I wanted to talk to everyone in the house. You think you can gather everyone?” He said towards the maid and she rushed around the house gathering everyone until everyone except Khalil and Elana sat there.

“Well I wanted to invite you guys to a convention. I won’t say what’s about or what it’s for but I think you should go. You’ll probably find some answers to your problems and questions. The convention is at 4:30 so I recommend you coming.” Officer Hernandez started walking towards the door.

“Is it speech oriented?” I heard Iris ask.

“No, just free speech.” The officer responded.

He left out the out the house and everyone looked at each other.

“We should go.” I said.

Elana P.O.V

The convention I was at was for Domestic Violence. It felt good to give back to girls who never had someone to talk too. Khalil was with me so I felt much better.

Iris P.O.V

The convention was packed with people. We all sat way in the back.  The convention started and all these girls explained how they were beaten while they pregnant and how all these horrible things happened but when it got to a name that was familiar. I was actually shocked that she was in this but I listened.

Diggy P.O.V

When I heard Elana’s name being called I was surprised and interested at the same time.

Elana P.O.V

I explained who I was before I spoke.

“I am a victim of domestic violence. Domestic violence can happen to anyone it doesn’t matter who it is or when or where you are. This is my story. A long time ago I met this boy name Jionni after I got out a relationship with my boyfriend Daniel. He was really sweet at first and then he started beating and later tried to sell my body. My ex boyfriend saved me from prostitution and getting abused. Jionni went to jail and that gave my ex and I time to repair our relationship. We had a real rollercoaster relationship for some months but after I got out of treatment he and I were finally one again like we used to. Then a few weeks after everything were going great I receive a phone call from Jionni in jail saying he was being released on good behavior. He didn’t have a place to stay because his parents were such ashamed of him.  Me personally I believe in second chances because I mess up so many times in life already. I figured I could help him so I offered to only pay for his hotel room for 3 days. He agreed and I paid. I ran out money of course and I reach my limit. I tell him that I can no longer fund his room and that’s when I saw he didn’t change. He hit me and I fought back with all my power. From then I knew not to always believe that everyone is going to do right and improve. Jionni and I fought until finally he found a way to keep me afraid of him and that was to threaten my family and most importantly my boyfriend. He started off small by telling me if I didn’t pay for the hotel rooms he would kill people I associate with until him saying he would kill my boyfriend Daniel. At that time I have stole over 5,000 dollars out of my boyfriend’s banking account.” My voice cracked when I said how much.

“He didn’t realize he was missing money because he was making more but I felt so guilty because I was robbing him of his own money and I didn’t want to. So over the next few months I saved money to put back in his account. I needed to get out of the situation with Jionni before my boyfriend found out. I knew I was going to have to say something and I did. I told my best friend Khalil in a text message everything and how stupid I felt for getting myself into it. My best friend tried so hard to get me out of it without Jionni knowing. He even gave me money to give Jionni but it wasn’t enough. Jionni found out about Khalil a week or so later. He tricked Khalil into coming into the hotel he stayed in and Khalil was beat up right in front of my eyes. I couldn’t even explain anything because Jionni’s friends held me down while Jionni beat the hell out of me. He forced Khalil to help him out in any task or favor he needed done or he would torture him. Khalil agreed to helping him and that’s when it got worse.” I started to cry.

 Elana P.O.V

The room was quiet as I paused. I wiped my tears and tried to continue telling what happened.

“Jionni made me break up with Daniel. I have to prove to him by ruining anything Daniel gave me. I broke up with Diggy over him saying some hurtful things but in reality they never really hurted me or made me upset. I just told him that. I broke those photos of us because I had to. Diggy was so heartbroken and I felt so horrible but I had too. After Jionni found out I broke up with Diggy he started trying to get back with me. He made me feel so uncomfortable and he made me feel so low about myself. He was opposite of Diggy. When he found out about Diggy taking me on vacation he was upset. He thought Diggy was going to take me away from him. So he came out to Malibu and got a hotel. But by then I started messing with Jionni’s heart. What he made me do to Diggy I did to him. Jionni beat me around a few more times for it. I thought if I could make Jionni not love me anymore I could get Khalil and I out of it. But he saw through it and went through with trying to kill Diggy. My conscious kept telling me to tell Daniel about it but I didn’t want him to get caught in it.” Tears rolled down my cheeks.

“I didn’t know what to do anymore but I couldn’t tell anyone. I watched my boyfriend’s death be planned in front of my eyes. I couldn’t even do anything about it because the days were closing in. When I finally got enough to tell; I guess it was too late because Jionni went behind my back and tried to kill him a few days before when he was suppose too. I didn’t even get the chance to tell him what I wanted because it happened so quick. He fell to the floor after Jionni shot him but I shot Jionni. I wasn’t even suppose to be at the docks still. The officer told me to go home but I thought if I could save Diggy risking my life would be worth it. It was too late though. Jionni got to him before I could. After I saw Diggy was out I ran. I ran because I didn’t want anyone to think I hurt Diggy. So I left the scene and went home. Since then everybody hated me and Khalil because Diggy could have died.” I cried.

“That’s why you have to get out of these abusive relationships before they get worse. They can tell you I love you all they want but they only love hurting you. They lie and lie to get you to do things or they threaten you to make you feel scared but you have to tell  someone. I didn’t do that. I wish I was strong enough to do that. I don’t want any of you to feel how I feel right now because it’s the worst feeling in the world. I lost my boyfriend and my friends and my family they are so biased about me right now. They don’t know what to do with me. When I go back to New York after this vacation is over I’ll be by my self basically. That’s how much damage was done. That’s the consequences I have to pay for someone else’s actions. And these burn marks on my legs…” I lifted my sweatpants up.

“This was an example of what was going to happen to me if I told anyone. But I overcame the fear and did it and so can you. Thank you.” I exited the stage.

I was real emotional but I was happy. Seeing those girls learn something made me feel accomplished.

Diggy P.O.V

The car ride home was silent. Nobody brought up what happened but my brained was twisted all around. I wished I knew all this earlier. I could only imagine how Elana feels now that the truth is out. When we got home I crashed on the couch. Elana and Khalil already made it here. I did want to talk to Elana but not yet. I fell asleep slowly on the couch.