Phoenix ✔️

Chapter 18: Back On

I'd be lying if I say that I don't lose track of time in that moment. It's hard to keep track of time when you've been reunited with your amazing family after years apart. Nothing felt more pleasing and calming than being reunited with my family again. It was like a weight had been destroyed on my shoulders, and I could breathe again. 

My family, who had been missing me for all these three years, had finally become a part of my life again. They were hugging me and hugging me, and I never wanted to let go ever. I just want to stay there forever and hug them until I die. 

Eventually we did, and we all were in tears, smiling. "Nicole, how did you find us?" my dad asks, as he wipes his face. His frosty blue eyes, identical to Elena's are a blotchy red color. I've never seen this on my dad, because he never cries. He's always tried to be strong for us. 

"I-I looked Elena up on Whitepages, and I got her number. I called her, and everything went from there," I say, whilst tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. My dad flashes me a warm smile, and chuckles. The hearty, infectious laugh that Elena got resonates throughout the room, which makes my heart feel fluttery and warm. Hearing his laugh after so many years is like silk on my ears. 

"You're a very interesting girl, Nicole. But all I can say is, I'm glad to have you back. We all missed you," he says, and I feel Dom's strong hand patting me on the back. 

"I missed you guys as well. For all those three years. All I thought about was fighting through everything and being back in your arms again," I say, and I feel Dom's gentle finger trace my forearm.

"Nicole, what's this?" he asks, and his fingers gently wrap around my upper arm. My head sharply turns, and my eyes travel down to where he's grasping my arm. Right above his fingers, the purplish-blue blotches of a bruise are fairly noticeable. It's like someone decided to take a makeup palette and experiment with their shades on my skin. 

"Nicole. This is a bruise. How did you get bruised?" he asks, while his hand goes digging around inside of Elena's purse next to his body. My mind scrambles like eggs in a pan trying to think of a logical answer so I can avoid telling Dom what really happened. 

"Oh. Um, I was playing softball and my friend hit me on the arm with the bat," I swiftly lie, while Elena shoots me the stank eye. Elena knows I'm lying, but she knows not to tell Dom just yet because he'll probably lose it when he finds out what Colin did to me. 

Dom looks at me with suspicion threading his eyes. Considering I'm probably the worst liar in the world, I can see why he's suspicious. His other hand is pinching a wet wipe, while eyeing the bruise. "I don't believe you," he says, and while Elena clamps down my other arm to keep me in place. My teeth nip my lip in order to brace for Dom's reaction. 

Another gasp escapes Dom's lips when he sees the bruises staining my arms. "Nicole, unless your friend has really bad aim or was trying to murder you, this is not caused by a softball bat. Now why don't you tell me what's really going on?" my dad asks. 

When my dad asks that, it's like a rope holding me together is severed. His words are sharp enough for that rope to be cut and for my composure to go crumbling like a sand castle at the beach. At that moment, my knees give out under me, and I collapse onto the floor in tears and pain. 

Before I can hit the floor, Elena's arms catch me, and I feel her gently sit on the couch behind us. I bury my face in Elena's chest, and I let all my anger and fear flow out of me in tears. The wheels of my dad's wheelchair squeak over to where Elena is hugging me. Dom's feet clatter over to where I'm sobbing.

His hand gently strokes my back, while I'm breaking down. "Shh. Phoenix. It's okay. Tell me, what exactly happened?" my dad asks. Elena brings my head out of her chest, and her thumbs sweep the tears off of my face. I can tell she's trying so hard not to cry again, but so far, she's barely succeeding.