Destined

Fifty Seven

Two weeks had passed since I'd been released from hospital. Two weeks in which so much had happened, I was still confused from the backlash.

The first day I was out, my mum took me home to Delaware. My dad was there. Aunt Shar and her husband were there. Talia was there. Holly was there. Vince too. I spent a week at home recuperating. Being visited by family and friends. Vince was staying in my house too. It was surreal. He was staying in the guest bedroom, which really was just a formality, because, I couldn't fall asleep without him, so he ended up sleeping in my room with Holly at our feet, every night.

It was interesting though. It wasn't exactly how I'd pictured introducing him to my family, but of course they all loved him immediately. Who wouldn't? He was so helpful and kind and generous. On the second day we were there, he spent the day cleaning out our attic, fixing our broken cupboard door hinges and overall being our personal handyman.

He also began taking Holly with him on his morning runs. Holly, the little traitor, actually preferred him over me. Probably because he gave her a better work out. Talia would normally be with me when they were out. Oh that's another thing, no one left me alone for a single moment. Well except maybe when I had to shower, but even then, there was usually someone waiting outside the door.

I understood their need to watch over me, to keep me safe. I appreciated it on some level, but at some point, I was getting uncomfortable.

On the third day, my dad came by. My mum was completely civil with him and let him in to speak with me. And we did talk. He explained why he left, in his own words, and I understood. But we had so much to do before we could get back our father daughter relationship. I assumed he wanted my mum back too, but that was another hurdle he'd have to go through to get his family back.

My boyfriend never lost the romantic bone he had. Very often, because I never left the house, he'd cook dinner or order take out, and we'd eat and watch tv and talk like nothing had ever happened. He was just as affectionate and doting. On the day I was getting out of the hospital, he'd surprised me with a wrapped box. Inside were two silver cuff like bracelets. Similar to Wonder Woman's.

"Now you don't have to stare at the marks," he'd said putting them on me to cover up the marks on my wrists where I'd been bound.

I'd smiled at his thoughtfulness and gave him a big kiss, right before my mum walked into the hospital room and ruined the moment.

I'd pretty much stayed away from social media or any form of news. The last thing I wanted was to see his face. I knew soon I'd be called in to testify, but I wanted to put it off for as long as I could. I'd have flash backs sometimes, nothing too vivid, except his face of course, that was forever engraved on my brain unfortunately.

Luckily, no one ever brought him up, and I was beyond grateful.

Vince drove Talia and I back to school after my week at home. I was so antsy about being there but I had so much school work to catch up on. Except, I wasn't ready to go back to class so Matt and Maddie would tutor me or give me whatever lesson we'd had in whatever class I'd missed, and I'd study on my own too.

Vince practically moved into my place though. Like I said, I couldn't sleep without him, I really had tried and ended up falling off the bed after reacting to a very visceral nightmare. I hadn't been able to calm down and Talia had had to call him from his place in the middle of the night so he could come over. Now he didn't even bother leaving. He worked from my place, keeping me company when everyone else was out. I knew soon I'd have to let go of him, we couldn't be together twenty four seven, but I would enjoy him while I still could. 

And then the day came where I could no longer ignore what was happening. My therapist, oh yes, I started seeing one after this, tells me I created a mental block to shield myself from the pain and horrible images of what had happened, what I'd done.