Cinderella in the Cameras

Chapter 20- Finally The End

Chapter 20

A month later i was released in the real world once again. After extensive psychotherapy and medical checks multiple times a week, I was so ready for freedom. Hours and hours stuck in a spotless white box could drive just about anyone to insanity. Guards trailed behind me everywhere I went, like to dogs ready to attack at the snap of a finger. 

As for Duke, he was still being driven past the point of sanity. People pictured him as a villain almost as horrible as the ones he played on the big screen. Jail time was a given, the charges against were piling up as more people revealed things. The judge didn't even post a bail, so he suffered a short time in the slammer

His court date was in one week, enough time for me to recover for my testimony. Enough time for me to get myself together before facing my monster. And maybe defeat him. 

Other people would be on the stand. Your story is solid, its the truth. People are on your side. One side of my brain argued. I was sitting back in my bed with Honey (A/n thats her dog )  on my feet. I stared at the ceiling, trying not to cry at the horrible thoughts that came with the positive ones.

He will be there, right in front of me. Every scar I had finally recovered from would open up again and bleed in front of the court. I would recount the things that still haunted me every night in my sleep. 

For a week I locked myself away with my best friends. Only us four and a fluff ball named Honey. They all tried to get me out of bed and to eat something but I was a hopeless cause. I was only the shell of the person I used to be. Skin and bones with no smile or personality to fill the void under them. They threatened to call the hospital. They threatened to put a feeding tube down my nose. I finally gave in when they threatened to call momzilla.

My immobile bones made sounds of resistance when I finally walked to some where other than the bathroom. Honey followed on my heels with a worried face. Brook followed next to me on the way. Since everything went down we weren't the same, but I didn't mind the silence between us. She simply had nothing to say, her sympathy to great for words; and I had no words for what I had gone through, so we sat in a sad silence, not exactly tense but not happy. 

Her tan face lit up in happiness when I landed on the living room couch with a proud smile. 

“See, I’m fine!” I grunted and laid back on the soft couch. Brooks face dropped at my attitude but River’s did the opposite when he saw I had moved. He had just come out of the kitchen with a sandwich for me that would probably be left uneaten.

“Well if your fine then eat that sandwich.” Brook snapped. I rolled my eyes and grabbed it off the plate river was holding. I took a bite and made a ‘see?’ face.

River sat down next to me and patted my hand in comfort against Brooks mad face. He could feel the tension in the room too. 

“No I meant it all, Ella.” Her attitude reflected mine now. Defiant and stubborn.

“Okay, then I will.” I look her straight in the eye and took a few bites. I felt like I was going to throw up, choking down whatever River had put on this bread left the worst aftertaste. I was halfway there when bid rose in my throat and I swallowed it down. 

I lowered my eyes in defeat. “Thats all I can do.” 

“Then see your not fine! You can’t go on like this, Ella, you're killing yourself!” Brook yelled. River left, realizing this was our fight not his. 

“How could I be fine after what I went through?! I shouldn't even be alive right now Brook! It’s not happily ever after, but look at how much I ate! I’m not going to snap back, but I’m getting there!” I screamed back at her.