Only You (Second Chances Series Book 1)

The mind is a tricky thing...

I wake to the sound of something breaking. I climb out of Oliver's bed and find some boxers to slide on as shorts. I go out and find everyone standing in Ollie's office except Ollie. He's sitting in a chair crying.

"Oliver?"

He looks up and I see the pain in his eyes. He stands and walks to me where her grabs me and holds me tight. "Ollie, what happened? Why are you so upset?"

"I saw the file. I SAW what he did to you." I stiffen and push away.

"What? Millie, you showed him?" Oliver speaks before Millie can.

"I made her, Lily. I had to know. Don't be mad at her."

"Let me see it." I hold out my hand waiting for someone to hand it to me.

Millie talks then. "Lily, you don't want to see it, honey. Let's go in the other room and talk."

"Give me the damn file!"

Kate has had enough, "Will someone please tell us what the fuck is going on!"

"I was raped!" The room goes silent. Oliver moves towards me but I put my hand up to keep him back.

"It was seven years ago and the guy wasn't caught at the time but I believe I saw him today. Apparently he's the same guy that raped one of the women at the shelter. Now Millie. Give. Me. The. Fucking. File." She hands me the file. I take it in the other room and sit on the couch before I open it.

Everyone followed me and they're all standing around as I look at it. The pictures make me nauseous. My brain must of blocked out the severity of some of my physical injuries because what I see in the pictures is more alarming than I remember.

I throw the file on the table and run to the bathroom. Oliver follows me and holds my hair back as I get sick.

"Honey, you're okay. I've got you." After I finish emptying my stomach I get up and rinse my mouth out.

I turn to Oliver. "Let's go tell everyone what's going on and find out what Millie knows."

He pulls me into his chest and kisses the top of my forehead. "Are you sure? We can do this later."

"No I want to get this over with."

When we come out everyone's moved to the kitchen and made themselves drinks. Emma hands me a glass of wine. I take a big drink, then I set the glass down and begin. I begin by telling them about my trip home, the rape, the hospital stay, the cops having no evidence and then I finish with what happened today. When I'm done with all the gory details I turn to Millie.

"What did you find out about the hearing today?"

"We won't know for a few weeks what the parole board decides. I talked to the prosecutor and he's going to go over your file and see what he thinks. But, Lily, he said not to get your hopes up about actually being able to file charges against him. The lack of evidence in your case would make it very hard." She comes up to me and grabs my hands. "We just need to pray really hard that that asshole doesn't get parole."

"Yeah sure. Look guys, I'm still really tired so I'm going to go lay back down. Thanks for everything today. " I turn and walk back to the bedroom. I crawl under the covers and start to cry. I was doing so well. I told Oliver and I felt like I was really going to be able to move forward and be happy. But now I'm terrified all over again.

I hear a light knock at the door and before I can answer the girls all walk in. They climb in bed with me and we all just hold each other.

Millie talks first, "Lily, I'm so sorry you never felt like you could tell any of us what happened to you. But we know now and we're all here for you."