Connecting

Chapter 45

Away from the city, in a small town in Ohio, there stood a very nice home of the Woods. It's not very big but it is something that is very comfortable and very lovely to live in. Chris called his parents, Julie (yes, same name as Melissa's apparently) and Grant Wood, who agreed for them to stay as long as they want to do so. He also mentioned bits of what happened, carefully to not tell the whole story and for Melissa to not think he's telling a story that is not his, and told them that she's currently in trauma and still kind of shock.

Once they arrived, Melissa was.. happy to see the sight. She feels like her heart will be at rest here for a while.

They were welcomed by Julie and Grant. Both of them hugged their son and Julie hugged Melissa to show her that she is welcome in their home. Melissa just nodded and smiled a little.

"Hey, Melissa, right?" Julie, mother of Chris told her. "I am Chris's mom, Julie. Julie Wood." Julie introduced herself.

Melissa smiled, thinking about her mother with the same name as the woman in front of her right now. "Yes, thank you... for welcoming me here, Ms. Julie. You have the same name as my mom's."

"Of course, you seem special to my son, you're always welcome here." Julie said and gave her a side hug. "Also, just call me Julie, I have no problem with that. Ms. Julie is way too formal."

They led the both of them in the house where everything looks so simple yet so beautiful. The four of them sat on the living room couch, on the single couch is Grant then Melissa, Chris, and Julie are seated on the longer couch.

Grant offered them tea which is on the center table, which Melissa and Chris accepted.

"What are your plans for today?" Grant asked them before sipping in his tea.

Chris shrugged and looked at Melissa. "We don't have plans yet but I think it'd be great if we just take the first few days to take a break, you know, just rest." He turned his attention to Melissa. "Are you good with that?" he asked and she gave him a nod as an answer.

"Alright, kids," Julie said standing up so they all stood up and followed her. "Let's go to your rooms. I readied the guest room next to Chris's so if you need anything, you can easily go to him. We're also just in the room upstairs if you guys need us during the night. Sorry, the house isn't very big but it's spacious enough for all of us, right?"

They showed them their rooms which are on the main floor, same floor as the living room, kitchen, etc. and helped them settled in.

Once they were settled in, the couple, Julie and Grant left them to grab some groceries.

Melissa and Chris are now left by themselves. Melissa decided to stay inside the room assigned to her and read the book that she brought with her.

Chris knocked slightly on her door before letting himself in because he knows that she won't respond. "Mind if I sit?" Chris asked, pointing at the bed. Melissa looked up from the book she's reading and slightly nodded.

Chris checked the room, looking for any triggering objects that may cause fear to Melissa. When he found nothing, he went near the window, which is near the bed. "Nice view, right?"

Melissa closed her book and pulled the blanket towards her. "Nature.." she mumbled.

Chris sat near her but giving a distance for personal space. "You like nature, don't you? I hope this helps in your recovery... just tell me what you want, okay?"

They were silent for a while.

"I feel broken." Melissa stated, making Chris looked at her and his heart started to crack. He just stayed there, looking at the woman she loves and waiting for her to open up. "I.. I feel relieved that I made it out.. alive. But broken."

Chris calmly and gently held her hand, nodding her head, saying that he is and will always be there for her. "Go on.. if you can."

Melissa's tears started to stream down her face. "I don't.. I don't know how to feel. I was hurt... badly. When we were together, I was forced to stay with him, to love him, to... do things I wasn't willing to do. Now, he... I was hurt by him again and I can't believe I let that happen. I thought I was stronger, someone who will stand up for herself but the moment I heard his voice, I remembered everything... the pain." She cried and Chris just let her.

After she calmed down a bit, help her stand up because her injuries from the incident aren't healed yet especially both of her wrists and the deep wounds she acquired. "Come, I'll show you something." They went to the garage, where Chris grabbed a ball.

"This ball is the thing that made me brave. My family who mainly gave me strength but for some weird reason, I found bravery here, maybe because it had great memories and it came from my dad. Nonetheless, it is very important to me." Chris said, holding the ball gently and Melissa's hand on his other to support her to stand up properly.

They went back inside and waited for the night to come.

---

When evening came, they enjoyed a simple dinner, Melissa ate a little, as usual. Melissa stayed in the living room until late night while Chris and his parents went to their respective rooms to rest. She stared into the wall, memories came flashing back again but she tried her best to fight back her tears.

Unbeknownst to her, Julie is still awake and wants to talk to her.

She slowly approached Melissa, putting in mine what her son had told her about her current condition. "Hey..."

Melissa was surprised and flinched a little but took a deep breath when she saw it's just Chris's mother.

"Sorry for surprising you, I was just... I couldn't sleep. I can tell you can't either."

Melissa nodded, just letting the older woman talk.

"I don't mean to... make you feel like I am getting into your life or anything but Chris told me about... your condition," Julie spoke gently and calmly, soothing Melissa's fear. Melissa nodded. "I just... you know, want you to know that you are always welcome here until your shock subsides. I know nothing about trauma but I know what it feels like to be a woman... to be hurt. I know what it feels like to be sad and anxious although not very... like what is happening to you. Chris didn't tell me what really happened, what caused you to be like this but I know you've been hurt, badly. Physically and emotionally. I can see, I am a mother. I had a daughter and I just... I want to give the love that I wasn't able to give my daughter. You can always tell me what you feel, I am here to listen."

Melissa took a deep breath and looked at her hands, fiddling them. "I... I don't know. It all hurts. Pain. Just pain. I see these memories and flashbacks every time, when I sleep and even when I am awake and it's.. getting worse. The worst part is, it's like I am there.. like I feel everything, every pain, all over again. I.. I don't know. Everything make me anxious. It's so nauseous, the anxiousness, it makes me vomit. Every night. I am tired."

Julie nodded and embraced her. She is different but she needs to be strong.