Saving Reli by Brooke Summers

Author:Brooke Summers [Summers, Brooke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-30T05:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Reli

Four Weeks Later

I stare at John’s back as he moves toward the door. Things between us have been getting better. We still only just kiss; he won’t let anything else happen and I’m actually grateful for that. We still have separate rooms and he climbs into bed with me whenever I have nightmares, which aren’t as many as before. I get them maybe twice a week now, and I’m actually able to sleep deeply because I know that John is here to keep me safe.

I’m in love with him. I know that for sure. The man is amazing and has treated me with so much respect and kindness, even after finding out about the abuse. I still haven’t told him about the worst thing yet, and I’m scared that he’s going to think badly of me. My counselor tells me that he won’t, that he’ll see it just as she does and that it was more torture that Talia inflicted on me, but I’m not so sure.

Today I’m meeting with his family. I’m nervous; I know that they all know about the things Talia has done to me and I hate that they do. When people know that you’ve been abused, they look at you differently. They see a victim and I’m trying my hardest to get over what’s happened, but as soon as someone gives me a pitying look it sends me back to that headspace I’ve been working hard to get out of.

He’s talked about our families, his and mine, and for the first time in years I feel closer to my parents than I ever have, even though they are no longer living. His mom and dad were my parents' best friends, they were a major part of our lives, and yet when dad passed, I lost them. Having John talk about them makes me feel safe and at ease; he’s given me something I never thought I’d have again, the feeling of having them with me.

Voices grow louder, and I tense when Markus and Sharon walk into the kitchen. I told John that I wanted to cook tonight; I thought that it would keep me busy and keep my nerves at bay. It hasn’t, but I can hide in here under the pretense of cooking if things get too hard.

“Oh my darling.” Sharon gasps as soon as she sees me and I glance at John, who’s watching us closely. She rushes toward me and pulls me into her arms. “I’m so happy that you agreed to see us.”

Oh God, I was so scared about meeting them again that I didn’t think about how they were feeling. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, the guilt at keeping them at bay hitting me hard. I fight back the tears.

“Don’t apologize, I understand. I just wanted to give you this,” she tells me as she tightens her arms around me. “I didn’t know if anyone had given you one.”

“Your son gives amazing hugs,” I tell her quietly, not wanting to be overheard.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.