“Shut up.” I shake my head, blood pounding in my ears.
“When I found out I was pregnant, I was so happy. So happy to have a part of you inside of me.”
“Shut. Up.” I growl, eyes clenched shut holding my head as the pounding nearly deafens me.
“I let your father believe she was his, because he would have killed her if I didn’t. But she’s yours, Will. She’s your daughter. Your little girl. A life we made together.”
“Shut up. Shut up. Shut. Up!” I roar, white hot fury consuming me. I take my gun out of it’s holster and flick the safety off, raising it to point at her. She has less than a second to look at me in horror before I fire off a round into the middle of her forehead.
My whole body trembles as I lower the gun, chest rising and falling rapidly as I breathe through clenched teeth.
The whole room is quiet, no one seems to know what to say.
Putting my gun away, I turn around and leave, unable to be around that monster for another second.
All I feel is numb. Like everything inside me shuts off.
Getting on my bike, I ignore Nova calling my name and speed out of the compound.
I drive for hours back and forth across the coast of St. Marys, not able to bring myself too far from Nova.
After a while, I pull up to the house and park my bike.
The lights are on, but I don’t go inside. Instead, I head down to the beach and sit on the sand.
Hours pass, just the sound of the water crashing against the beach as I think. And think. And fucking think.
Even when I thought I got rid of her, she came back. She found a way to hurt me again.
I don’t remember much of that night, just waking up in the hotel room naked. I thought I drank too much, had a one night stand with some random girl, and that was it.
Never in a million years did I think that girl was Julia and that I was drugged and raped.
Was what she said a lie? Rica can’t be my daughter. She just can’t be.
But what if she is? What if that beautiful little girl is mine?
Leaning my head against my arms as they drape over my knees, I cry. I just sit there and cry because I don't know what else to do.
I feel so lost and helpless.
“Hey.” Nova’s soft voice sounds next to me. I don’t lift my head as she sits down on the sand. “We don’t have to talk. I just want to make sure you're not hurt.”
“What if she’s telling the truth?” I ask, still not lifting my head. “What if she’s right and Rica is mine?”
“Then that amazing, funny, kind little girl is yours.” She puts her hand on my back.
“Even years later, she still found a way to hurt me.” I lift my head, looking at Nova. I must look like a mess to her right now but she smiles at me like I’m her favorite person.
“She’s gone now. She will never be able to hurt you again.”
I’m glad she doesn’t tell me how sorry she is for what Julia did. I don’t want her to be sorry. Nova didn’t do anything to me. I just want her. Her love. Her support. Just her.
Grabbing Nova, I pull her into the space between my legs and wrap my arms around her, resting my chin on her shoulder. We sit for a while, watching as the sun starts to rise.
She says nothing, just holds my hand, being the strength I need.
“I want a DNA test.” I tell her.
