“I’m your father! You do not get to talk to me that way.”
“You are no father of mine when you talk about my mother and my sister that way,” Aaron barks, sounding powerful and unbeatable. He might be feeling utterly confused, but he doesn’t sound like it at all.
Like statues, Dominik, Tristan, and I remain silent, eager to hear more until I’m suddenly gasping for air. It all makes perfect sense now. All these years, the way they treated me, the intense hatred in my father’s eyes whenever they fell upon me. My entire life falls into place like small puzzle pieces.
Despite having no role in her affair or their marriage, I was punished for simply coming into existence. Bob hated me before I was even born.
But now, I finally understand the reason behind it all. At least now, there is some clarity. And most importantly, it wasn’t something I did.
It was never my fault.
“Is this true, Mom?” Aaron finally speaks.
“Yes.” Her voice is barely a whisper. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. There are things you will never understand, and I’m not justifying it, but I made a mistake, and I’ve been paying for it ever since. Your father was kind enough to forgive me.”
“Forgive you?! He called you a whore, Mom. With the way he’s behaving, I’m sure you had a good reason to fuck some other guy.”
She cries some more, and some deep, twisted part of me wants to walk over and hug her. Even though she never showedme the same kindness. What the hell is wrong with me? I should hate her. She gave birth to me and has been regretting it ever since. Her husband meant more to her than her own child. Instead of protecting me, she joined him.
“Stop crying, Elaine. No one wants to see your ugly tears.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Dominik snarls under his breath.
“You’re a fucking asshole,” Aaron fumes. “And you, I can’t believe you would allow this to happen. All these years, and for what? For him to treat you like this while you discarded your own flesh and blood? She was just a kid!”
He must be addressing both of them now.
I’m not sure if I can do this. Maybe I’m not ready after all.
My entire body shakes, and Dominik turns me around, gripping my face. “Stay with me, okay?”
“I can’t.”
“It’s almost over, and I’ve got you. I won’t let them hurt you.” He kisses my cheek, and I steal a second of comfort from his proximity.
I can only nod and focus on my breaths. I can’t walk into the room and face my demons while having a panic attack.
“Let’s get in there before this gets any uglier,” Tristan whispers, and Dominik tightens his grip on me, holding me close. His warmth calms me instantly. I don’t think he knows how much he affects me or how safe he makes me feel.
I never imagined that we could rebuild after all that happened between us. But the transformation was almost instantaneous when I finally gave this a chance and allowed him into my life. He had always been there, waiting for me behind that door. Giving me time until I could find my way to him.
“Wait,” Dom whispers, looking down at me. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I exhale.
“Are you sure? Because you say the word, and I’ll take you away from here.”
“Dominik!” Tristan warns from behind him, but Dominik doesn’t even flinch. He’s completely focused on me.
Touching his cheek, I push the nerves aside and smile. “I’m okay. I’ve got you guys with me.”
When I look behind Dom, Tristan smiles and winks at me, and I know that, whatever happens in that room, I’m going to be okay because these men have my back no matter what. I’ve never felt that type of security before. Never known with certainty until now, and that, alone, feels like a win.
As I cautiously position myself between Dominik and Tristan, tension crackles in the air like a live wire as we push through the doors and walk into the room. Aaron is rigid, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he stands locked in a fiery standoff with Bob, whose face is flushed red with anger. Elaine sits in a nearby lounge chair, her breaths shallow and ragged as she clutches her head. The room feels like a powder keg on the brink of explosion, just like my insides at the sight of seeing my parents for the first time in a long time.
I’ve avoided being in a room with them since they locked me up and barely fed me for a week straight. Elaine was out of town, and Bob snapped at something I had done. I can’t even remember what it was; it was that insignificant. I think I had broken curfew or something. He left me a bucket and locked my door from the outside. I had nightmares about that for months.
Just the memories make me want to crawl out of my skin.
