Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
By the time I got home from my visit with Lincoln, my state of mind was so bad I couldn’t breathe, then I began to panic even more that, if I didn’t get their help, I’d end up back where I was and that thought terrified me so much I made myself sick. I shouldn’t have gone to them alone, I should have told Erin, she could have come with me, so I would have been prepared.
As I said, I’m so damned stupid.
“Knock knock.”
I look up from my spot on the bed and am surprised to see Erin standing at my door. She’s not due to finish work yet. A hard lump forms in my throat, last time she came home early, she gave me bad news, news that put my slowly calming nature, back into a terrified spiral that I’ve fought so hard to escape from.
“You’re home early,” I say, and my voice is croaky still from my earlier bout of crying.
“I’m home early. Is there anything you want to share with me?”
She knows.
I can see it written all over her face.
My first question, is how does she know?
But I know she wants answers more than me so I simply nod, and look down at my hands.
“Firstly, why didn’t you come to me?”
I look up at her. “I don’t know, I guess I wanted to do it myself, and I also figured you’d tell me it wasn’t a good idea, which I can see now.”
“You’re wrong,” she says, walking in and sitting on the edge of the bed. “I would have told you it was actually a good idea, and that I’d come with you. You don’t have to do anything alone, you know this by now.”
I feel even more stupid now, because of course I know this.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I thought I could handle it, but not remembering...and then Damon came in and...I just got so overwhelmed. I feel so embarrassed, I ran out of there so fast.”
“Don’t be embarrassed, it’s a big deal, all of this is a lot to take in, let alone adding the impending danger. You’re quite within your right to be afraid, any person would find all this over the top, and would probably react in the same way.”
I smile, weakly, but it’s a smile. “Yeah, I know, you’re right. I’m sorry. I should have come to you.”
“That’s not all, honey. You have a visitor who got wind of what happened today and apparently isn’t leaving until we tell him what’s going on.”
“Slater?” I whisper, my chest clenching with nerves and confusion.
“Yeah, Lincoln told him what happened today and why you were there. Understandably, he’s not leaving now because he wants to help. And, as much as I want to bop him right in the nose because of the way he talks, I think you’re right, I think we do need help outside of the police. They don’t have enough to go on, and we’re not priority, and you need to be. So, I can tell him to leave and you can tell me everything and I’ll organize the help, or you can go on out and talk to him. It’s up to you. No matter what you choose, I’ll have your back.”
I nod, and take a deep shaky breath.
I don’t know if I really want to talk to Slater, but I’m the only person who knows every awful detail of my story, and because of that, it needs to be me that gives the information.
“I’ll talk to him.”
Erin raises her brows, and then smiles softly. “I know you think that you’re this weak, broken girl, but I hope you see that, even though you don’t realize it, your courage has grown so much. It took a lot of guts to go there today, and it takes even more to go out and talk to Slater. So, whenever you think you’re not coming out of this stronger, know that you are, honey. Every single day.”
My heart explodes with gratitude for this amazing woman, and I shuffle off the bed and stand, hugging her. She hugs me back, and then keeps her hands on my shoulders when she says, “I’ll be right in the living room, if he so much as upsets you even in the slightest, I’ll be there. And, I don’t care how big he is, I’ll right hook him, right in the face.”
I laugh. “I’m sure you will, but I’ll be okay. I don’t remember anything, but I must admit, after talking to Lincoln and seeing Damon, there is something genuine in their eyes, when they look at me, it really makes me feel like I am...”
“Family,” Erin finishes for me. “That’s because you are, to them. Even if you don’t remember.”
“So you think we can trust them?”
Erin shrugs. “I don’t know what I think, but I do know that they’re protective of you, you matter to them, anyone with a set of eyes can see that, and so I guess we’re going to have to trust in that, at the very least.”