I took a deep breath. I was getting ready to spill my guts about everything wasn't I? Grey and I had moved to the living room and I had just been sitting next to him, silently, for almost a half hour. The thoughts of what Grey would do were running through my head, some good, but most bad. I pictured as soon as he was done taking in what I had been through, he'd turn tail and run, kick me out of his house, force me to go back to what I had barely escaped.

The images of the things that had been done to me ran through my head as well and I began trembling and a silent sob escaped me. Grey gripped my hand firmly but gently, waiting for me to be ready. It didn't seem like he'd turn his back on me, but neither did everyone I'd told previously.. I'd TRIED to reach out for help, silently screaming, but did anyone even lift a finger to help me-- no.. Not even close.. If anything, my old friends fathers or older brothers would be sick enough to be people that my dad forced on me.. Too many people... Too dark...

Useless... Freak... Just die...

By this time, as everything came back to me, Grey's arms were around me as I desperately tried to get away, tears running down my cheeks and raspy, "No... Don't touch me... Just go away already..." escaping my lips. Grey was hurting from seeing me like this too, I could tell, there was no doubt. Even so, remembering everything was too much. Everything was coming back all at once, all the scarring, all the insults, all the threats... A girl's father should protect them, not hurt them to the worst degree... They don't let other men rape their daughter while they watched and laughed as she couldn't scream because her vocal chords had stopped working so long ago... They shouldn't sit back and watch as their daughter fights to stay alive from her own mind...

THEY SHOULDN'T MAKE THEIR DAUGHTERS AFRAID TO COME HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY...

Suddenly, everything was spilling from my lips in the hoarse voice that I could muster and I stared as Grey's expression went from shocked to concerned to an emotion I couldn't read. When all was said and done, Grey hugged me to him, "I've got you, Chris..." He whispered. His soft voice echoed through my thoughts, echoed through the pain and everything I felt like I was reliving. I couldn't stop the tears as I let him hold me, "I love you..." He said repeatedly, to make sure that I knew it, make sure that I knew he wouldn't leave like everyone else. For the first time in my life since I lost my voice, I felt like I could be accepted as a real person with value, not an object that could be bargained off the highest bidder...

Even as dawn was approaching and I could see the first light through the window, I stayed in Grey's arms. I felt safe, I felt wanted, I felt loved, everything that I had never felt from anyone...

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Sorry again guys, I really wanted this chapter to be longer, but I'm going to have to split this chapter into two parts, I'll update again soon!!

-K