𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆: 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐚

𝐓𝐖: 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐞, 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

...🏀...

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟓

I sat on the edge of my bed, fingers tracing the moonstone pendant around my neck in a fit of nerves. Nathan stood in the middle of the room, staring at me with an unreadable expression. The silence was deafening between us, save for the distant hum of traffic from the open balcony doors and the creak of the floorboards under his weight.

It had been five minutes since I told him—five long, agonizing minutes of waiting for anything—to break the tension. I glanced at the clock on my dresser; the ticking sound made my chest feel tighter. I'd expected him to react differently.

Anger, maybe.

Shock.

Anything but this paralyzing quiet.

"Nathan?" I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His blue eyes flickered, and he blinked several times in rapid succession as though just now he was realizing where he was.

Then, finally, he said, "When?"

I let out a shaky exhale of the breath I'd been holding. "Over a year and a half ago," I said quietly, my gaze dropping to my hands, which were shaking. I clasped them together tightly, just trying to steady myself a bit. "It wasn't just once."

Again, the silence stretched between us, this time taut with something darker, something dangerous. I'd known Nathan was angry, though he tried keeping it contained. I could feel the heat of it.

"Who?" The word was low, threatening.

I raised my eyes to his and found fire there. "Nathan—

"Mylah," he said, cutting off, his hand reaching for mine, and I tensed.

Nathan's hand fell just between us. I could see the hurt in his gaze; all I wanted to do was erase that look on his face. But the fear and the guilt twisted inside me, stopping me as my heart pounded in my chest.

"It's not that I don't want to tell you," I whispered, my swallow audible over the lump in my throat. "It's that I'm trying to protect you. Because once you know. I can't anymore."

Nathan's jaw flexed, the muscle in his cheek twitching with restraint. "You don't need to protect me," he said firmly, his voice softening the instant the words were out of his mouth. "You're not alone anymore, Mylah." He reached for my hand. I relaxed when he finally took my hand, pulling me gently into his lap and wrapping his arms around me in a protective embrace. "You have me. I'm not going anywhere."

I buried my face into his shoulder as the pressure of the past year pinned me down, making it hard for me to breathe. His hand did slow circles against my back, and he held me tight against him. I felt like I plummeted, but Nathan's hold kept me from hitting the ground.

"It's Leila's dad," I finally said, voice cracking.

Nathan went absolutely still, his arms constricting tighter around me as if to protect me from the world. I leaned back enough to reach for the letter in my dresser. I handed it to him; my fingers shook when they came into contact with his. "He sent this four days ago.

Nathan took the letter from me, his brow furrowing as he flipped it over. I watched the shift in his face; his jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened as he processed what he was holding. The anger I'd been feeling simmering beneath the surface finally broke free.

"I'll kill him," Nathan growled; his voice was low rumble in his chest. The raw fury rolling from him sent a shiver through me.

I laid my head back against his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles. Slowly, his arms tightened around me, and the anger in him began to seep away, replaced by a determination that almost scared me.

"You don't hate me," I whispered, my lips against his collar. The weight of everything I had bottled up was crushing, yet Nathan somehow made it survivable.

He pressed his lips into the top of my head. "Never, Mylah," he whispered into my hair. "I could never hate you."

A lone tear rolled down my cheek, but not from fear; it had come from relief. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight began to lift, bit by bit. I snuggled deeper into Nathan's arms, allowing myself, if only for this moment, to believe that perhaps I didn't have to do this alone.

"I will always be here for you, Mylah," he whispered again, softer this time, full of conviction.

I closed my eyes, letting myself fall into the security of his arms. Nathan's arms squeezed tighter as if he could protect me from what had already hurt me and what still would.

I don't want to lose you.

...🏀...

I thumped down the stairs, boots banging against the wooden steps. I was running late—again. I decided to take up singing again despite how I knew my dad would feel about it. I was doing it for myself and to hell with the consequences.

I looked at my phone. River hated it when I was late for our sessions, and I could already hear her disappointed sigh in my head.

Slung over my shoulder, my bag bounced against my hip as I retrieved my keys off the counter and made for the door. "Mylah."

I froze, dead in my tracks, as my hand seized up on the doorknob. The edge in Mom's voice gave my heartbeat a flutter. She wasn't using that normal tone reserved. It was different, and I sent the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

Slowly, I turned and met her eyes as she descended the stairs. In her hand was a crumpled piece of paper I recognized all too well.

The letter.

"You want to tell me what this is?" Her voice wasn't raised, but the intensity behind the words was suffocating as she came down that last step. The letter clenched tightly in her fist as though she wished to crush it out of existence.

My stomach somersaulted. "It's nothing, Mom," I hurried to say, trying to brush past her. My heart was racing fast, pounding in my ears, but I kept my voice even. "I'm late. Can we talk about this later?"

"Nothing?" she repeated, the tone more pointed now. "This doesn't look like nothing to me, Mylah.

I swallowed hard, eyes darting to the door and back to her. "It's just...someone messing with me. It's not a big deal."

"Mylah." She wasn't buying it, and the weight of her stare pressed down on me. "Please tell me this isn't your ex, Andrew, who sent this."

Her words fell like a blow, and the air left me. I tried hard not to think about him—the boy who took everything from me. And now, here he was, forcing his way back into my life in the most painful way possible.

Why can't he just leave me alone?

I shifted uncomfortably, my hand tightening around the strap of my bag. "It's not—he's not—

"Mylah, don't lie to me." Her voice broke, and the tension between us grew thicker with every passing second. She took a step closer, her eyes scanning mine. "Why did he send you this? Why does he think he can threaten you like this?"

I couldn't speak. I couldn't find the words. The truth clawed at the back of my throat, but the thought of saying it—of seeing pity in her eyes at me—froze me in place.

"Mylah," she whispered again, softer that time. "Please, tell me what's going on.

I felt my resolve crumble little by little. My fingers shook as I pushed my hair back behind my ear, trying to look anywhere except at her.

"He's.. he's the one who I have nightmares about, Mom," I said in a voice barely above a whisper. The admission was like it ripped something out of me. "Andrew's the one who...raped me."

Her expression had changed; shock and confusion mixed in her eyes. She stood there frozen as the weight of my words settled between us. The silence that followed was smothering like the air had been sucked out of the room.

"Mylah." Her voice shook, almost breaking. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I blinked back the sting of burning tears at the corners of my eyes. I couldn't look at her. "Because...because no one would have believed me," I whispered, my throat tightening. "It's his word against mine, and he's...he's the governor's son."

She'd closed the distance between us in one swift motion, wrapping her arms around me tight enough to try to hold together all my broken pieces. She rested her chin on my head, her breathing uneven while she slowly exhaled.

"I believe you," she whispered against my hair. "I believe you, Mylah. I'm so sorry."

The floodgates opened. I wrapped my arms around her tight, burying my face against her shoulder as the tears came hard and fast. I'd kept this inside, bottled it up until it was something I could ignore, something I thought I could live with. But it all spilled out now, and I couldn't stop it.

She believes me. She believes me. She BELIEVES me.

"You should've told me," she breathed, her voice cracking. "You didn't have to go through this all by yourself."

"I didn't want to make anything worse," I sobbed, clutching at her jacket. "I didn't want you to hate me. I...If you knew he was Leila's father, I thought you would hate me for having her."

She drew back just far enough to look at me, her hands cupping my face, catching the tears. "I could never hate you, Mylah, for having Leila. I love my granddaughter, and I love you," she said, her voice steady though it broke a few times. "We'll get through it together, okay? You are not alone anymore."

Her words wrapped around me like a lifeline, anchoring me when I felt I was falling apart. I nodded, my breath still catching, but the weight on my chest felt lighter, like maybe—just maybe—I didn't have to carry it all by myself anymore.

...🏀...

"What do you want?"

As I emerged from the performance arts center, I watched the afternoon sun cast a golden glow across the parking lot. River's question was still playing in the back of my head.

I know I was distracted, as my thoughts were—and still are—a swirling storm. No matter how hard I tried to focus on the music, my thoughts kept drifting back to the letter—to Andrew—to everything. I was still trying to protect those I cared about.

"Mylah, you okay?" River brought me out of my reverie at the door.

I blinked and nodded but knew she wasn't buying it. River knew me long enough that she saw when something was bothering me.

"You sure?" she pressed, worry tingeing her voice. "You've been off all day. I know that's not just music."

I gave a small sigh, looking down at my hands. "I've just...had a lot on my mind."

River's eyebrows furrowed, and her lips set in a thin line. "Are you sure you are not having second thoughts about singing?"

"No," I said, quicker this time, shaking my head. "Singing isn't the problem."

"Good," she said, offering a small smile. "Because you have a gift, Mylah. You were meant to share it with the world."

I wanted to believe her, but right now, sharing anything with the world seemed impossible. I gave her a weak smile, hoping it was enough to end the conversation. "Thanks, River."

She nodded, her eyes softening. "If you ever need to talk. You know I'm here."

I returned with a soft thank you and then turned toward the car. The parking lot was almost empty by now, the sun low in the sky and a maze of long shadows sprinkled across it. As I walked, I heard my boots click on the pavement, and my footsteps seemed to echo through the uneasy quiet. I reached for my keys, pulling them out of my bag as I neared my car.

"Mylah."

The sound of his voice stopped me cold.

I froze.

My breath caught in my throat as I clutched my keys a little tighter. The voice was so familiar; it echoed in my ears and started to give me chills. Slowly, I turned, my heart pounding in my chest.

Andrew stood a few feet away, the dying light casting ominous shadows on his face. He was still the same, yet different. More sinister.

Where's your boyfriend?" he jeered, a teasing smile dancing along his lips.

I swallowed to keep my tone level. "Leave, Andrew. Now."

He smiled wider as he took a few steps toward me. "That's no way to talk to me? I came all this way for you, Mylah. You think I'm just gonna leave?"

My heart thundered in my chest, my mind racing. For every step he took forward, I took one back. "Leave."

Andrew's expression hardened, and the playful edge fell from his face. "Yeah, I'm not going to do that." He angled his head, and his eyes darkened. "I came for you. And I'm not leaving without you."

I shook my head, forcing myself to stand tall. "No.

"You know I don't like that word," he growled low. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."

I felt the sweat prickling on my neck, fear climbing up my spine, choking me. "Please, just leave me alone."

"You know I can't do that," Andrew said, his voice softening, almost in pity. "I love you."

"You don't love me," I retorted loudly, my voice trembling.

Andrew's face softened for a moment. "I do. You may not believe it now, but you are the love of my life."

𝐓𝐖: 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

Without warning, Andrew rushed at me. My eyes widened in shock, and I didn't think—I threw my bag into his face, the force of it making him groan and stop in his tracks.

I spun and ran toward my car, my legs pumping furiously as I sprinted across the parking lot. My breath came in sharp, panicked gasps. Footsteps pounded behind me, closer, louder.

A scream escaped my lips as strong arms wrapped around my waist, yanking me off the ground. My back slammed into Andrew's chest, his grip like iron around me.

"Stop fighting me," Andrew growled, but I kicked backward, striking his shin.

He grunted in pain, losing his hold just enough for me to wriggle free. I stumbled to rush for my car again, fingers trembling as I yanked the door open. But before I could climb in, Andrew's body slammed into mine, pinning me against the door.

I felt a sudden jab of pain in my side, crumpled to the ground, and was gasping for breath.

"I warned you," Andrew hissed while over me. "Now, look what you made me do."

I wrapped my arms around my side, and my vision was swimming because of the pain. Yet I wasn't through.

Not yet.

Kicking at the back of his leg, he let out a hiss and fell to his knees. I struggled to my feet, trying to get away, but his hand shot out, grabbing my ankle and yanking me down. I hit the pavement hard, and before I could react, he was on top of me, pinning me down.

"Enough!" Andrew snarled his breath, hitting my ear and sending a wave of nausea through me as the memories I kept locked in my mind threatened to overwhelm me.

He flipped me onto my back, his hands pressing into me against the ground. I pushed against him, panic rising in my chest. "Get off me!"

"Shh, Mylah," he whispered, stroking a strand of my hair. "You could've made this easier. But now, I have to teach you a lesson.

He ripped my jacket from my shoulders as his hands trailed down my side. Tears stung my eyes as I struggled under him, my heart racing in terror. I felt it, and then the wall I had crafted carefully over the past year and a half broke. Everything came flooding in, and my body went still. It was like I was a passenger in my own body, unable to move except for the shaking.

𝐓𝐖: 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬

"Let her go!" A voice shouted from behind us. Andrew's grip on my arm tightened as he swung me around. I blinked through the tears, my heart leaping in relief.

Nathan.

Alex.

Andrew's face contorted in a sneer. "He can't save you," he growled low.

Nathan took one step nearer, his face dark. "Let her go."

Alex stood beside him, his fists clenched. "I already called the cops."

Andrew snorted and then clutched me tighter before he roughly shoved me on the ground. I hit the concrete pavement with a shaking body, my breath coming in short and shallow gasps.

"Leave," Nathan ordered, voice firm, cold.

Andrew's head jerked between us three, his jaw working. "He can't always protect you," he snarled—the hot weight of his gaze seared mine.

Nathan's voice cut through the tension. "If you ever come near her again, I'll kill you."

Andrew let out a disparaging snort, taking a backward step. "Is that a threat?"

Nathan's features blackened. "No. It's a promise.

Andrew took one last look and turned, walking away. I was still on the ground, shaking, trying my best to breathe, pushing the memories back that had a hold on me.

"Mylah." Nathan knelt before me, his tone soft. "I'm here. I've got you."

His voice snapped me back, and I took a deep breath, not feeling like I was floating outside of my body, a passenger.

I lifted my head, locking onto his blue eyes. "You're here?"

Nathan nodded, concern radiating in his gaze. "I'm here, Mylah."

I cried, all tears streaming down my face as I reached for him with a shaking hand. Nathan pulled me into his arms, holding me tight while I collapsed, sobbing into his chest.

"I was so scared," I whispered, my voice breaking.

"I'm sorry," Nathan mumbled against my hair. "I'm so, so sorry."

I clung to him, feeling Alex's hand on my shoulder, my two protectors with me as I tried to calm the storm inside me.

They saved me.