[[Hi everyone!! I am writing a new story that hits very close to home for me. I have first hand experience with seeing abuse and experiencing it and I've come to realize that I am not alone in this world. So, this is a warning that this book will talk about sexual and physical abuse. I appreciate you all for taking the time out of your day to read my book and I hope you enjoy this first chapter! Let me know how you like it and I love y'all! I'll update again soon! ~Ariel 💜]]
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I hate flowers. Not because they're beautiful or because they make you feel special when someone gives them to you, but because flowers were a form of an apology that my Father would give to my Mother after he would beat the crap out of her.125Please respect copyright.PENANAwTpCD3nECh
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For as long as I could remember, my Dad had serious anger issues. No matter what you did, the littlest thing could set him off and he would turn into this evil monster who I grew to fear and hate. "Kaia, please say something." My Mom stared at me worriedly and I blinked rapidly, snapping myself out of my thoughts and once my vision returned, a bouquet of red roses stared back at me and my jaw clenched. "I know it is very unexpected, but your Father and I are very excited for this new baby." She smiled at me and I scoffed in disbelief.125Please respect copyright.PENANAQNfXo3p1PN
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"I don't understand, Mom. I'm nineteen and have been an only child up until now. What could possibly have changed about that man that gave you the bright idea to have another baby?" I spat out angrily and my Mom flinched at my words but eventually sighed.125Please respect copyright.PENANARmNFwzB03c
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"Don't speak badly about him, Kaia. He's still your father and I really need your support through this pregnancy." She grabbed my hand tightly and stared at me pleadingly. "Please, Kaia." She begged and her voice cracked as she started to cry.125Please respect copyright.PENANAN83udqxPgH
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It broke my heart to see my Mom cry, but how was I supposed to pretend to be happy to get another sibling when they were going to be raised by that man? "I love you, Mom. But, you have to understand that it's so hard to standby and watch you let him abuse you. I won't put up with it anymore, especially now since you're pregnant." I said sternly and she bit her lip.125Please respect copyright.PENANAzRHBbsFyrt
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"You don't understand how hard marriage can be. It's not as easy as it appears in movies and in books. No one is perfect and we are all human. We make mistakes and most of the time it's my fault! I don't know when to stop fighting with your Father." She rubbed her forehead tiredly and I shook my head. I wasn't the least bit surprised that she blamed herself for my Dad hitting her. She has been defending him since I was a kid, but I still felt a little disappointed when she said that.125Please respect copyright.PENANAjUeUkFuDAV
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"It should be easy, Mom! It doesn't matter what you're arguing about, he should never put a hand on you. I know I will never let a man hit me." I stood up from my chair and my Mother just stared blankly at the roses as I leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "I love you. Of course, I'll support you through your pregnancy." I said gently and she sighed as she wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly to her.125Please respect copyright.PENANAGqGT7eVHmz
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"Thank you, my darling." I smiled sadly down at her and hugged her back, but I couldn't stop myself from becoming angry.125Please respect copyright.PENANAApF4poerLd
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Once I left my Mom's house, I practically ran to my car and drove downtown. I parked my car and ran toward Navy Pier as tears started to sting at my eyes. I wasn't crying because I was angry. I was crying because I felt so unbelievably sorry for my Mother and that she'll never be able to leave him. I covered my mouth with my hand as a sob broke through me and I squatted down as I stared at the water. It was the middle of November and the waves were crashing against the pier and it felt like my world was crashing down around me.125Please respect copyright.PENANAxoLm2ensU5
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I cried quietly as I stared at the water and I wished for nothing more than for my Mother to be free from my Dad. I glared angrily at the sky and wondered why my life was so fucked up. How in the Hell was I supposed to convince my Mom to leave him when she couldn't even see that he was an awful person?125Please respect copyright.PENANA6LNDCYciPI
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The wind blew roughly against my face and my tears were starting to dry from the cold and the wind stung my cheeks. I took in a ragged breath and then let it out as I wondered why my life was so messed up. "Hey, are you okay?" I heard someone ask from behind me. I glanced behind me to see the outline of a man approaching me, but because of the bright street light I couldn't make out his face. I shrugged as I looked back out at the water.125Please respect copyright.PENANAY1qCrKn1lC
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"Just questioning my life." I sighed and then he was sitting down next to me. I glanced at him once more and was prepared to stand up and move away from him, but I froze in my spot at how handsome he was. I usually wasn't that into a person's looks, but he could honestly stop traffic. He was so handsome that he should be a model for swimwear or something, I thought to myself as I continued to check him out.125Please respect copyright.PENANAYZeKEfvhzn
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"Oh, I've been there," He sighed and turned his attention towards me. "You must be going through a lot if you're out here in the middle of November with no jacket." He commented and I shivered as I realized how cold I actually was. "Here," He started to take off his coat and I quickly shook my head, but he just ignored my protests. "No, I insist, please. You're freezing."125Please respect copyright.PENANArUpbQItC8Q
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"But, what about you?" I asked as he reached over and placed it on my shoulders and he gave me a small smile.125Please respect copyright.PENANAI9xli54tpk
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"I'll be alright, I'm Nathan, by the way." He introduced himself and I bit my lip nervously from his intense stare. He had beautiful grey eyes that looked like a cloudy day and dark brown hair that made them even brighter. His smile widened as I continued to gawk at him and I blushed from getting caught for checking him out.125Please respect copyright.PENANAgk6Qeh7TOp
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"Sorry, um, I'm Kaia." I finally blurted out and he chuckled.125Please respect copyright.PENANAbHMkA2xpNi
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"That's a beautiful name." I felt butterflies erupt in my stomach at his comment and couldn't believe how much he affected me even though I barely knew him. "Well Kaia, are you going to tell me what you're doing out here?" He asked and I sighed as I suddenly remembered why I was here.125Please respect copyright.PENANAclST64SlEk
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"I'm just having a fucked up day, a fucked up life actually." I admitted and stared at the lake again. "My Dad has been beating my Mother my entire life and now she's pregnant again. I've been an only child and now, she expects me to be so happy that my piece of shit Dad is going to raise another kid again. What makes it worse is that there is nothing I can do to make her leave my Father." I admitted to him and instantly became embarrassed that I told a complete stranger my deepest, darkest secret, but I just couldn't stop myself.125Please respect copyright.PENANAsIOiqJyRMr
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I warily looked over at him and saw him staring at me in shock and I cringed as I covered my face with my hands. "Jeez, I'm sorry! You didn't need to hear all that." I stood up suddenly and started to take off his jacket, but he quickly stood up and stopped me.125Please respect copyright.PENANAUAxQYYb14G
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"No, don't be sorry! I'm sorry, Kaia. I know this might be tough to hear and you definitely don't have to care what I have to say since I'm a complete stranger, but you can't beat yourself up because your Mother won't leave your Dad. You can't help someone that doesn't want to be helped and as far as it goes for your new sibling, all you can do is be there for them and maybe if your Mother doesn't leave him once the baby's born then you might want to figure out a way to get your sibling out of that environment." He said gently and I stared at him in surprise, completely thrown off by what he said.125Please respect copyright.PENANAyqQzP36DTI
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"Are you like a therapist or something?" I blurted out and he smiled again.125Please respect copyright.PENANAsNgNG7KxcR
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"Sorry, I didn't think I made it too obvious." Nathan chuckled and I let what he said sink in. He was right, it was hard to hear, but he did have a point. Maybe if I threatened my Mom to take away the baby she would finally leave him? But, then again, what if she didn't and then I never get to meet my brother or sister. I sighed as I rubbed my forehead tiredly and felt a headache coming on.125Please respect copyright.PENANAd4Gp1GQTGc
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"Since I told you my drama, now it's your turn." I huffed out and his smile slowly started to fade from his face. He looked down at the ground as he clenched his jaw and I had a feeling that he was probably having a worse day than I was.125Please respect copyright.PENANA881yaow7te
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"I had a patient today that had a story similar to yours, but their Mother let their Father abuse them in a much horrific way..." Nathan trailed off as he looked up at me angrily. "They're only seven." He breathed out as tears stung at his eyes and my heart dropped as my stomach started to churn at the thought of someone assaulting a child.125Please respect copyright.PENANATzdS7lNLIh
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"Oh my God, I'm so sorry." I whispered and hated that I was right about him having a worse day than me and he just shook his head.125Please respect copyright.PENANAMKdYkOvlHA
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"This world is insanely fucked up, Kaia, and severely unfair." He ran a hand down his face frustratedly and I placed my hand gently on his shoulder.125Please respect copyright.PENANAt0ifbam1ZG
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"I'm really sorry, Nathan. I can't imagine how difficult that must be to hear." I said gently. I don't know why, but I suddenly found myself wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging him tightly, hoping that I could take some of his pain away. I was never a very affectionate person, but for some reason seeing how upset Nathan was made me want to comfort him and make him feel better somehow.125Please respect copyright.PENANA36XPmX9lif
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After a couple of seconds, he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on top of mine and we stayed like that for who knows how long. Just staring at the lake as I listened to his heartbeat and couldn't believe that I was hugging a person I didn't even know. "Well, I'm really glad I decided to take a walk for my break tonight." He chuckled lightly after a few minutes and I smiled as I let out a soft giggle and nodded.125Please respect copyright.PENANAgBv5nFLP2h
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"Yeah, who knew I'd run into a therapist when I needed it most." I teased and we both laughed.125Please respect copyright.PENANAADzX0aBXlq
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Just then his cellphone rang and he sighed as he fished it out of his back pocket and answered it, but to my surprise he didn't release me from his grasp. "Hello?" He answered and I continued to stare out at water, wishing I could just stay in his arms forever. "Alright, I'll be back at the office in five minutes." He sighed and I figured that now was the time to let him go, even though I didn't want to.125Please respect copyright.PENANAtq5i0TFxjF
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I started to take off his jacket again, but of course, he stopped me. "No, please. Keep it, that way I can get your number and one day, we'll have to meet up so you can give it back to me." He smirked down at me and I blushed. He was pretty smooth, I had to give him that. But, how was I supposed to tell him that I was scared to date because of my Father?125Please respect copyright.PENANAyFgH7cHABn
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"Look, Nathan... I have a really fucked up life, as you heard, so I'm not really dating right now." I admitted reluctantly and he nodded.125Please respect copyright.PENANAR95q0Qi1YJ
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"I understand, but maybe we could be friends?" He suggested hopefully and I gave him a small smile. I didn't want to admit it, but I did want to see him again.125Please respect copyright.PENANAgy1E4FAoUW
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"Alright, I'll give you my number." I gave in and he grinned at me as he handed me his phone for me to type it in. "Thank you for listening to my problems." I smiled at him and handed him back his phone.125Please respect copyright.PENANAOYXUh3L3d7
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"No, thank you. Who would've thought that I would meet the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my entire life tonight." He chuckled as he shook his head in astonishment and I blushed once more from his words. I couldn't believe that he thought that I was the beautiful one when compared to him he looked like a Greek God. I quickly shook those thoughts out of my mind and reminded myself that I could not catch feelings for him, no matter how damn good looking he was.125Please respect copyright.PENANAwpDlwYUaXK
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"I'll see you around, Nathan." I started to back away from him and waved. He waved back and stared at me longingly and I wished nothing more than to turn around and run back into his arms, but I just kept walking back to my car. Sniffing his coat and reveling in his scent and wanting to smell it for the rest of my life.
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