Chapter 31
Elena
Nina, Sophie, and Alex had come to visit me at the hospital.
The last few times I'd been here, I'd always been alone.
It was good to know I had friends who cared now.
We played Cluedo without Alex. Since he'd arrived here half an hour earlier, he hadn't looked up from his iPhone.
Something was bothering him. I wanted to ask what was going on, but I knew Alex wouldn't talk while my friends were around.
Alex looked up at the door and smiled at someone. I turned my head to see who was there and felt my heart clench.
“Hi,” Kelsey said, giving me an uncertain smile.
I found myself unable to react. I'd avoided her for months.
Seeing my former best friend gave me a strange feeling of unease.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Nina's gaze darken, but it wasn't her behaviour that caught my attention.
It was Sophie's. She placed herself between my bed and the door, arms folded.
“Come any closer and you'll be in for a rough time.”
“Chill. I'm not here for you,” Kelsey retorted, rolling her eyes.
“I don't think you get it,” Sophie repeated as she approached Kelsey. “Go near her, and I'll knock you out.”
Nina stood next to Sophie, imitating her pose. The only difference was that Nina was almost a head taller than Kelsey. Despite my friend looming dangerously over her, Kelsey just looked annoyed. She glanced at Alex. He simply shrugged.
“Told you so.”
Wait, what? He knew she was coming? Kelsey ignored the two pairs of angry eyes fixed on her, looking straight into mine.
My breathing quickened. Even though lately I tended to find myself at the centre of several conflicts, I still preferred to avoid any confrontation.
But when I saw the determination on my former best friend's face, I knew I had no choice but to confront her. Kelsey clicked her tongue.
“Elena, if you don't let me speak, I'm going to make a scene in the hall. And you know I will!”
“Come on, guys, let’s be reasonable,” Alex interjected, trying to calm things down.
“Even I wouldn't do that,” Sophie replied.
“I would.”
Dark Nina was back, and she was advancing dangerously toward Kelsey.
Alex got up, and for a moment, I thought he was going to pull Kelsey away.
Against all odds, he stood beside her and put his hand on her shoulder.
She silently questioned him, and he nodded.
Sophie, Nina, and I were speechless. How long had Alex and Kelsey been getting along?
And since when did Alex defend her? He turned his attention back to me.
“Let her talk.”
“You want Lena to forgive her after she abandoned her?” Sophie asked, arms still crossed.
“It's up to Elena to decide if she wants to forgive her or not. It's none of our business.”
Sophie glanced at Nina. The brunette nodded reluctantly.
“He's right.”
“Lena, I'm just asking you to listen to her. You know you'll regret it if you don't.”
Why did he always have to be so mature? Sometimes I had the impression that Alex was much older than a nineteen-year-old.
I wanted to say no. What could she possibly tell me that I didn't already know?
I wanted to be able to move on without the weight of the past holding me back.
Alex sat on the bed, my hand in his. His warmth spread through my body, giving me courage. Finally, I nodded.
“I’m listening.”
***
I'd never realized how comfortable the couches at Stacey's were.
The last few years, I'd spent so much time being stubborn that I didn't even realize how cosy her office actually was.
I curled up in one of her soft blankets that smelled of cotton flowers.
Stacey smiled. This was the first time since I'd been her patient that I tried to get comfortable.
“How are you?”
“I'm okay.”
The last few days had been trying, to say the least. Between the altercation between Alex and Vincent, my father, who had tried to strangle me, and Kelsey, who had returned out of nowhere, I didn't know what to process first. Frank and Vincent were both in trouble, so I tried not to make myself sick by thinking about them too often.
As for Kelsey, I wasn't sure what to do.
I'd promised her I'd think about it, but I still wasn't sure whether I wanted her back in my life or not.
Too much had happened for me to decide now.
Despite the avalanche of events, I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Stacey took a deep breath.
“Your mom told me what happened. That was a dangerous bet. You should have told me about your father's violence. I could have helped you.”
It was worth it. Those who choose freedom rarely regret it. If I had to go through the same thing again to get my mother and me out of there as quickly as possible, I'd do it without the slightest hesitation.
“I have no regrets.”
“How are you holding up? Even if you came through it unscathed, it was a traumatic situation.”
When I fell asleep, I could still feel his hands around my neck. A few weeks weren't enough to forget.
“I'm still afraid. When I hear a door in the house slam, I still fear it's him, even when I know that's impossible.”
It was hard to get used to the fact that he'd raised his hand to me without hesitation, but deep down, I knew things had to go this way.
Although this revelation sucked. At least now I could get on with my life without his shadow looming over me.
Had he tried to kill me, or had he just wanted to hurt me?
Had he been drunk, or had he been lucid?
I didn't know. It didn't matter anymore.
Frank was no longer part of my life. I was free, and my future had never looked brighter. I just needed time to heal.
“What about Mick?”
“I miss him every day. But the fact that I miss him doesn't feel as painful anymore. I no longer feel like I'm suffocating when I think of him.”
“It's amazing. You're finally becoming the person you were meant to be.”
Stacey sat down beside me and put her hand on mine. Her eyes turned into crescent moons.
“Who am I meant to be?”
“A strong woman.”