Lydia POV

I feel like I never get a break from the troubles in my life. Not even one problem is completely resolved before the next one arises. As if my life is a roller coaster of troubles, with each bump referred to as a problem. And I'm afraid until the ride finishes, or in my case, until I die then only the problems will stop occurring.

Looking to my right, I see Sira driving the car with one hand on the wheel and the other gripping mine, Diana and Sarah sitting in the backseat, and other cars following after us on our way to my house.

All I know is that with her by my side, everything will be fine. Looking back at Sarah her head rested on her shoulder, she was looking at Diana with lovey dovey eyes. Looking back, I noticed the car behind us where others were. We will all be together when a problem arises, and we will all tackle it together. I grinned, realizing that my entire childhood I spent alone, convinced that I would never have a family.

I was wrong.

It proved that I was mistaken. I've formed a family that values each other and will go to any length to support one another.

.................

I entered the home with Sira's hand in mine. Ahh, safe. I'm home with her. After all of our struggles, we are finally together.

"You may go take a shower and rest while I prepare dinner for everyone," she said, halting me.

"Are you implying that I stink, Miss Greenaway?" Her eyes widened as she realized she hadn't meant it in that way.

"No, no, Lydia, I didn't mean it that way; I simply thought you would want to relax and change into some comfortable clothes—" I interrupted her mid-sentence with a soft and delicate kiss on her lips.

"Don't worry, I'm joking." Before I could respond, I heard Sarah remark, "Get a room, ladies." I gave her a look before heading upstairs to change.

"Diana in the kitchen now" Sira said.

I went to the restroom and glanced in the mirror. People could tell that I'm exhausted just by looking at my eyes. Sick. Lifeless. The deep purple bruise beneath my right eye. Why?. That's all I could think of right now.

WHY ME. I feel helpless.

"My My, look at these breasts," I close my eyes firmly, convinced it was all a hallucination. It was all a nightmare. Relax, it's not true. I could feel his hands caressing my breasts. It was all a nightmare. Lydia. Get up. His lips on his neck, sloppy kisses. Lydia, please get up. Take a look around. Lydia. It's a nightmare.

My thoughts were interrupted by a voice. "Hey, Lydia. Lydia." I looked at her, slightly trembling. "Are you okay?" she queried, her brow pinched in concern. "Yea-yea, I'm OK," I mumbled. " She made one step towards me, and I immediately took another.There it was misery clearly in her yes. However, it vanished just as fast as it emerged.

"Okay, do you need any help?" she continued, not looking me in the eyes. Knowing Sira might have felt awful when I took a step back upset me.

"Hey Sira, I'm sorry," I said as I approached her, and she shook her head and took a step back. "It's okay, Lydia. To be honest, I don't know what happened to you there, and I'm not going to ask you until you tell me. I just want you to know that I am available to you. I want you to inform me if you are uncomfortable with my actions at any point."

I tried to stop her, but she persisted.

"No, Lydia, I really want you to tell me so I know what to do, when to do it, and how to avoid triggering any memories." She stared me in the eyes. Her almond eyes, which I will not get tire of looking at, peered at me with tears in them.

"I love you Miss Lydia Grey"

"And I love you too, Miss Sira Greenaway"

She leaned in, softly touching my cheek, and pecked my forehead for a few seconds. "Everyone's here downstairs, Sarah sent me up to see if you needed anything," she murmured against my brow.

I nodded, my gaze fixed on our feet. "I'm going downstairs," she said, "and if you need any help, just call me out and I'll be there." and she walked away.

I fucking don't deserve her. Gosh. How can a person love and care for you so much?

Sira POV

I went downstairs and made my way to the kitchen. I took a seat on one of the stools. "How is she doing?" Diana asked, Sarah standing alongside her. "She- she is traumatized," I remarked with a quiet giggle.

"I went to hug her, and she walked back," Sarah tried speaking but I shook my head. "No Sarah, believe me when I say, I understand she wants to keep her distance, no physical contact until she feels. Got it. But the trouble is, I don't know how to help her when she returns to her thoughts, when her vivid memories of those three days in captivity return. She isn't here; she is living in the present, and when it happens again, she will be here."

I paused in the middle of a sentence to swallow a sob and continue. "How will I help her?"

"Sira, believe me, you'll know what to do when the time comes, and as for her telling us what happened, we'll just have to wait for her when she wants to say it," Sarah said, and I nodded, wiping the unnoticed tears from my cheeks.

"She's here," Diana said quietly.

When I turned back to face her, she was dressed in my hoodie and sweatpants. Looking as stunning as ever.

"Hey," she quietly whispered as she sat beside me. "Hello," I murmured breathlessly, exhaling the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding in. She resembled a fallen angel.

"I am prepared," she stated, gazing down. What exactly did she say? "What are you prepared for?" I questioned, furrowing my brows. "Sira, I'm ready to talk." Oh.

"You don't understand, Lydia—"

She took my hand in hers, interlaced our fingers, and sat it on her lap. "I'll have to do it eventually, and I want to get it out. My past and the days I was held Sira, I need to do something."

I nodded my head in agreement. "Okay if that's what you want to do and not doing it just because you believe you have to tell us even if you aren't ready."

"I want to Sira"

"Okay, and I will be right at your side holding your hand like this when you say it. Today and always," I said, letting her know that whatever happened to her in the past will not scare me away or change my opinion of her.