Chapter 18

l watched her sleep. l hated this girl, l hated everything about her but she proved me wrong yesterday as well as today. She looks naive and innocent but she is facing difficulties that put my miseries to shame.

l quietly made my way out of bed and softly closed the door behind me. l found my parents downstairs in the living room and made my way towards them. My dad was on his phone while mom had her usual faraway look. Their faces changed to pity when they noticed me.

l sat on the couch between them and quietly stared into space. After finding out that Eli lost both her parents l just wanted to be near my parents. l wanted to be near my rocks, the two people l know would just through fire for me. For the first time in my life l truly valued both my parents, l valued the love they have always given me without asking for anything in return.

l laid my head on my mother's lap and silently sobbed. "l know l don't say it but l love you mom" l said to her. Mom has always been distant and l have always been a daddy's girl so that put a strain on our relationship. l don't know my mother as much as l should have and that made me ashamed. Despite our non existent relationship she was and is my mother.

"l know sweetie "she said planting a kiss on my forehead. My mother was like this. Ever so forgiving and sweet. We are exact opposites and it bothered me back then back now l love that about her because l know she'll stand by me through it all.

"My parents always used to tell me that the harsh storm always brings a rainbow so every bad thing will be overshadowed by light, l know it feels like a never ending nightmare but it will get better and your life will be bright yet again." She said petting my head. My parents thought that cleaning this mess meant that it was over but they were so wrong. l see him everywhere , there was no escaping the horrors of last night.

"Your mom is right Angel" l heard dad say. "This will pass and when it does, it will almost be like it never happened.

"Angel can you look at me" dad asked and l sat up straight to look at him.

"Can you tell me what really happened "he asked and my mind took me to that moment when we realized that we had killed him.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it for now" mom said reassuringly but l brushed her off. It was much better talking about it now rather than later.

"Connor wa-s forcing m-me to give him a blowjob and Eliana just barged in to stop him but he w-as s-tronger so he, he diverted his disgusting mind to her. l couldn't take it and l just sta-bbed him and then we kicked him until we noticed that he he was gone" l concluded shivering in fear.

"l understand all that my baby but how did all this start, how did Connor even dare to touch you, you were like his sister "dad asked crouching in front of me.

"A few months back l felt like Killian was slowly pulling away from me so l thought that if l hang out and flirt with his cousin then he might see that he was going to lose me but Connor thought l was teasing him so he started to touch me in a perverse way when l rebuked his touch he told me that he would release some pictures he took of me when l had a sleepover at their place." l said and mom pulled away from me.

"Was it worth it" she looked at me with disappointment. "Mom please" mom was always cool calm and level headed so hearing her speak to me like that came as a shock.

"You are a self absorbed selfish little brat who does'nt know when to stop" she continued. "No l jus-" she interrupted me before l could finish.

"l said was it worth it ,ruining your life for that boy, a boy who rejected you time and again" she snapped. "Elena stop it" dad snapped at her. "Why am l not surprised that you said that ,you enable her bad behaviour" she shook her head in disbelief before walking away.

"You know she didn't mean that" dad said pulling me in a hug and l cried. "She meant it daddy and she was right"

"This is all my fault but if l could turn back the time then l would but l can't" l cried bitterly while my dad held me.