10. Parole II

Anastasia...

[ Trigger warning: Mentions of attempted suicide, sexual assault, sexual harassment]

I don't know when I slept, but I know I was tossing and turning. The man that had ruined my life was now out of prison. The person that broke me and took every bit of my soul was out. And there was nothing anyone could do. It was meant to be.

I looked outside, it was still dark and the stars shone bright. I checked the time on my phone and it was only three am. I climbed out of bed, walked out the French doors, and stood near to the balcony railings. I don't know when, but warm liquid drops down on the back of my hand.

I sniffed.

Wiping off the tears and trying to block the snot from trailing down to the top of my lip. I was trying so hard not to cry, but when I glared at the moon, I sobbed aloud. I crumbled on the floor and cried. I couldn't take the pain any longer. I'm not strong, but all that I was going through was pushing me and kicking me over to the corner like the little weakling I was.

I was tired.

I couldn't take it any longer. I grabbed the railings, tried to get myself up and drag myself to the bedroom. I groped my arm as I started feeling his hands around me. Touching me and making me a woman at an early age.

I roared in anger.

I screamed when I felt the scary man's hands grope around my body and mold my butt. I sobbed louder. I felt Diego's sausages trace over my body and his eyes glaring at my naked body and suddenly I could not breathe. It was too much.

" ANASTASIA! " I heard a female voice behind me. It was my grandmother.

" I'm tired, nonna. I really am tired," I sobbed louder.

" Don't do that, Nana. Don't," I heard him softly say, but I didn't know what he was on about till I realised my body was hanging over the railing. In one movement I would be dead on the sidewalk.

" I'm tired," I sobbed again, looking up to the moon again.

" I'm sorry my baby," my grandmother said.

" I'm tired," this time it came out in more of a whisper.

Huge arms pulled me back and I was tugged in between strong arms and I sobbed. Andrea too started sobbing, his tears running down the back of my neck. He knows what happened now. The officer had told him everything and that is when I ran into my room.

He knows about the abuse our mother went through. The rape I experienced. Everything.

We huddled up there and then. I tried to pull away but Andrea never let me go. If he did, I would have run out and jumped over the railings. I was at that point. My grandma came rushing in with a glass of water. She shoved it in Andrea's hand and he pulled me away and helped me drink the water.

I calmed down and my body wasn't shaking that much anymore. Andrea leaned down and picked me, with me wrapping my legs around him. He walked back into my room and placed me on the bed, covered me in my blanket and got in next to me.

He cuddled up with me whilst nonna closed the French door, locking it, grabbing the key from the holder, and pocketing the key. She walked over to me and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips before walking out, leaving me in my brother's arms.

" I'm sorry," he said softly.

" No, I'm sorry," I said. "...for trying to take the way out the same way mom did."

His body stiffened and he started sniffing. My body was shaking and tears kept trailing down my cheeks onto his now wet shirt. He kissed me on my forehead and, for some reason, I started feeling faint. I was more relaxed and my eyes drooped. I finally closed my eyes, letting sleep take over.