Diary Entry- III

April 12, 2020 10:30pm

Dear Diary,

It's been four years, but the pain feels as raw as it did that night. The memories are like shards of glass, constantly cutting into me, reminding me of what I've lost. Therapy is supposed to help, they say. It's supposed to make it easier to cope, to understand, to move forward. But how can I move forward when the past is still so vivid, so present?

Dr. Greene is kind. She listens. She asks questions that make me think, make me dig deep into places I'd rather not go. Today, she asked me to describe a happy memory from before everything went dark. I told her about the Sunday pool parties. I told her about the way Mommy and Daddy would dance, and how I would sneak out of bed just to watch them, to be a part of their world, even for a little while. How it was fixed that we would have ice cream every night, even if only a little, just because they are my favorite. And how big brother would pinch my cheeks every time just because he finds it cute and I would stomp on his feet because of how annoying he was. 

She said it's important to hold on to those memories, to not let the horror overshadow them. But it's so hard. The nightmares are always there, lurking, ready to pull me back into the darkness. I can still see his face, the man who took everything from me. I can still feel the blood pooling around my feet, warm and sticky, a constant reminder of my helplessness.

There's more to that night than just the murder of my family. The parts I can barely bring myself to think about, let alone write. The things they did to me after...I can't even find the words. It was a violation so deep, it feels like they tore my soul apart. Dr. Greene says it wasn't my fault, that I'm not to blame for what happened. But it's hard not to feel dirty, broken, used.

Dr. Greene suggested we try EMDR next week. She explained how it's supposed to help process traumatic memories. I'm willing to try anything at this point. Anything to make the nightmares stop. Anything to stop feeling so suffocated by the black fog.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be able to feel normal again. If I'll ever be able to remember Mommy and Daddy without the pain, without the horror. I want to believe that there's a way out of this darkness. I want to believe that I can find peace, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

But for now, I'll keep going to therapy. I'll keep talking to Dr. Greene. I'll keep trying to find my way through the fog. Because giving up isn't an option. Mommy, Daddy and Big Brother wouldn't want that. They'd want me to keep fighting, to find a way to live, even if it's without them.

So I'll keep writing, keep talking, keep trying. Maybe someday, the memories of the good times will outshine the bad. Maybe someday, the fog will lift, and I'll be able to breathe again. 

Until then, I'll hold on to the thought of Sunday pool parties, bedtime stories and irritatingly adorable moments with my brother. I'll hold on to the love that still lingers, even in the midst of the pain.

Good night, Mommy, Daddy and Jay. I miss you. I'll keep trying. For you. For me.