Twenty-nine Years Ago

After Chris dropped her off, Claire sat in the dimly lit living room, the silence pressing down on her like a weight. Her hands trembled slightly as she held onto the arms of the chair, her breathing uneven.

It had happened. What she had feared all these years had finally come true. The truth she had thought she could hide had been revealed.

It was only a matter of time before the whole world knew especially since Nicole was claiming to be Mathew's girlfriend.

Although it's been years, she still felt suffocated being pulled back into that nightmare.

The same nightmare she had spent nearly three decades running running from and avoiding questions.

The same nightmare thar had made her start pushing people away. Staying hidden behind the walls she had carefully built.

She had spent years, hiding it all and yet, tonight—tonight, it had all come crashing down.