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“We’ve talked about a lot today and it probably stirred up several different and even confusing emotions for you. If you feel like you need some medication to help—I mean if you have more panic attacks—please call me and I’ll get you something prescribed right away.”
Brynn nodded.
Cassidy placed her hand over Brynn’s. “You are stronger than you feel. And if your sister was here, she’d tell you how proud of you she was.”
Brynn sniffled, grabbing the tissue Cassidy handed her and wiping her eyes and nose.
“Your homework is to write her a letter. Write everything out that you feel in your heart to her. And then I want you to imagine what she would say back to you. Do you think you can do that?” Cassidy asked.
Brynn nodded numbly. “I’ll try.” She stood, then headed out the door, closing it behind her before she turned and bumped into someone. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
Belle smiled back at her. “No, I’m sorry, I had my head buried in my phone.” Her gaze flicked to Cassidy’s office door and then back to Brynn. “Appointment go well?”
Brynn nodded, trying to hold it together a little longer. “Yeah.”
Belle’s expression softened. “If you ever need anything, I’m here.”
“Thanks.” Brynn stuck her hands into the pockets of the warm expensive wool coat that just happened to appear in her room after work one day with a note from Aaron about it being an early Christmas gift.
“Brynn?” Belle asked.
“Yeah?”
“I just wanted to say that I know sometimes it can seem like we’re back at square one with our healing. I know what it’s like to want to move past things and feel like you’re getting nowhere. But I want to remind you that you’re so far from the person you were when you arrived three years ago. I’ve been so proud to see you come more and more out of your shell and take the steps you have every meeting.”
Brynn blinked in surprise, warmth filling her chest. She had come a long way, hadn’t she? “Do you . . .”
Belle leaned a little closer. “Do I what?”
“Do you think you still have the photos of me you took at the hospital?”
Belle nodded. “They would still be in your digital files.”
“How would I get access to those?” Maybe it would help Brynn to have a physical reminder of how far she’d come. Or maybe it would bring it all back. She’d still like to have them, even if she never looked at them.
Belle’s brows drew together in concern. “Are you thinking of pressing charges?”
Brynn shook her head vehemently. “No. I just . . . I’d like to have a copy for myself.”
Belle nodded, studying her more closely. “I can get them to you. I’ll just need you to sign a request form.”
“Okay.” Brynn let out the breath she’d been holding.
“You’re a lot stronger than you realize, Brynn,” Belle said.
She swallowed the ball of emotion that rose in her throat. “Thank you, Belle. That means a lot.”
Belle laid her hand gently on Brynn’s arm and whispered, “If you ever need any legal help, please let me know. I can help even without telling my husband all the details and keep you anonymous. Bently really does want to help women in your situation because he’s lived it too.”
“Is that why you were able to trust him? Because you have that in common?” Brynn asked.
Belle had shared her dark past with their weekly group in bits and pieces as it was relevant.
“I think it made it easier to relate to each other.” Belle smiled sympathetically.
Brynn nodded. “Do you think someone who hasn’t come from that life would be able to understand?”
Belle cocked her head to the side. “I think if they have empathy and any amount of human decency, they will love you even more for having survived. They’d see how strong you really are.” She paused before she continued, “You’ve been through hell, Brynn. You’ve overcome more than most people can imagine. It’s normal for you to be hesitant to trust and move forward. You have scars that will be with you for the rest of your life, as all warriors do. The struggle is to not let them define you. We all have good days and bad, but we keep moving forward. Just try not to let your past taint your future, because that’s giving the ones who hurt you power. Fight for your happiness. If anyone in the world deserves it, it’s you.”
