Chapter 11：It's not What it Looks Like *Trigger Warning*

Ann sits in front of me on the floor, close enough to rub circles on my hand, but far enough to give me space. I'm reminded once more of my mom.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"It's not a very interesting story, a dime a dozen I guess. If you... uhm, want to know I'll tell you."

She remains silent, letting me gather my thoughts and courage. Ann feels safe.

"The older ones are from my dad, and raw ones are from Tyler. You see, Tyler was hurt by his dad too. It was nice to find someone I could relate to. When Tyler's dad got home from the military I found him pretty messed up.

We decided to start dating and everything was getting better. Then it went south. He called me clingy and childish, so I backed off. Tyler thought I was cheating on him. He'd hurt me, we had sex, and I stayed. I felt loved somehow.

One day he tried forcing me, and I had enough. I called him a monster, and that was the last time I saw him. The next day I walked past to see his apartment taped off. I left a blanket there, and... he hugged it to himself then blew his brains out.

Dad did one thing for me. When I ran into the station to report him, he came willingly. He was asked about all the injuries and realized that Tyler beat me too. He wanted to save Tyler's mother some grief and claimed all were from him.

*chuckles*

'No sense in beating a dead man's grave."

I let out a sob and start shaking. Hard. Until now I never spoke the truth, because what would that do? I considered telling the police, but became afraid to admit that I withheld important information. Their initial interrogation caused a total mental breakdown. One more would kill me.

I slowly nod my head, and she rushes forward to engulf me in a hug. It was something I never knew I needed, because I refused everyone else.