“She wants to break up with me. What <b>am </b>I supposed to do?”
Benjamin dragged a hand down his face, the picture of frustration.
“Break <b>up</b><b>?</b>” Caitlin studied him. “Did she give you <b>a </b>reason?”
2 GD
“She said being with me is too much pressure. She can’t cat, can’t sleep, feels like she’s going to copse.” Benjamin’s voice was heavy, defeated. “Come on, help me think of something. I don’t want to lose her.”
“I understand. Don’t panic. After everything <b>that </b>happened today, she’s been shaken badly. Give her time to calm down. Why don’t you head home for now?”
Fine<b>.</b>”
With Caitlin stepping in, Benjamin convinced himself it would all work out soon. Reluctantly, he left the hospital.
Caitlin stayed until Wendy returned. One look at her swollen eyes told Caitlin she’d been crying hard. She pulled her aside to a quiet corner.
“What’s going <b>on</b>, Wendy? Why did you suddenly break up with Benjamin?”
Wendy’s voice trembled, but she forced a casual tone. “I just don’t want to date him anymore. We’re not right for each other.”
“In what way?”
“In so many ways. My family… his world isn’t mine. Even if we force it, it <b>won’t </b>bring
happiness. Caitlin, if you really care about me, then don’t <b>push </b>me into this. Being pressured to date him–it hurts.”
Caitlin looked into her face, saw how close she was to shatteringpletely. Instead of pressing, Caitlin simply embraced her, patting her back gently.
“Alright. If it hurts, stop. Rest. I won’t pressure you, I won’t force anything. Once things at home settle, <b>then </b>we’ll talk again. For now, don’t think about anything else.”
“…Okay.” Wendy nodded through her tears.
Caitlin didn’t know the full truth behind Wendy’s decision, but she could feel it: Benjamin’s love, intense as it was, had be a weight. With the scars of her broken family and now the fresh chaos surrounding them, Wendy had lost all confidence in a future together.
Later, as they returned to Reba’s room, a cry echoed from inside.
“Mom, <b>Mom</b>! It’s me! You’re safe <b>now</b>, it’s <b>alright</b>, don’t be afraid!” Simon’s voice carried desperation.
Caitlin and Wendy rushed in. Reba had woken, but her eyes were wild, her body fighting to flee. Simon tried to calm her, but she thrashed in panic, confusing him for Landon.
—
“No<b>! </b>Don’t hit me! Please don’t.”
“Mom!”
05 VOULES
Wendy threw her arms around her mother. “It’s me, Mom, it’s Wendy! That’s Simmon, not him. No one’s going to hurt you. Please, don’t be scared.”
Tears spilled down Wendy’s cheeks at the sight of her mother’s helpless terror. “Simon, step out. Let me stay with her.”
Simon hesitated, then obeyed. Caitlin moved closer, trying to help. “Reba, listen. Landon is gone. He’s dead. He’ll never hurt you again.”
At that, Reba froze, eyes wide. “Dead… he’s <b>dead</b>?”
“Yes. He’s gone. Forever.” Caitlin’s voice was soft, steady. She reached for Reba’s hand <b>and </b>pulled a small pendulum from her pocket. “Look here. Do you see this?”
She began to sway it gently, guiding Reba into hypnosis. Soon, Reba’s body ckened. Caitlin spoke carefully, “Reba, Landon is gone from this world. You don’t need to fear him
anymore.”
But instead of easing, Reba’s terror only deepened. Her voice cracked through the haze of sleep, whispering. “Stop stop, Daddy, please don’t hit me.“Tears seeped from closed eyes. Then, suddenly, she wrapped her own hands around her throat, choking herself with terrifying strength.
“Mom! <b>Mom</b>!” Wendy cried in panic.
“Reba!”
Caitlin snapped her from the trance, prying her hands free. Reba jolted awake, gasping, eyes full of horror, trying to bolt from the bed..
“Wendy! Call a doctor!”
Wendy hit the call button frantically. Doctors rushed in, administering a sedative until Reba finallyy still again, drifting into sleep.
Afterward, Caitlin turned to Wendy, her expression grave. “Was your mother’s childhood… very difficult?”
Wendy nodded, voice breaking. “My grandfather was a violent drunk, a gambler. He beat my grandmother and my mom constantly. My grandmother couldn’t take it anymore–she jumped to her death. Mom
grew scarred, and when she married Landon, she never thought he’d be the same kind of monster. But he was.
“Her childhood and her marriage… both destroyed her. That’s why she developed her illness. My brother chose medicine because of her. He eventually found one of the best specialists for her, and she actually got better. For years she never had an episode. But now–because of Landon–she’s rpsed.”
Caitlin sat in heavy silence. The truth pressed down like lead.
Domestic violence… it happens once, or it happens forever. And for women, its wounds cut to the soul. No excuse, no justification. The moment you tolerate it, it only grows worse.
up
<b>16:07 </b>Tue, Sep 9 B
Reba’s scars ran far too deep for a few words or hypnosis to erase.
“Don’t despair, Wendy,” Caitlin said gently. “If she recovered once, she can recover again. When your brother’s friendes back, we’ll find a way to get her treated.”
Wendy nodded faintly, though her sigh carried years of weight.
Later, Caitlin found Simon in the hall and told him what had happened.
“I figured she must’ve rpsed,” Simon <b>said</b>, his face drawn. “But my friend isn’t in the country anymore. He emigrated, joined a research project abroad. If I <b>want </b>his help again, I’ll have to send Mom overseas.”
“Maybe that’s not a bad idea,” Caitlin said softly. “A new ce, a fresh start, far away from these memories. Reba needs that as much as she needs treatment. If it’s too difficult to arrange alone, let Sebastian and me help. We’ll make it happen.”
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