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D oes everyone deserve a second chance? I don’t know, but maybe it’s time to let my guard down a little bit. -Flora

“You don’t have to do this, you know? We can tell him to go jump off a cliff,” Levi pushes his fist into his palm, “better yet, I can push him off it.”

I touch his arm lightly. “Slow down, Rocky. No need for fists. Then man is overweight and in his late fifties. You don’t need to be my protector right now.”

His dark eyes send me a gentle look of understanding. “Sometimes you need protection in other ways than just physical. I’d like to kill him for not believing you, for not being there when you needed him.”

“I know,” I bite down on my lower lip, “but maybe it’s time to let it go. I have you now. And my friends. I don’t need him, but maybe I should give him a chance.”

He sighs and reaches for my hand. “Alright, but if he hurts you in any way, I retain the right to kick his ass.”

I grin. “So noted.”

I glance across the restaurant and my gaze immediately locks with eyes the same exact shade of blue as mine. My stomach churns with anxiety. I stand as my uncle approaches the table.

We stand there awkwardly. This man is my only family my blood, but we’re strangers. Memories bombard me of happier times. Times when my parents were alive, and my dad’s brother was a part of our circle.

I exhale and nod my head at the grey-haired man with eyes so much like mine.

“Uncle Alan,” I say gently as he regards me warily.

Over the next hour, with the love of my life sitting next to me holding my hand, we talk. It’s slow and awkward at first, then it becomes more natural.

“I can never apologize enough, Flora.” My uncle shakes his head, regret clear in his eyes. “I should have done so many things differently. I should have believed you.”

“Yes, you should have,” Levi growls.

I squeeze Levi’s hand.

“You should have, and I hope you know now that I was a victim.” I think back to the scared girl I was, and I blink back tears. “I needed you. I needed you to be there for me.”

Now, his eyes glisten with tears too. “I know you did. I was so lost back then. When your parents died, I didn’t know how to be there for you. I didn’t know how to parent a young girl. And then…well, then I just felt overwhelmed. It was hard to accept that I wasn’t able to protect you. That someone could hurt you on my watch. I had so much anger built up in me.” He ducks his head. “My brother would be so ashamed of me.”

I watch him struggle with his own inner demons.

I reach over to touch his hand and he looks up. “Maybe we can start over, Uncle Alan,” I say softly.

Relief floods his eyes. “Maybe we can.” Then he gives me a small smile. “If it makes you feel better, and I know it may not, I got your coach to admit what he did to you. He’s awaiting trial for crimes against other women.”

“There were others?” I asked in a shaky voice.

He winces. “There were. I found them. Two girls who came forward and are willing to testify.” He bows his head again, but then looks up at me with tears in his eyes. “I always knew you were telling the truth. I struck out at you for something that so clearly wasn’t your fault. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”

I feel Levi’s hand cover my own as I take in what he’s saying. I swallow. “All we can do is move forward.” I may never forgive my uncle completely, but he is the only blood family I have left. I have to let go of my anger, not for him, but for me. To let myself be free of those chains.

Levi pulls me into his arms as we leave the restaurant. “You did so good, sweetheart. So good.”

I take a deep breath and then let out another choked sob. He strokes my back gently. “Let it out, sweet girl. Let it out.”

So, I do. I cry on the shoulder of the only man I’ve ever been able to count on. The man who is now my family. I let myself cry for the women who were attacked like me. I let myself cry for the young girl I was back then. The young, scared girl who felt like no one believed her.

Finally, my tears start to dry. I look up at my sweet, secret shadow.

“Let’s go home, Levi. Take me home.”