Page 83 of My Sweetest Obsession

“And did you?” she pressed gently.

“No,” I shot back. “I would never do anything to hurt him.”

She nodded. “Buthedid.”

I dried my tears and pressed my lips together in agreement.

“And now?”

“Now what?” I furrowed my brows.

“Are you angry at him now?”

“I’m more sad than anything. But I think I’m letting the anger overshadow it because I’m terrified of giving in, of falling back into his arms as if nothing happened,” I admitted.

But that’s not reality. I was hurt and don’t know if I can get past that.

“I can only imagine how deeply painful this trauma has been for you. Healing takes time, and it’s perfectly okay to feel overwhelmed right now. Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Your strength and resilience are remarkable, and I believe in your ability to move forward. With time and thesupport of those who care about you, you will find your way through this.”

She spoke with such confidence, but me? I wasn’t so sure anymore. The shadow of doubt loomed large, and I felt myself teetering on the edge, unsure if I could find my way back.

“Mommy, is Gigi okay?” a voice called softly, followed by the rustling of people shifting in the room.

“Gigi’s just resting, sweetheart,” the woman replied.

“Maybe we should leave,” a hesitant voice suggested.

“No. She told the nurse she was up for visitors.”

Why did that voice sound familiar? Was I dreaming?

With great effort, I forced my eyes open. The room slowly came into focus, and a weak smile crept onto my face as I took in the faces surrounding me—my newly found family.

Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw Tabi, alive and safe. She held Tristan’s hand tightly, his small fingers curled around hers. His wide eyes darted between me and his mother.

“Oh, my god,” I cried softly, the reality of their presence hitting me like a wave.

Tabi rushed to my bedside, enveloping me in her arms. “It’s okay,” she soothed, her voice a gentle balm. “You’re safe now. We’re both safe.”

Our tears flowed freely, releasing the pain we had endured as we allowed our shared experience to comfort one another.

My stomach clenched as Tabi's eyes locked onto mine the instant she pulled back. I wanted to ask her what happened the night she was taken. She seemed to know what I was thinking before I even spoke, then said, “Not today. We’ll talk later. I promise.” A ghost of a smile touched her lips.

I gave a reluctant nod of agreement.

“My turn.” Mya’s demanding voice broke through our moment. I peered over Tabi’s shoulder to see Mya walking slowly toward me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she replied, but the wince that crossed her face told a different story.

“She was shot,” Tabi said softly.

“What!?”

“Yeah, about that,” she continued. “That night when things went to shit, I was shot. But I’m fine, as you can see.” She forced a smile.

“Oh, Mya.” I fought back fresh tears, my heart breaking at the thought of what she had endured, knowing I wasn’t there for her. What else had happened while I was gone?