Wings and Waves

Chapter 8: The Storm Inside Home

Yvonne's POV

The house was chaotic. I could hear it before I even reached the gate—voices overlapping, footsteps pounding up and down the hallway, doors opening and slamming shut. Shadows flickered through the windows as people rushed from room to room, calling my name.

“Yvonne? Yvonne!” That was my mother, her voice shrill with panic.

“Did anyone check the park again?” Dad barked, already halfway out the door.

Sofia’s voice cut through the noise, breathless and worried. “She’s not answering her phone! What if something happened?”

Mary was close behind, wringing her hands. “She wouldn’t just disappear! Not without telling us!”

My older brother stood near the staircase, jaw clenched, eyes dark with concern and frustration. “You scared everyone half to death, Yvonne.”

I hesitated on the porch, soaked to the bone, hair plastered to my face, my clothes heavy with rain and fear. My heart hammered in my chest. I knew the moment I stepped inside, the questions would come—loud, relentless, impossible to dodge.

The door swung open before I could knock. Sofia’s eyes went wide, and then she screamed, “SHE’S HERE!”

Suddenly, everyone was in the hallway—my parents, Sofia, Mary, my brother—all pressing questions at once.

“Where have you been?”

“Yvonne, you’re soaked! Are you hurt?”

“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“Did someone do this to you?”

“Are you okay? What happened?”

Their faces blurred together, a wall of concern and fear and frustration. My mother grabbed my shoulders, shaking me gently. “Talk to us, Yvonne! Please!”

I tried to speak, but my throat closed up. The noise pressed in from all sides—shouting, crying, questions tumbling over each other. My head spun. I couldn’t breathe.

Sofia and Mary hovered nearby, both talking at once.

“Yvonne, you look awful—”

“Did you get caught in the storm? Why didn’t you call us?”

“We were so scared—”

I forced myself to stand up straighter, swallowing hard. “I’m fine,” I lied, my voice barely steady. “I just… I lost track of time. Got caught in the rain. My phone died.”

The room was still for a moment, everyone searching my face for the truth. I kept my eyes down, praying they wouldn’t see through me.

Sofia let out a shaky laugh, half relief, half disbelief. “You scared us half to death, you know that?”

My mother pulled me into a tight hug, her hands cold against my wet back. “Don’t ever do that again. Please.”

I nodded, letting myself be held, letting their voices wash over me. The panic in the room slowly ebbed, replaced by exhaustion and lingering worry.

As I slipped away into my room, I could still hear them talking—soft, anxious, loving. I leaned against my door, closed my eyes, and let out a breath I’d been holding all night.

Safe, for now. But the truth pressed heavy on my chest, waiting for the moment it could no longer be hidden.

The moment the door clicked shut behind Sofia and Mary, the silence in my room felt heavier than ever. I sat on the edge of my bed, hands trembling, heart pounding like a drum I couldn’t quiet. Their eyes were fixed on me—full of worry, waiting, pleading.

Sofia was the first to break the silence, voice barely above a whisper but thick with emotion.

“Yvonne… please, tell us. What happened tonight? We’re scared.”

Mary sat beside me, her hand reaching out hesitantly to cover mine. “You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready. But we want to help. We want to understand.”

I swallowed hard, the knot in my throat tightening until it was almost unbearable. I wanted to protect them from the darkness I’d been carrying, but the weight of the secret was crushing me. I couldn’t keep pretending.

“It was Louis,” I whispered, voice cracking. “He found me.”

Their faces changed instantly—eyes wide, mouths slightly open, disbelief and shock flooding their expressions.

“Sofia, you know him, right? The Louis I dated?” I said, my voice shaking. “The one I never told you about.”

Sofia nodded slowly, eyes searching for mine. “Yes, but… I thought he was gone from your life. I thought you were safe.”

I shook my head, tears spilling down my cheeks. “He’s not gone. He never really left. He’s… he’s dangerous, Sofia. He was sweet in the beginning, but then he changed. He controlled me, hurt me. I was trapped.”

Mary’s hand tightened around mine, her voice barely a whisper but full of pain. “Yvonne… why didn’t you tell us? Why did you suffer alone?”

I looked down, ashamed. “I was scared. Scared you’d think I was weak. Scared you’d blame me for staying with him so long. I thought if I kept it hidden, maybe it would stop hurting me. But it didn’t.”

Sofia’s eyes glistened with tears. “You’re not weak. You’re so incredibly brave for telling us now.”

Mary’s voice cracked as she spoke. “We love you, Yvonne. We’re so sorry you went through this alone. You never should have had to.”

I swallowed hard, the floodgates opening. “I was so scared, every day. I stopped talking to you all because I didn’t want you to see how broken I was. I thought I could handle it on my own, but I couldn’t.”

Sofia moved closer, wrapping her arms around me. “You don’t have to handle anything alone anymore. We’re here. Always.”

Mary joined the hug, her tears wet on my shoulder. “We’ll protect you. We’ll fight for you. You’re not alone.”

I sobbed into their embrace, the pain I’d carried for so long finally pouring out. “I’m so tired, Sofia. I just want to be free.”

Sofia pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes with fierce determination. “You will be. We’ll help you get there. Step by step.”

Mary wiped my tears gently. “And we’ll be with you every step of the way. No matter what.”

The room felt smaller, warmer, filled with the strength of their love. For the first time in so long, I felt a flicker of hope—fragile but real.

“I don’t know how to start,” I whispered. “How to heal.”

Sofia smiled softly. “You start with us. We’ll figure it out together.”

Mary nodded. “One day at a time.”

I took a shaky breath, feeling the heaviness lift just a little. “Thank you… both of you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’ll never have to find out,” Sofia said firmly.

And in that moment, surrounded by my dearest friends, I knew I wasn’t alone anymore.

Just then, my phone buzzed sharply on the bedside table. I glanced at the screen—and froze.

The name flashing bright and clear made my blood run cold.

Louis.