Renewed Purpose
1668 Words
Then he asked me something I wasn't expecting. "When you said that you believed your uncle when he said you were safe, what did you mean exactly?"
Dreson tensed beside me, probably ready to cut in. I shot him a small gesture to let it go and turned back to meet Kaden's deep blue stare.
"No matter who asked, or how many times they tried, I was too broken to talk about what’d been done t’ me. My body was free, sure—but my mind... it was still stuck there, tryna claw its way out. I felt worse than just sick. Hollow, even. Like I’d gotten out but left somethin’ behind that I'd never really get back."
Kaden’s voice dropped a bit when he asked, "When did you finally start to heal?"
The answer came fast, wrapped in a memory that carried warmth even now. "The first night I fell asleep with Dreson in me arms... that was it. That was when the healing began. He showed me what strength looked like without violence, gave me purpose, offered a life I didn’t think I’d ever have. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be standin’ here now."
Even as I said it, I felt it, like those words had peeled something open. Something big. I knew I'd just dropped a whole new layer of truth into the room, one I hadn’t planned to share. But it was too late to take it back.
With every answer I gave, I felt lighter. Not in a soft, floaty way—but grounded, like I’d stopped dragging chains behind me. My spirit, whatever was left of it, felt like it was finally waking up after years of silence. My powers stirred along with it, like they’d been waitin’ for this. I was getting stronger on the inside first, where it mattered most.
I caught the flicker of confusion in Kaden’s eyes, knew what he was building up to. And instead of waiting for the blow, I swung first.
"I know what you’re gonna ask next," I said. My voice didn’t shake. It didn’t need to. "And I know it ain’t what you wanna hear. But that’s not why I’m sittin’ here. I’m not here to protect anyone’s feelings. I’m here to give every last one of you the truth you deserve. The truth they tried to bury."
"The night Uncle Harper brought Dreson here, he’d shown up two weeks early," I said. "Harper took me along t’ meet him, but I couldn’t bring meself t’ face someone new back then. I weren’t ready. Harper, bein’ Harper, goaded Dre ‘til he had a panic attack, then locked us both in the room together. That’s when I knew. Knew Dre was my Mate. But I had t’ wait... wait for him t’ see it for himself."
I paused, biting back a laugh as Rayna, Doreen, Starla, and Celestia all glared daggers at Harper.
Kaden snickered. "Great, so you two have been shacking up for a while. Just my luck."
"No, not in the sense o’ intimacy," I told him. "But I did enjoy sleepin’ without havin’ t’ face the nightmares that used t’ gut me near every night."
Not one to waste the chance to dig deeper, Kaden asked, "What changed the night you met Dre?"
"The night Dre arrived... I were tired o’ livin’. Proper exhausted from all the sleepless nights, an’ the days that dragged by with folks pushin’ me t’ talk when all I wanted was t’ forget. Just wipe it clean. I’d made up me mind t’ end it, but..." I paused, voice rough. "Those plans didn’t get far."
Every pair of eyes in the room turned to me. I hadn’t felt that exposed in ages. I caught sight of Heather and Conner trying to comfort their Daddy as Dreson quietly cried. He knew the whole truth now, and nothin’ else mattered more than that.
"I'm much better now," I said.
Fighting his own emotions, Kaden pressed me. “You seem stronger now. What’s keeping you going?”
My head held high, I said, "Havin’ me new family stand by me helped me find me confidence again. And now, I’ve got everything I ever wanted outta life. I can trust again, all ‘cause o’ one man. I’ve got an annoyin’ly amazin’ brother-in-law, and parents who just want their kids safe and happy. And just recently, Dre surprised me with the most precious gift in the world—two sweet little babies t’ love and look after."
Finally, like the mention of kids shook her outta whatever daze she’d been sittin’ in, my mother muttered, "Ought not t’ have the kids at all, really."
I tilted my head to the side and smiled. Kaden caught the shift and asked, calm but curious, how my past affected my responsibilities as a parent.
"Simply put? Negatively," I said.
He nodded once, breathing deep. "How?"
It was vague enough that I could’ve sidestepped it, but I didn’t want to. I was already in it. Already ready.
"I find I’m unable t’ bathe or dress ’em—usually leave that for Dreson t’ handle," I replied. "I can do everythin’ else. But the fear of hurtin’ ’em the way I was hurt... that still lingers. Still hits hard some days."
His expression softened, less of the Inquisitor he was to something more gentle. He pulled another chair up, straddling it with the ease of someone used to being in a more relaxed setting. "I see. Can I ask you a few more questions, Leif?"
I smiled at him, waving my hand then setting it back on my knee. "By all means."
"Do you still feel that way? Like you did before my brother came into your life? Would you ever consider hurting the kids?" He asked rapidly.
The questions came fast, no room for deflection—but I didn’t need room. I watched the flicker of conflict in his eyes. He hated asking, but he had to. I respected that. He was doin’ his job and doin’ it with care. I could never fault him for that.
"No, I don’t feel that way no more. I feel free from the past now that everythin’s out in the open. Now that I’m healin’, I can start freein’ meself spiritually."
Scowling, I thought back to Kaden’s last question.
"As for hurtin’ the little ones—I’d never. I don’t want ’em sufferin’ like I did. I want ’em t’ know they can come t’ me for anythin’. That no matter what’s goin’ on, they can turn t’ me, and I’ll be there."
Kaden smirked. "I didn't know you were such a fierce advocate for children's rights."
Without missing a beat, I shot him a look. "No child deserves what I went through, or what I’m still goin’ through. It’s a long, uphill battle t’ get back what I thought was lost—but I’m gettin’ there. I’m fightin’ harder now, not just for meself, but for them. For me children, and for all those who suffered and never got the chance t’ speak."
My voice must’ve carried something sharp, ‘cause the room went quiet. Kaden’s power backed off, replaced by the pulse of mine rising through the stillness.
Then I felt a small tug at my shirt. I stilled, glancing down into Conner’s wide, blue-green eyes as I lifted him into my arms. He wrapped himself around me tighter than usual. And for the first time, without a stutter or stumble, he looked up and cupped my face in his little hands.
His voice was soft but certain—like he’d been born just to say these words to me: "I love you, Papa."
Four tiny words. That’s all it took to shatter the weight I’d been carryin’. The darkness that’d clung to me like a second skin fell away, and just like that... the world shifted.
Everything made sense again.
Looking over at the shocked faces of the people who’d done more damage than good, I said, "I can forgive—if only so I can move on with me life—but I’ll never forget the hell you lot put me through. Whatever punishment’s comin’? That’s your burden now. You’re not my problem anymore. I’ve got better things t’ do than waste time on sociopathic monsters who used children for their own pleasure."
I shot a hard glance toward the Sages, Rowan, and Cece. "Am I done?"
It was Rayna who stood, strong and steady, every inch the Sage she was. She held my gaze. "You may go, Leif. We’ll finish up without you an’ the others present. I’m sorry you ever had t’ go through this... but I’m proud of you. You’ve come so far—literally in leaps an’ bounds. Blessed be, Leif."
"Blessed be, Aunt Rayna," I replied. Strangely, I meant it. She’d stood and fought the hard fight with me as soon as she knew the truth.
Rising with the kind of grace that comes to those who walked hell and thrived in the chaos, I carried my son to where Dre and our daughter waited.
Kaden trailed behind, still reeling from everything he’d learned. "Man, I can’t tell you how sorry I am that—"
I threw my free arm around him and pulled him close, kissing the top of his head in a brotherly fashion. “It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not! I feel like crap about using my powers on you,” he tried to argue.
"Don’t, Kaden," I whispered. "What you just put me through? Nothin’ compared t’ what I’ve faced before. But I do need t’ talk t’ you."
His voice dropped as we followed Dre out into the open field. "About what?"
"My weddin’ t’ your brother," I said, grinning. "Now that all this is outta the way, I want t’ finally get married."
He returned the grin and nodded. "Leave it to me, Leif. I got you."
- Writer
