The Promise That Never Faded

Part 3

The doorbell rang. It was her stepfather, standing at the door, a sickly grin on his face as he explained that he had left the party early, feeling ill. He didn’t want to ruin her mother’s fun, he claimed. Eirlys, too scared to protest, let him inside. The moment he crossed the threshold, something shifted in the air, and she knew—this was it. This was the night he would cross the line.

She tried to flee upstairs, but he stopped her in the hallway, asking for a glass of water. Her heart raced as she filled the glass, her hands trembling. As she turned to hand it to him, she saw him standing in the kitchen doorway, watching her like a predator. The air in the room thickened, suffocating her as his hand shot forward, grabbing her wrist.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice low, too soft.

“I… I need to go to my room,” Eirlys stammered, but he wouldn’t let go. His touch burned through her skin.

He spoke again, his words dripping with a venomous affection that made her stomach churn. "I’ve been watching you for so long, Eirlys. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman… I can’t help myself.”

Horrified, Eirlys struggled to pull away, but his grip tightened, trapping her in the kitchen. He pulled her closer, his breath hot against her skin. She tried to scream, but he smothered her with one hand over her mouth. Desperation surged in her chest, and she kicked him hard. He stumbled back, and in that instant, she darted for the door, racing out into the cold rain without a second thought.

Barefoot and drenched, she ran until she reached Grace’s house, her heart still pounding with fear. Grace opened the door, pulling her inside, the warmth of the house offering no comfort against the icy grip of Eirlys’ terror. She was shaking, feverish, her eyes filled with terror and unshed tears.

Grace stayed by her side all night, holding her as Eirlys trembled with nightmares. In the days that followed, Eirlys stayed with Grace, away from her home and the man who had ruined her life. Her mother, when she finally returned, didn’t care. She believed her husband’s lies about Eirlys locking him in the kitchen when he was trying to stop her from fleeing . When Eirlys finally returned to get her belongings from the house in order to leave forever, her mother lashed out, beating her and blaming her for everything.