18 Wishes

7 Wishes

My heart is pounding in my ears and tears are streaming down my face. I thought this was behind me. I moved, changed my number. Did all but change my name.

Johnny comes out and is instantly by my side, but my panic attack is already consuming me. He calls out for Nash and she and Cade are there in seconds.

"I came out and she was like this. What's happening?"

Nash jumps on the bed and takes my phone, reading what I was reading. "f**k! Syd!" She's trying to get my attention. "Syd! Sweetie, you gotta look at me!" She's trying to shake me out of my panic attack but I can't... all my fears from right after slamming on top of me. I feel Johnny move behind me, holding me as she tries to help.

"You're safe! Johnny, Cade, and I, we're going to keep you safe. He's gone. He can't hurt you anymore. You know the families don't blame you."

She's holding my face in her hands, "Breathe Syd. In and out. That's a good girl." She pets my hair and I can feel Johnny's arms wrap around me protectively. I breathe deeply, leaning against Johnny as my heart calms.

"I'm sorry, I wish you hadn't seen that."

Johnny hugs me, "Are you okay? I used to have panic attacks so I know how draining they are."

I nod as Cade walks over and squeezes my hand. I take a deep breath, holding Nash's hand. "My first year in college, I started dating Nick. He was charming and told me how much he loved me. I was young and naive, and I loved him back.

Nash hated him because he was always a little more rough with me than necessary, but I was young and thought I was in love. In retrospect I'm sure it was partly daddy issues. My dad died when I was too young to remember much and Nash's dad loved me in his own way but I was still treated as an outsider.

The first woman went missing and I didn't think anything of it. It couldn't possibly be him." I clear my throat, I've never talked about it before.

"A few months later I found out I was pregnant. I was so scared because by that time another 3 women had gone missing and it was getting harder to explain it away. When I had asked him about it... he r***d me. Normally he was extremely careful and would wear a condom. He was so mad he didn't that time. He liked it so much he kept doing it. I lost weight because I couldn't eat. I passed out in class one day and ended up at the hospital. That's when I found out. He got so mad, he beat me.

Nash found me that night when I wasn't returning her phone calls. I was unconscious and bleeding out. The shootout happened the next day. The media was unkind but the families were there for me. They saw me as one of his victims just like their daughters. I used to have nightmares and panic attacks. With the help of Nash I was able to move on. I went back to school and got my degree in psychology. I've taken my pain and heartbreak and turned it into a thriving career. That was the first time I've had a panic attack in almost a decade."

Johnny hugs me tightly through my entire story, kissing my shoulder. "I've said I this before but it has so much more meaning now, you are an amazing creature."

Nash smiles warmly at us, kissing my hand. "I love you Syd. I'm so glad you finally found your happiness."

I touch her cheek, "Thank you Nash, for everything. I love you too."