Authors Note-
Hi Angels! Hope you're having a beautiful day :)
There are mentions of domestic abuse in this chapter so please proceed with caution.
I love you 💜
Charlotte hadn't felt peace like this since she was a young adult. Before she had met Nick, she was the life of the party and known for her feistiness. She was well known around campus for making sure everyone felt welcome and some of the crazier parties went down under her supervision. She was a sight to see and seemed to be on cloud nine most days, nothing could bring her down from the sky. Many men sought her out and she turned them down until she found Nick, the man she wanted to marry.
He showed Charlotte off every chance he got and was extremely proud of her, he loved that he had quite the trophy on his shelf. What he hadn't expected was for Charlotte's quick comebacks and silly jokes to make him look stupid in front of their friends. Slowly but surely, he took his time molding her into the "perfect woman", she did her best not to toe the line and wasn't sure why she felt fear at times.
He loved her. He wouldn't lay a hand on her unless it was to pull her hair back when she was sick or even a lingering touch to remind her of his affection, would he? How could someone who treated her so well in public possibly have ill intentions when they were alone? She knew she was loved, but it was conditional and she shouldn't push back on his requests. She could remember the first time he raised his voice with her. It was over something silly and the way his mood quickly changed terrified her, but she had nowhere to go as he backed her into the kitchen counter.
Nick swore he'd never raise his voice again and showered her with praise, for being his good girl and listening to him. Charlotte knew it was wrong but she believed him when he swore on their future together. She was head over heels for him and to hear confirmation that he'd spend the rest of his life with her in the same hour that he caused her to panic for her safety, well, it was conflicting.
"Come here, sweetheart."
Mia's voice pulled Charlotte away from the past, reminding her that she was okay and she could breathe. She wasn't there anymore, she wasn't there anymore, she wasn't there anymore. Sometimes, repeating things in a sequence to bring herself out of that anxiety and back to the moment. There were many times where she'd get chained to the past, reliving each moment with fear, and there was no choice but to stay there forever.
Well, what felt like forever.
Charlotte made her way over to Mia, who was making breakfast for them, and wrapped her arms around her waist. She leaned her cheek against Mia's back and swayed with her movements, just enjoying how close they were. Mia smiled as she poured a heart shaped pancake for her sweet girl, wanting to make her feel even a fraction of how special she was. She could get used to the feeling of Charlotte tucked into her touch and the sunshine that followed her around even when she was trapped in the tornado in her mind. She found shelter in Mia and she could wait out the storm with her, she hoped anyways.
"Mind grabbing me a plate?"
Charlotte reluctantly moved away from Mia and grabbed two plates for their breakfast. When she handed over one, their fingers brushed against each other and they both froze. Mia's eyes met her own and she took the plate, eagerly setting it down and getting the pancake sorted out before pouring another. Charlotte's eyes followed her hand around, wanting to reach out and hold it, she wanted to feel overwhelmed by Mia's presence.
Before she knew it, she had found the courage to slide her hand over Mia's and their fingers interlocked. She was flushed like a mad man, feeling like a teen fawning over a crush, as she watched Mia lift her hand to kiss it gently.
Silence surrounded them and for the first time, Charlotte felt comforted by it. She loved the soft sound of Mia's breathing mixed with the sizzle of the stove and the birds chirping outside. It was calm and that was something she wasn't used to, silence had been always in rage in her home. She knew it would be bad if Nick came home and refused to speak to her and the girls, she'd bring him his beer and try to not piss him off further.
