Shattered

                                    

                                          
TW: Emotional trauma, anxiety, and panic 
One month prior: February 2025
Reece had it all planned out. He just needed to get her moving. A year ago, they were meant to go on their first date on Valentine's Day. It hadn't worked out, and then he crashed her actual date. After the last three months that all seemed like a lifetime ago, but if he could get her out maybe they could start to move forward.
"Hey, gorgeous. How are you this evening?" 
She faked a smile. He brought her so much comfort, and the way he could calm her was otherworldly. She just could meet him in his excitement. She knew he meant well, but that part of her was inaccessible. Siobhan understood that, but he just couldn't.
She smiled again. "My love, I am excited to go out tonight too. It has been ..." she faded away for a moment. The façade was too much to keep up. They hadn't been out since the night of the ball. Her heart began to race. She felt the sweat bead up on her forehead. "I am going to get a shower and get ready."
She walked into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She hadn't let him join her in the shower since the assault. He had bathed her a few times when she first came home, but once Shibby came she took over that task which was a relief. 
She could not bear it. He looked at her with pity. Shibby and Viv had provided her with someone to talk to, but now that Viv had gotten a job at the hospital near their home, she couldn't expect Siobhan to keep coming and staying for days on end.
Siobhan was nearly five months pregnant. She should be home with her family. Not here fawning over her friend. 
She dried off and dressed in the bathroom. She took no chances . She couldn't. She knew he would never intentionally make her uncomfortable, but his gaze made her skin crawl. 
She was doing the therapy. Three times a fucking week, and she felt she was still no closer to getting her life back. Now she had to put on a smile and do this for him. 
He was pacing the floor. How could he get through to her if she wouldn't even let him in. He didn't care about the locked doors or Siobhan's frequent visits. He would do anything, give anything for her happiness. He wanted her to do whatever she needed to heal. 
Her heart broke when she saw him pacing. How could she keep putting him through this? "I will be ready in just a few minutes. I just need to go do one more thing."
He smiled at here. A genuine smile and brushed his hand to hers as she passed. He didn't know that even that innocuous touch still made her skin crawl. 
She slipped away to the bedroom and called Siobhan. "Look, I know it is Valentine's Day, but I really think I need you to come tonight. Yes. Yes. No, I can't. Yes, I agree. When you get here. Thanks, Shib."
She made her way back down to him. She brushed a soft kiss to his lips, and they walked out the door together. 
She had only been out of their home to see the therapist and to go to check ups with the doctors. 
Once they were in the car she tried to relax, but her heart raced again and she could feel the sweat beading on her forehead. Her skin went pale, and she knew he was talking to her, but she couldn't hear.
"Marjorie! Marjorie, are you okay?" He pulled the car over. She was hyperventilating. "Marjorie, look at me! We are okay. You are okay. Focus on me. On my breathing."
Her eyes started to focus. She started to cry. "Take me home, Reece, please. I am sorry. I am so sorry. I just can't. Please, take me home."
He drove them home in complete silence. When they arrived she went straight to the lounge and sat on the sofa. He said next to her and offered his arm. Instead, she climbed fully into his lap and sobbed.
"I'm sorry Reece. I'm so sorry. I just can't do this. I can't do this anymore. I can't watch you hurt. I can't.. I can't.."
He was crying too, but when he looked up Siobhan was standing there. Her gaze turned downward.
She was embarrassed to have walked in on such an intimate moment. She was also uncomfortable with why she had been asked to come. She and Viv had both tried to talk her out of it, but once her mind was made up there was no moving her.
Reece looked at Marjorie. "Gorgeous, Siobhan is here." She looked up and he saw the relief in her eyes. "How long? How long have you known you were leaving?" He was attempting to keep the anger out of his voice.
She didn't answer.
"How long, Marjorie!" She flinched and his heart sank. He hadn't meant to yell. He wanted this to go differently. He didn't want this at all, but he knew he had no choice in the matter. He had to let her go.