Stealing Beauty Back
After Harvest's sexual history comes out in court, father and daughter have a frank talk about sexuality. Harvest begins a slow return to her old self.
Warning: Continued themes of rape and graphic sexuality
The air hung thick between father and daughter in the room. How they got home was a mystery to both. She sat facing the window in her room, arms penitently crossed.
"Harvest-"
"Daddy please! Don't say a word, don't make it worse."
"I don't want to-"
"Then don't!
"I just have to say it. If you are being sexually active-"
"Oh god! Please don't say anymore.
"If you are- I want you to know you can come to me. Maybe even Megan. I just want to make sure you are protected-"
"Was I protected before? There's no such thing!"
"From getting pregnant!"
"I know all about that!"
"I need to make sure."
His tone lowered. "You can talk to me. I don't want you having sex now, but I know there's not a lot I can do. Do you want to go on the Pill?"
"No! It didn't get that far," she said, turning around. "I didn't have intercourse until then. Until he forced himself. We just fooled around is all. It was harmless, I swear."
She softened after a second, glad she had a father who was at least understanding.."What I want is for the dirty looks to stop in the hallway. To not be called a slut to my face."
He moved toward her, not sure how to touch her anymore. "Ok," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders, rocking side to side. "It's gonna be okay." She turned and fell into his arms, and they rocked side to side together, something they hadn't been in a long time.
Later that night in the shower she reveled in seeing the blood run down her legs. It was her freedom from the fear of some beast growing inside her, and it had been too long since her last agony.
Her cramps were unusually strong this time. Crazy as it was she tried to enjoy what they also represented, but it was next to impossible. She was still a young girl, who would heal and maybe even feel wild and free again one day, not some teen mom with her rapist's baby or laying in bed recovering from an abortion. She sat on the side of the tub and shaved her legs, enjoying seeing the tiny pink instrument wipe away her long neglected bristles. Finishing, she reached for the lavender smelling lotion and applied it, even including her breasts in the application, which she didn't normally do, but they were unusually tender this time. Might as well feel good all over, she thought. Why not? She felt increasingly sensual. Thoughts of Bobby Goren danced in her brain. It had been a long time since she thought of him that way, let alone Alvy.
She thought of her other tiny pink instrument. She adjusted the shower head and sat back down in the tub. Opening the folds of her skin, she began to stimulate that special part of herself. Soon a look of transport took over her face, sensations running faster and faster over her pearl. A spasm broke, freeing her body even further. With each stroke of her hand, she came to a new level. After reaching a crescendo, the sensations began to get slower, the waves further apart, the rollercoaster finally ground to a halt. She let the water finish her off.
Basking in the afterglow, her body returned to its plateau. Shortly though, the cramps returned sooner than they normally did, just as sharp. She put on a nightgown and tried to drift off to sleep, at least relieved she didn't have to return to court just yet.