Here is the next chapter. I am enjoying writing again. Thanks for the reviews! Amber

Chapter 10

Frank opened the car door for her and they drove to a medical complex. There were multiple Doctors offices here but they were going to Inner Peace Psychiatric Center. It was on the third floor of the building. Callie approached the receptionist. "I'm Callie Hardy. I have an appointment with Ashley James."

"Yes. Can you fill out this paperwork?"

Callie took the clipboard. "Sure."

They found seats and sat down. Callie busied herself with the forms. She finished them after ten minutes. She took the clipboard back to the receptionist. Then sat back down beside Frank. She took his hand and squeezed. There were four people in the waiting room. One was a blond male about 30. She cringed into Frank.

Frank could feel her trembling. He looked around and saw the blond male. He soothed her by softly whispering in her ear. "He's dead Callie. You're safe, baby."

Callie whispered. "I know. Just for a moment I was back in the car."

She turned into him. Frank put his left arm around her and took her hand with his right. Her trembling eased off a bit. It got even better when the blond male was called back for his appointment. It was funny what triggered her. Joe didn't trigger her, but he surmised it was because he wasn't a stranger. They'd ask. He hoped the therapist would let him come back at least initially."

"Callie Hardy?"

They both looked up to see a pretty brunette standing in the doorway. She gestured. "Come on back to my office. You can come to Mr. Hardy."

Callie didn't let go of Frank's hand. She was still very nervous, but she wanted out of this waiting room. Her skin was crawling. They followed her to a spacious office. There was a sofa, a coffee table, and a desk with a computer. The lighting was soft. Callie sank into the sofa. Frank sat next to her. He said. "The waiting room really stressed her out. She had a flashback."

"That's completely normal. Callie...I"m Ashley. I want to help you. Would you be more comfortable if your husband stayed for a bit?"

"Yes please."

"Alright. I want to ask you some questions, then if you're comfortable I'd like to do some therapy with you alone."

The minute Callie walked through the door she went to the bathroom and took a blistering shower. Ashley had been nice. She seemed competent. Callie didn't feel comfortable being alone with her yet. Maybe next time. Callie rinsed. She wrapped her towel around her and went to dress in something comfortable. The doorbell rang. She knew her husband would answer the door.

Callie didn't want to see anyone right now. She wanted to be left alone. She was utterly exhausted after this session. She couldn't even talk about the 'incident' in detail. She knew she would have too but she couldn't do it. Frank knocked on the door and stepped inside. "Callie, Molly and Doug are here."

Callie stood up. She went to the bathroom and put her damp hair in a ponytail then went downstairs. She smiled at them. "Hey there."

Molly smiled at her. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better, but the pain has eased a lot."

Doug handed Frank a flower arrangement in a vase. Callie smiled. "It's beautiful. You didn't have to do that."

Doug said. "Yes we did. You made our kids very happy with their own PlayStation 5 and game assortment."

Frank smiled. "They were having so much fun with ours we had too."

"We're grateful." Doug said.

Molly was rubbing her stomach. "We won't keep you. Callie call me if you need to talk."

Callie smiled. "I will. When's your next appointment?"

"It's in two weeks."

Callie hoped she could control her anxiety. She really wanted to go. Frank seemed to read her mind. "We'll try to make it. If we can't, could you call us?"

Molly nodded. "Absolutely!"

When the door closed Callie said exactly what was on her mind. "How can I possibly go when I'm a wreck."

Frank held out his hand. He waited until she took it and squeezed. "We take it day by day love. We'll see how you feel then."

Callie said bitterly. "It's bad enough that I had to change to online classes this semester. I'm all over the place. I'm terrified one minute, angry the next. Why did this have to happen to me? It's not fair! It's not fair!" She succumbed to tears and hurled herself into his arms.

Frank held her as she cried. "You're right it's not fair. Just know this. I love you and I'm here for you."

Callie, her voice muffled in his chest whispered. "I know."

Two weeks later Callie was once again awakened by a nightmare at 2AM. She screamed. Frank immediately turned on the bedroom light on the nightstand. She was rocking back and forth, shaking, and hysterical.

Frank rubbed her back. She leaned toward him, and Frank knew instinctively to put his arms around her. "Shh. You're safe my love. You're safe."

The trembling slowed and slowly stopped. Her cries turned to whimpers and stopped too. She took a shaky breath. "I'm sorry Frank. Maybe I should sleep in the basement. There's no point in…"

Frank interrupted. "You should not. Honey you aren't a burden. Put that away. I love you so much."

"I don't know what I'd do without you. That's the truth. You've been there for me since grade school. You helped me through the time with my dad, my mom dying, now...I've been attacked."

"You'll feel better if you say it Callie." Frank said. Callie through the course of her first day of treatment had called the rape, the incident or the attack. The therapist called his cell phone and told him. If he found and opening to get her to say she was raped. That was the first step of the healing process.

Callie trembling after a minute managed to whisper. "He raped me."

Her tears started full force again. Frank held her and rocked her as she cried. She didn't know it yet but she was starting to recover. He kissed her hair. She still had a long way to go. But for the first time in three weeks he felt hope again.