The blackness of the night surrounds me and the cold sleet pelting against my face stings as my pace quickens to an all out sprint. I have no destination in mind and I am completely overwhelmed by so many different emotions. I feel like I have this ball of energy that I can't control and the only way to work it out safely is to run as fast as I can until I can no longer run. I can tell that my energy is slowly draining and I slow myself to a walk and realize that I am at the lake for the second time today. Listening to the sounds of the waves hitting the rocks and concrete calms me enough to sit down on a bench. I am lost in thought when all of a sudden someone taps me on the shoulder. Acting totally on instinct I grab the persons hand and bend it backwards effectively immobilizing my assailant. Then I look at the person that is bending over to try and reduce their pain and realize it is Prue. I immediately let go and apologize profusely.
Paige: Oh god Prue, I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you. Are you ok? Should we go to the doctor?
Prue: Squirt slow down I'm fine, now that you have let go of my hand. Since when did you get all tough?
Paige: Basic training I guess. Wait, how did you find me? I didn't even know where I was going.
Prue: Well we saw which direction you were walking from the window and I figured you would continue straight until you hit a dead end. And wallah here you are. Also, I come to the lake when I need to think, it's eerily calming isn't it?
Paige: Yeah, it is.
I sit back down contemplating why she ran after me. I stare out at the black abyss and wait for her to start yelling at me for leaving the way I did. As she sits down next to me she throws her arm around my shoulder and pulls me close to her so that I am leaning against her body.
Prue: Are you ok, squirt?
Paige: Yeah, I just needed to burn off some energy. I don't know how to explain it, I felt like if I didn't leave I would explode.
Prue: I know what you mean, I hate that feeling.
Paige: So how is Phoebe and mom doing?
Prue: Phoebe is a mess, she is having a hard time wrapping her head around this. Mom seems to be ok, really mad, but ok.
Paige: How about you?
Prue: I'm angry and shocked. I mean I believe you, but I can't believe that dad would do that. I think Piper is doing the best out of all of us.
Paige: Well she had a head start on you guys. She got it out of me this morning, that is why she skipped work. It was amazing she believed me right off the bat, not a seconds hesitation. Then she convinced me to tell everyone else.
Prue: That's Piper. You can always count on her. I'm so sorry I didn't trust you at first.
Paige: It's ok. Can we go back now I'm freezing.
Prue: Sure but we're taking a cab.
We take a silent cab ride back to the condo and as we are walking from the elevator to Prue's door I hesitate.
Prue: What's the matter Paige?
Paige: So how mad are they? I mean should I maybe stay somewhere else, let things cool down a bit.
Prue: Silly, no one is mad at you, we're mad at dad. You are staying here no ifs ands or buts, got it?
I take a deep breath and nod my head. As Prue opens the door I can hear feet making their way to the entrance. I take off my coat and hang it up in the coat closet and a pair of arms hug me from behind.
Piper: Don't you ever go running off like that again. You scared the hell out of me.
I give Piper a smile and nod my head. The three of us walk into the living room where Phoebe has her head in mom's lap out cold. I lean against the far wall in the living room trying my hardest to be invisible, staring at my feet.
Piper: Well how does Thai takeout sound?
Mom: Sounds good to me. Why don't you two call it in and pick it up.
Prue: Ok, we'll be back in about 30 minutes.
I hear Phoebe mumble something as she rolls over in her restless sleep and I again feel awful for destroying her image of her father. I ruined everyones happy family. Silent tears start rolling down my face as I think about how I just destroyed everything that those I cared about loved. Victor was wrong, they did believe me, but it hurt them to do so. All of a sudden I feel drained of all my energy and slide down the wall so that I am sitting on the floor. I lay my head down on my arms hiding my face from the world trying not to feel so lost. Strong arms pull me into their embrace and I hear my mother's comforting words.
Mom: Paige, sweetie, it's alright. Victor is never going to hurt you again.
Paige: I'm sorry.
Mom: For what, sweetie.
Paige: For everything. For ruining this family, for hitting Victor, for making a mess of Thanksgiving.
Mom: You did not ruin this family or make a mess of Thanksgiving, Victor did. He ruined the family the second he even thought about hurting you. As for hitting Victor that was wrong and I can tell you know it is wrong, so we will just leave it at that. Was that the first time you ever hit back?
Paige: Yeah. I always figured as long as he was only going after me and leaving everyone else alone I would just deal with it. Then he pushed Prue and all bets were off. I didn't mean to hit him as hard as I did, but I guess I am stronger than I thought.
Mom: You have always been strong Paige. Promise me you will tell me everything he did to you and show me any of your scars.
Paige: Why? It is in the past. Besides it's nothing too bad.
Mom: Paige you have scars from his abuse, physical and emotional. I need to know what he did to you and make sure you're ok.
Paige: Do I have to tell you tonight and do Piper, Prue, and Phoebe need to know?
Mom: No we don't have to talk tonight, but by the end of the week I will know everything. As for your sisters that is for you to decide.
I nod my head in acceptance and relax into my mothers embrace feeling the adrenaline from tonight rush out of my body. I close my eyes and breathe in the scent of my mom and listen to her heart beat feeling completely relaxed and protected for the first time in 8 years.
Mom: Paige sweetie wake up dinner is here.
Paige: Mmm.. not hungry.
Mom: Come on sweetie Phoebe is already awake and everyone is sitting at the table waiting for us.
I slowly open my eyes and see that I am still leaning into my mom's body with her arms around me. I sit up and look over at the couch and sure enough Phoebe is no longer there. I then walk sleepily into the dining room with my mom to see everyone already seated and food distributed. I take a seat and reach for my water trying to suppress a yawn.
Piper: Jeez Paige you were out huh?
I nod my head not really awake enough to respond yet.
Prue: Yeah really, you didn't hear us come in and then try forever to wake Phoebe up.
Phoebe: Hey! I'm not that hard to wake up.
Prue: Yeah right, we practically had to scream in your ear and throw you off the couch.
I smile as my sisters seem to be back to their normal picking on each other.
Mom: Girls stop picking on Phoebe, she is just my good little sleeper.
Paige: So what time is it?
Piper: 10 PM
Prue: We probably could have left you two sleeping, but you never would have been able to sleep through the night.
Piper: And we figured you two bottomless pits needed some food.
Paige and Phoebe: Hey!
Mom: It's true since the both of you have moved out the grocery bill has been reduce by at least 75.
Phoebe: Paige and I don't eat that much.
Piper: Yeah you do. I don't know how you guys stay so thin.
Paige: Well I don't know about Pheebs, but I run at least 5 miles a day.
Phoebe: I just have a great metabolism.
The rest of dinner continued in the same manner, everyone teasing each other. By the time everything was cleaned up it was 11:30 PM and everyone was dead on their feet.
Prue: Ok, sleeping arrangements. Who wants to sleep on the couch?
Paige: I can it's where I have been the last couple of nights.
Phoebe: Can I sleep with you mom?
Mom: Sure. Which bed should we take?
I look over at Piper and Prue and I can tell both are happy to not have to sleep with Phoebe.
Piper: Take mine and I'll bunk with Prue.
Mom: Alright, now everyone to bed its been a long day.
As I lay on the couch trying to sleep I can hear whispering coming from Prue's room and Phoebe mumbling in her sleep. Eventually I fall into a fitful sleep not knowing what the next day will bring.