Xxx
Luvetta walked silently up the stairs and stopped before the door. She knocked lightly and waited. Dr. Hopper answered the door with a smile.
"Etta! Come on in!" he said cheerfully. Luvetta smiled and walked in, heading for her usual spot on the sofa. Dr. Hopper joined her a few moments later with a cup of tea. He handed it to her than sat on the chair across from her.
"How are you doing?"
Luvetta looked down at her tea, giving Hopper the answer he needed.
"You saw him?"
Tear fell down Luvetta face.
"A-at the hospital, when Ashley had her baby," she said. "He was coming out..."
"Did he do anything?" Hopper asked urgently.
"No," she replied. "He didn't even say hello, just walked by..."
Hopper sighed in relief.
"It's just... I don't want to live in fear anymore," Luvetta said angrily. "I don't want to be afraid of him anymore!"
"It's on;y natural to be afraid of him," Hopper said soothingly. "Everyone is afraid of him and you have an even bigger reason to fear him."
"It's just... I feel... guilty. I feel like it's wrong to be so afraid of him," Luvetta said. "Despite what he is... he is still the father of my children."
"Etta," Hopper said firmly. "He raped you."
Luvetta flinched at the words and looked down.
"You have no need to feel guilty. Look at the progress you've made."
"Progress?" she growled. "Besides you, I can't even look at another man, not even my husband! If... If it wasn't for my children, I would have killed myself a long time ago..."
"Etta, it's natural to feel the way you do," Hopper assured her.
"Is it?" she whispered. "Is it natural... Is it natural to want to understand the man who violated you? To..."
...to want to be around him, even though it scares you?