Another dramatic short story, you say? What's up with all of this drama all of the sudden, you ask?

I dunno.

Anyways, this chapter is told from Bonnie's point of view, and it shows just how much somebody who seems to have it all together on the outside can really be…

Broken Inside

The funny thing about secrets is when it causes you to get all depressed and stuff, but nobody knows how to comfort you because of the fact that they don't know your secrets.

Of course, I'm not about to tell anybody my secret. If anybody knew what happened to me all those years ago…well, let's just say I'm afraid nobody would understand, and they'd just shun me and hate me and treat me worse than I treat myself.

Afraid? Bonnie, the theft-and-evasion chick? Afraid?

Yeah, I'm afraid. Afraid of thoughts I can't read, the thoughts of others.

Oh, I cover it up all right. Not even Clyde, my closest buddy and partner in crime, knows that I'm scared of the things that hide in the shadows, longing for me.

Not longing for my death; longing for me.

Nobody knows about my secret…well, nobody except for the kid, that is.

The kid.

The kid knows, because she went through the same thing.

I still remember it all…

Lilo and myself were talking with a couple of the others about love and future families and all that junk. Don't ask me how I got involved in that conversation, I just did.

Then Lilo asked if she could talk to me in private. How could I refuse her? She's like a sister or a daughter to me.

We went into the girl's restroom (the number-one place for girl talk, or so I hear)…and she started crying.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I said, holding her hand in my paw, "Kid, what's wrong?"

Lilo sniffled a little bit; it broke my heart to see her so sad. "Bonnie…" she whispered, "…I don't think I'll ever be a mom."

I frowned. "Now, what in the world would make you think that?"

Lilo's big, brown eyes stared into my black ones. "Not very many people know what I'm about to tell you," she said, "Only Nani knows; I've never even told Stitch." Lilo took a deep breath, then let it all out in a sigh: "I was abused."

This came to me like a slap across the face. "Wha…what do you mean?" I gasped.

Lilo started talking, in a way that made it seem as though it was taking her a lot of spirit and strength to say what she had to say. "It was two days after Mom and Dad died when I was kidnapped by a woman; I don't know who she was, but I'd be able recognize her face anywhere. She had Nani pay a ransom to get me back; Nani paid the ransom, but it was too late. The woman hit me, kicked me…and then, she made me take a shower…she came in and…touched me where…in spots nobody should touch me…"

Lilo broke off, crying again. At first, I couldn't say anything; I just held the kid close and let her cry into my shoulder. I guess I must have started crying, too; Lilo asked me what was wrong.

"Oh, Lilo…" I sighed; she knew I was serious whenever I used her actual name, "…I know what you're going through. The exact same thing happened to me."

Lilo pulled away from me. "It…it did?" she sniffled.

I nodded; it was the truth...but I don't like talking about it. "But, Lilo, it wasn't your fault! There's nothing wrong with you; it was that chick who's messed up in the head."

Lilo sighed. "But what about the others? What if…they don't understand?"

I shrugged. "If you're scared about that, then don't tell them. I know Blue would understand; so would his girlfriend."

Lilo gulped, fear shining from her eyes… then she whispered, "I don't think I'm ready to tell anybody else yet."

I hugged her again, placing my head next to hers. "I'm not ready, either."

So, yeah. Basically I'm afraid that others will think I'm a lesbian because of what happened to me. I know that when Lilo's older and understanding what happened to her better, she'll probably start thinking the exact same thing.

But she's different. She knows that she can talk to me about it, anytime and anywhere. I know, I know, I'm not exactly a chatty chick…but I'll make an exception for the kid.

I'll never really forget what happened to me, all that hitting and touching and stuff…yeah, it broke me inside. So what?

While I'm helping Lilo heal, she'll be helping me.

At first, it was going to be Angel telling the story, but then I thought that Bonnie could do better…plus, everybody has the bad stuff happen to her already.

For personal reasons, I can't say where the inspiration for this story came from…let's just say it's based on something very, you know, personal.

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