CHAPTER 6
Olivia's Apartment – 4 weeks later
Nothing has been said about what happened. Elliot and Olivia's conversations have consisted of "fluff," the weather, whaqt's on TV, what Dana did that day, things of that sort. It was uncomfortable for Elliot and Olivia to be together, uncomfortable with the "elephant in the room." No one knows what happened between them or what happened at the hands of Harris. Dana and Olivia are in the bedroom; Olivia is on the bed and Dana is packing.
"You guys gonna be alright?" Dana asked.
"Absolutely! Now that I am in the walking cast. I really loved having you here, helping out. It's gonna be kinda lonely when you're gone, like something's missing." Olivia, looking a little sad, said to her good friend.
"Liv. Me being here has done nothing but prevented you two from talking this out. What happened? What happened with Harris? What happened with you two while you were being held? Liv, you need to talk about it, if not to me or Elliot, then someone."
Olivia could hear the deep concern in Dana's voice. "I was raped. I was raped and beaten and raped and beaten over and over and when he was done, drugged. The next day it started all over again. Then, one morning, I awoke with tape over my eyes. I could hear Harris talking to someone but there were no other voices. Harris demanded this person to rape me. I could feel the gun to my temple. I started to cry, praying he would just pull the trigger. Though I didn't know who was raping me, the man was trying to be gentle, trying not to hurt me any further. After, Harris left the room, the man still on top of me. After what seemed like forever, I heard his voice say my name. I knew then it was El. Hearing him changed everything. Harris returned and took El to a chair and tied him up. That's when he started to beat us. Then you and Fin showed up. That's it, in a nutshell." This is the first time Olivia spoke of what happened. She was terrified of what she was hearing come out of her mouth. Speaking it was making it real. Something she didn't want to happen. It was just easier to ignore it and live in this little bubble.
"Liv, I'm so sorry."
"No! Don't be sorry. I survived. El survived and we are both stronger because of it. We will figure this out." Liv interrupted.
"Talk to him. Love ya!" Dana said as she kissed Olivia on the cheek and gathered her bags. "I'll call you tomorrow." And she walked out of the room, the apartment, leaving Elliot and Olivia alone together for the first time. They now have to face what they had been so successful at avoiding. Liv knew this and was afraid to leave the bedroom.
Elliot was in the living room on the couch when Dana left. He, too, knew this left him alone with Olivia. For the last four weeks, all he has thought about was being alone with Olivia. His feeling conflicted, wanting to be with her, and wanting to hide from her. He hated himself for what happened. He wanted to tell her but he knew nothing he said would take back what he did. In his mind, he is a vile criminal. He was no better than Harris. He was supposed to protect her, not violate her. Elliot could not shake these thoughts from his head, no matter how hard he tried. He knew he needed to talk to her and hope she understands how sorry he is, whatever that's worth.