Chapter 3: Trauma and Shock
"Here ya go girlie." Her aunt Monica said as she handed her a steaming bowl of chicken and dumplings.
Bella scarfed it down and quickly asked for another bowl. She did the same thing again, before asking for more.
Her aunt and uncle stared at her in bewilderment as they watched her eat. She was on her fourth bowl.
"Bella honey, there is more food on the stove. You can have as much as you want. Why don't you slow down." Her aunt told her.
However, her uncle cleared his throat.
"Nonsense. You eat how you want however you want baby girl."
Her aunt made a sound of disapproval.
"Will you excuse us, honey, we will be right back."
Her uncle then motioned her aunt away from the dinner table.
…
"What are you doing? You cannot encourage her to eat like that!" Monica chastised her husband
"Stop it, Monica. We have no idea what Bella has been through! All Charlie would tell me is that her husband and his family were abusive and that she suffered a forced abortion! If she wants to eat like a pig, let her eat like a pig for now. She just got here. We don't need to be bossing her around. She is a grown woman who has suffered through something horrible."
Monica shook her head.
"That may be true! But she should still have manners. What if she chokes? She is not just a grown woman suffering trauma! She is a nineteen-year-old woman who got married too young! A woman who doesn't know what she's going to do with her life."
Chester snarled at his wife, causing her to freeze.
"Enough." He barked. "My niece just got here. She has been traumatized and hurt. You will not chastise her tonight is that clear?"
Monica sighed and bowed her head.
"yes. I understand. I'm sorry. Im not trying to be insensitive. This is all new to me."
Chester sighed as he hugged his wife.
"I know. I know. This is new to all of us. Let's get back in there."
The couple rejoined their niece sitting at the dinner table. She was holding a cup of tea.
"I hope you guys didn't mind. I brewed some tea."
"It's not a problem at all dear," Monica said as she squeezed Bella's shoulder.
"Would you like another bowl?"
"um..yes please…I don't mean to put you guys out "
"No. Not at all, dear. But I have to ask… were they …did you eat when you were with them?" Monica asked.
Bella shook her head.
"I haven't had the urge to eat in a long time. And I hadn't been able to keep anything down..plus they didn't eat much at all."
Bella then went quiet as Monica handed her another bowl.
When dinner was over, they showed her to her suite. She had a huge bed and a connecting bathroom.
"Try to get some sleep darling."
That night was the many nights, Chester and his wife were overcome by their niece's quiet sobs.
….
Bella squeezed onto the dark comforter as the memories of her burning baby filled her mind.
She couldn't take it.
A sob escaped her lips. Her girl. Her baby girl. She didn't get to bury her! They burned her. burned her to ashes!
She didn't get to hold her, didn't get to see her. her daughter was ripped from her.
Another sob filled the room.
Her door creaked open and something warm jumped onto her bed.
Bella wiped her eyes as she looked upon her intruder. Sitting on her bed looking up at her was a huge pit bull. It had the prettiest green eyes and grey fur.
"Hello." She sniffed.
The pit, snuggled into her side, its butt wiggling as it gave her a few licks on her arm.
"Well aren't you sweet," she said as she pet its head and wiped away her tears.
Before she realized it Bella had fallen asleep. Her dreams chasing after a little girl with brown hair.
…
The next morning, the house was filled with the smell of pancakes. When Chester and Monica walked into their kitchen, they found Bella at the counter chopping fruit. Their dog was at her feet.
"You know you're not supposed to be in the kitchen.." Chester scolded lightly.
He gave a small whine and then darted out the dog door.
" Good morning, I see you met X" Chester greeted.
"X?" Bella questioned as Monica gave her a gentle hug
"Yeah, that's his name. It's short for DMX."
Bella gave a small snort.
"DMX the rapper?"
Chester shrugged. " I like my music. Shoot me."
"We didn't expect you to cook breakfast, honey. You didn't have to do that." Monica said as she poured three cups of orange juice.
"I want to earn my keep. Don't want to put you guys out." Bella explained.
However, Chester shook his head.
"Bella baby girl, I want you to hear me and hear me well. You are family, a guest in our home. You are not putting us out and you do not have to earn your keep as if you are our maid. We are a family and we work together. Do you understand?"
Bella overcome by the love in her uncle's eyes, nodded.
"All alright then, now after breakfast how do you feel about a tour of New Mexico?" he asked.
"I would love that." She told him.
Bella was grateful for her Aunt and uncle.
….
Quill groaned as he opened his eyes.
His head was pounding.
"I wouldn't sit up if I were you." a female voice spoke.
Quill didn't sit up but he did observe the girl in front of him. She had dark skin and kinky hair. She had to be at least 12.
"Ugh, where am I?" he groaned.
"New Mexico. Now you stay here and I'll go get Daddy. It's nice to finally meet you, big brother."
Quill gasped.
"big brother?" he questioned.
The girl's eyes went huge, as she realized she had said something she shouldn't have.
"oops. Sorry. Im gonna get daddy."
She then ran out of the room. it seemed he was in a log cabin-style house. The room he was in, was huge.
Quil rubbed his head. He couldn't believe this.
It had to be sleep deprivation. The images he was seeing weren't real. This had to be a dream.
The door opened to reveal the man he hoped was a hallucination.
"Son.." his father greeted gently and unsure.
Quil closed his eyes and shook his head.
"no. no. you can't be real. You can't be."