Breaking Free

Trigger Warning: This story contains scenes of domestic violence, and physical and emotional abuse. The main character was in an abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who hurt her both physically and mentally. The story also depicts the main character's struggle to escape from the abuse and find love and healing with another person. If you are sensitive to these topics, please read with caution. If you are experiencing domestic violence or need help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website. You are not alone, and you deserve to be safe and happy.

Chapter 20

BELLA

I sat across from Rosalie in her cozy office, clutching a mug of hot chocolate. She had invited me over for a chat, knowing how hard it was for me to cope with the aftermath of Chris' abuse. Rosalie was a lawyer, specializing in domestic abuse cases. She also volunteered at a shelter for victims of violence. She was one of the few people who understood what I had gone through.

"Thank you for being here, Bella," she said softly, reaching for my hand. "I know it's not easy to talk about this, but I want you to know that you're not alone. I've been in your shoes, remember?"

I nodded, remembering how she had confided in me about her own abusive ex-husband a couple days after I was attacked. He had beaten her, cheated on her, and threatened to kill her if she ever left him, just like Chris had done to me. She had finally escaped him, but not without scars. She had a long, jagged one on her left arm, where he had slashed her with a knife. She always wore long sleeves to cover it up.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, looking at me with concern.

I shrugged, feeling a lump in my throat. "I don't know. Scared, I guess. Angry. Confused. Sad. All of the above."

She smiled sympathetically and squeezed my hand. "That's normal, Bella. You've been through a lot. Chris was a monster. He hurt you in so many ways. He didn't deserve you."

I felt tears sting my eyes. "He said he loved me. He said he was sorry. He said he would change."

Rosalie shook her head, her expression hardening. "He lied, Bella. He didn't love you. He loved controlling you. He was never sorry. He never changed. He only got worse. He's a classic abuser. He used manipulation, intimidation, isolation, and violence to keep you under his thumb. He made you feel like you were worthless, like you had no choice, like you had no voice. But you do, Bella. You have a choice. You have a voice. And you need to use it."

I looked at her dubiously, wondering how I could ever stand up to Chris.

She gave me a gentle smile and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "You're stronger than you know. You made it to Edward, to help," she reminded me.

I swallowed hard, rubbing my leg at the spot where Chris had cut me. It was still stitching itself back together. The stitches the doctor put in would be taken out at the end of the week. I had reached help, but I wasn't sure if I was strong.

She reached for my hand and squeezed it gently. "The district attorney called me today. He wants you to testify against Chris in his trial. He said your testimony is crucial to put him away for a long time. He said he has a strong case, but he needs your cooperation. He said he can protect you, and he can offer you counseling and support. He said he's on your side, Bella. He wants justice for you."

I felt a surge of panic. "Testify? Against Chris? I can't do that, Rosalie. I can't face him. He'll kill me. He'll kill us both. He said he would. He said if I ever tried to leave him, or if I ever told anyone what he did to me, he would hunt me down and make me pay. He said he would make me wish I was dead. He said he would make me suffer more than I ever did before. He said he would make me regret ever crossing him. He said he would make me his, forever."

Rosalie looked at me with a mix of compassion and determination. "Bella, listen to me. You don't have to be afraid of him anymore. He can't hurt you anymore. He's in jail, and he's not getting out anytime soon. He's facing multiple charges, including assault, battery, rape, kidnapping, and attempted murder. He's looking at life in prison, Bella. Life. He'll never see the light of day again. He'll never touch you again. He'll never hurt you again. He's powerless, Bella. He's nothing. You're the one who has the power now. You're the one who can make him pay. You're the one who can end his reign of terror. You're the one who can set yourself free."

She leaned closer to me and looked into my eyes. "Bella, I know how hard it is to testify against your abuser. I've done it myself. I know how scary it is to face him in court, to relive the horror, to expose yourself to the world. I know how much it hurts, how much it costs, how much it takes. But I also know how much it helps, how much it heals, how much it gives. Testifying against my abuser was the hardest thing I ever did, but it was also the best thing I ever did. It gave me closure, it gave me justice, it gave me peace. It gave me back my life, Bella. And it can do the same for you."

She smiled warmly and hugged me. "Bella, like the day you identified him as your attacker, you're not alone. You have me, you have Edward, and you have many others who care about you and support you. You have a whole community of survivors who stand with you and behind you. You have a whole team of professionals who will guide you and protect you. You have a whole world of possibilities ahead of you. You have a whole life to live, Bella. A life without fear, without pain, without Chris. A life that's yours, Bella. Yours to choose, yours to voice, yours to live. All you have to do is say yes, Bella. Say yes to testify. Say yes to justice. Say yes to freedom. Say yes to yourself. Say yes, Bella. Please, say yes."

I looked at her, feeling a mix of emotions. Fear, anger, confusion, sadness. But also hope, courage, gratitude, love. She was right. I had a choice. I had a voice. And I needed to use it. For myself, for her, for all the other victims of abuse. For all the other Bellas out there. I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, Rosalie. I'll testify. I'll do it. I'll face him. I'll make him pay. I'll set myself free."

She hugged me again, tighter this time. "Thank you, Bella. Thank you for being brave. Thank you for being strong. Thank you for being you. I'm so here for you. Always."

We held each other for a long time, feeling a bond that only we could understand. A bond of sisterhood, of survival, of solidarity. A bond of healing, of hope, of happiness. A bond of life, of love, of liberty. A bond that nothing and no one could ever break. Not even Chris.

But even as I felt Rosalie's warmth and comfort, a part of me was still terrified. Chris was denied bail, but that didn't mean he couldn't escape. He had connections, he had money, he had influence. He had a way of getting what he wanted, no matter the cost. He had a way of finding me, no matter where I hid. He had a way of hurting me, no matter what I did. He had a way of making me his, no matter what I said. He had a way of breaking me, no matter how I fought. He had a way of haunting me, no matter how I lived.

EDWARD

I paced back and forth in the lobby, outside of Rosalie's office. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling a surge of anxiety. I had just received a call from Detective Carter, and the news was not good.

"Edward, I have some bad news and some worse news," he had said.

"What is it?" I had asked, my heart sinking.

"The bad news is that Chris tried to escape from prison. He attacked a guard and stole his keys. He almost made it to the gate, but the other guards were prepared for the attempt. They shot him in the leg and subdued him. He's back in his cell now, under maximum security."

I had felt a wave of relief, followed by a wave of anger. "That bastard. He deserves to rot in hell. I'm glad they stopped him. Is he going to be okay?"

"That's the worse news, Edward. He's going to live. But before they took him away, he managed to get a message out. We don't know how, but he did. And the message was clear. Kill Bella Swan."

I had felt a jolt of fear, followed by a jolt of rage. "What? How did he do that? Who did he contact? How do you know?"

"We intercepted a call from one of his associates. He said he got a text from Chris, with those three words. Kill Bella Swan. We traced the number, but it was a burner phone. We don't know who else he might have reached, or who might be after Bella. We're working on it, but we need to act fast. We need to protect Bella, Edward. We need to move her to a safe house."

I had clenched my fist, feeling a surge of protectiveness. "No. No way. You can't do that. You can't take her away from me. She's safe with me. She's safe with Rosalie. She's safe here."

"Edward, listen to me. This is serious. Chris is dangerous. He has connections. He has resources. He has a vendetta. He won't stop until he gets what he wants. And he wants Bella. Dead or alive. We can't take any chances. We have to move her to a secure location. Somewhere he can't find her. Somewhere he can't hurt her. Somewhere only we know. It's for her own good, Edward. It's for your own good too."

I had shaken my head, feeling a surge of desperation. "No. No, please. Don't do this. Don't separate her from friends and family. She's barely coping as it is." My gaze moved to the closed door. "Detective, the night after she identified Chris, she was a nervous and if it wasn't for the anxiety medication and me holding her, she wouldn't have slept."

"Edward, I understand but for both yours and her safety, she has to be moved. I can't have two deaths on my conscious that can be prevented. Protocols are in place."

I felt a surge of inspiration. "Wait. Just wait, I have an idea. I know a place. A place where Bella can go. A place where she can hide. A place where she can be safe. My parents' house. In Forks. It's perfect. It's off the beaten path. It's surrounded by woods. It's secluded. It's secure. It's the safest place for Bella. Please, Detective. Please, let her go there. Please, let me take her there. Please, trust me."

I had waited, feeling a surge of hope. I had hoped he would agree. I had hoped he would understand. I had hoped he would help us.

He had sighed, sounding conflicted. "Edward, I don't know. That's a big risk. That's a long way. That's a lot of trust. I have to talk to the district attorney. I have to get his approval. I have to make sure it's safe. I have to make sure it's legal. I have to make sure it's worth it."

I had pleaded, feeling a surge of urgency. "Please, Detective. Please, do it. Please, talk to him. Please, get his approval. Please, make sure it's safe. Please, make sure it's legal. Please, make sure it's worth it. Please, do it for us. Do it for Bella. Do it for me. Please, Detective. Please, say yes."

He had hesitated, sounding uncertain. "Edward, I'll try. I'll try to do it. I'll try to talk to him. I'll try to get his approval."

He had hung up, leaving me in suspense. Leaving me in limbo. Leaving me in agony.

I looked at my phone, feeling a surge of impatience. I checked the time, feeling a surge of frustration. It had been twenty minutes since he had called. Twenty minutes of waiting. Twenty minutes of wondering. Twenty minutes of worrying. But all I could do was wait.

Five more minutes passed, then ten, then fifteen. Finally, my phone beeped. I grabbed it, hoping to hear his voice. But it was only a text message from the district attorney. It read:

DA: "The US Marshals will meet you at Forks High School at five this evening. Let them explain to Bella and to your parents. Names and photos to follow."

I felt a surge of relief, mixed with confusion and curiosity. What did this mean? Was Bella safe? Why did we have to meet them at Forks High School? And who were these US Marshals? I had so many questions, but no answers. I texted the district attorney back, asking my questions. But there was no reply. I sighed and put my phone away. I looked at my watch. It was eleven in the morning. Six hours to go. Six hours of waiting. Six hours of wondering. Six hours of worrying.

What the hell was I going to tell Bella?

Turning, I began to turn to make another pass. The door opened at that moment and Bella came out with Rosalie.

"Edward, I want to go to Forks for a visit," Bella said.

I glanced at Rosalie, wondering if she knew anything. Did she know about the Marshals and their plan to take Bella to a safe house? Rosalie nodded slightly, answering my silent question. She looked at Bella with a sympathetic expression. And I realized. Going to Forks was Bella's idea and she had no clue about Chris. Not yet, anyway.

"I was going to suggest going," I said. "Let's go pack."