Major trigger warning dot talk of SA and suicidal ideation. I wanted to pay homage to the documentary, this is an amalgamation of all the stories I heard in the doc. and on Youtube. It's not pretty. but, hey... if it bothers you, the middle part, right between the two horizontal lines, is where the SA stuff is. and the suicidal ideation as well. the rest is just full of angst and depression.

Chapter 24: Quiet on Set

Jade walked alongside Tori, her steps feeling heavy with the weight of what was to come. They were heading to the studio where they would film the documentary, and Jade's nerves were frayed. She knew that during the filming, she would have to speak about things that had never seen the light of day before.

Ben had never been accused of such things, and this would be a case of his word against hers. She feared the public disgrace that could come from it. What made it even worse was the knowledge that she would be displaying her trauma for her already traumatized girlfriend to witness. Jade felt a pang of guilt, knowing that she was supposed to be the strong one in their relationship.

As they walked, Jade squeezed Tori's hand tightly, seeking comfort and support. Tori, sensing her fear, gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed back just as firmly. They stopped for a moment, and Tori pulled Jade into a gentle embrace, kissing her forehead tenderly.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Jade," Tori whispered softly, her voice filled with understanding and compassion. "You can walk away, and I'll support whatever decision you make. Your well-being is what matters most to me."

Jade felt a rush of gratitude for Tori's unwavering support and love. It gave her the strength she needed to face the daunting task ahead. With a deep breath, she nodded, feeling a sense of resolve wash over her.

"Thank you, Tori," Jade murmured, her voice choked with emotion. "But I need to do this. I need to speak my truth, no matter how difficult it may be. And knowing that you're by my side gives me the courage to face it head-on."

With Tori's hand in hers and her love surrounding her, Jade felt ready to confront the past and pave the way for a brighter future.

Jade took a deep breath before she began her story. Her eyes were filled with pain and her voice trembled as she spoke.

'I started in the industry when I was just a baby, literally in diapers. My parents were addicts and gamblers, and they saw me as their ticket to fame and fortune. They put me in every audition they could find, and eventually, I landed a role in a popular children's TV show.'

She paused, her hands trembling in her lap. 'But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. My producer, Ben, took a special interest in me. He liked that my parents were so disconnected because it meant he could have control over me. And that's exactly what he did. He would put me in situations that no normal parent would ever allow.'

Jade's voice grew quieter as she continued. 'I was twelve when Ben first started touching me. I didn't know what was happening, I just knew it felt wrong. But he told me it was normal, that this is what all actresses had to do to make it in the industry.'

She took a deep breath, tears streaming down her face. 'Things got even worse when I was fourteen. I got pregnant. I was just a child myself, and I had no idea what to do. But Ben made it clear that he would take care of everything. He gave me a pill to take, and the pain was excruciating. But two days later, I was back on set. I was still sick, but he had one of his doctor friends perform a D&C on me. And that's when things changed.'

Jade's voice cracked as she spoke about what happened next. 'My body started changing. My boobs grew, and I started gaining weight. But instead of being concerned for my health, my mom put me on a stricter diet. She didn't want me to lose the 'perfect' image that Ben wanted.'

One day, Jade couldn't take it anymore. She climbed into the bathtub and stared at her razor. She wanted to end it all. But then her mom walked in, and for the first time, she looked concerned. She immediately committed Jade to a suicide watch facility.

'That was the only time my mom showed any kind of concern for me,' Jade said, wiping away her tears. 'But it was too little too late. I had already been through so much trauma and abuse at the hands of Ben. And it didn't stop there. It continued for years until I finally had enough and left the industry.'

Jade's story was just one of many in the documentary, shining a light on the dark side of Hollywood and the abuse and exploitation that takes place behind closed doors. But she was determined to share her story, to speak out and hopefully prevent this from happening to other young stars in the future. She hoped that her book and this documentary would bring about change and justice for all the victims of abuse in the entertainment industry.

Tori drove Jade home in silence, her heart heavy with concern for her girlfriend. She could see the turmoil etched on Jade's face, the aftermath of the emotionally draining interview they had just endured. Determined to do whatever she could to comfort Jade, Tori gently reached out and squeezed her hand, offering silent support as they made their way back home.

Once they arrived, Tori guided Jade inside, her heart aching at the sight of her devastated girlfriend. She could see the pain etched in every line of Jade's face, and it tore at her own heartstrings. Knowing that words alone wouldn't be enough to ease Jade's suffering, Tori resolved to do whatever it took to help her feel better.

"Hey, Jade," Tori said softly, her voice gentle as she guided Jade to the couch. "I'm here for you, okay? Whatever you need, just let me know."

As they settled on the couch, Tori gently brushed away Jade's tears, offering silent comfort as Jade struggled to compose herself. After a few moments of silence, Tori spoke up again, her voice filled with gentle concern.

"Have you ever considered therapy for this, Jade?" Tori asked softly, her eyes filled with empathy. "It might help to talk to someone who can offer professional support and guidance."

Jade's body tensed at the mention of therapy, her expression fraught with anxiety. "I've never talked about it to anyone," she admitted, her voice trembling with emotion. "My body is freaking out, Tori. I'm scared."

Tori's heart ached at Jade's words, but she knew that therapy could be a crucial step in helping her heal. "I understand, Jade," Tori said gently, reaching out to hold her hand. "But you don't have to go through this alone. Therapy could help you process everything you're feeling in a safe and supportive environment."

Jade shook her head, her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. "I don't want to talk about it anymore," she whispered hoarsely, her voice breaking with emotion. With that, she rose from the couch and retreated to her bedroom, locking the door behind her.

Tori's heart sank as she watched Jade disappear into her room, her own sense of helplessness weighing heavily on her shoulders. She knew she couldn't force Jade to seek help, but she couldn't bear to see her suffer alone either. Determined to do whatever she could to support Jade, Tori made a difficult decision.

After a few hours of agonizing over what to do, Tori reached out to her own therapist, explaining the situation and asking for guidance. With her therapist's encouragement, Tori made the difficult decision to call for help.

A short while later, there was a gentle knock on Jade's bedroom door. Startled, Jade wiped away her tears and called out, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "Who is it?"

"It's Tori's therapist," came the gentle reply from the other side of the door. "Tori called me. May I come in?"

Jade's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected visitor, but she nodded hesitantly, her emotions still raw and overwhelming. As the door creaked open, Jade found herself face to face with Tori's therapist, a kind and compassionate presence in the midst of her pain.

Tears welled up in Jade's eyes as she realized that Tori had reached out for help on her behalf, despite her own fears and reservations. With a grateful nod, Jade allowed the therapist to enter, her heart filled with a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume her.

As the therapist settled in beside her, Jade found herself retreating further into herself, her walls closing in as she struggled to contain the overwhelming flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Despite Tori's well-intentioned efforts, Jade remained silent, her pain too deep and raw to be expressed in words.

But as the therapist began to speak, her voice calm and reassuring, Jade felt a flicker of hope stirring within her, a tiny spark of light amidst the darkness. And though she wasn't ready to open up just yet, Jade knew that she wasn't alone—that Tori and her therapist were there for her, offering unwavering support and compassion as she navigated the painful journey toward healing.