TRINITY
I wake up to muffled voices from my apartment's living room. Bash is still asleep soundly in my bed. I'm glad he gets to rest despite what terribly happened last night.
I feel so bad for him, but I can't change the fact of what he just revealed to me last night.
His family loves him, no doubt about that. My heart breaks for him and his family, who loves him unconditionally.
"Sorry, sweetheart. Did we wake you up?" Aunt Abby stands up, pulling me into a hug. I doubt if she even sleeps. She looks so stressed with a puffy face. I guess she cries all night.
I squeeze her into a hug, giving her a smile that I can do best. I can feel her pain because I love Bash so much. "No, Aunt Abby. And he's still sleeping."
"I'm sorry for the trouble, K." Uncle Seb looks so inflicted. The looks on his face say he's been up all night-sad eyes. His hair looks like he's been running his fingers a thousand times, but he manages to give me a tight smile.
I can't help but hug him back. "He'll be okay, uncle. Everything will be okay." I rub his arms, hoping they can share a portion of their pain with me.
He nods slowly, sighing. "I know, I know, K. Thanks so much for being here with him. I don't know what to do without you by his side. I can't thank you enough."
I chuckle. "I think you just did, uncle." I move to Lizzy, who's still sniffing in Dean's arms. My heart aches for them. Never in a thousand years had I thought this would happen to this family. They were perfect and loved everyone.
"Lizzy, he'll come around. He's safe here, and he was just shocked. He loves you all. He wouldn't be so lost if he never loved you all. Just give him time to process. You know him. He has a huge heart." I pull her into a hug, rubbing her back. "It's okay, Lizzy."
"I can't believe he almost die there, K. It's twice now that his life has been in great danger."
"I know, Lizzy, and it's killing me too. Every time I thought of it, I thought I just stabbed myself in my heart," I admit, wiping the tears away from my face.
"What the fuck is going on here?" I freeze when I hear Bash shouting behind me.
I pull away from Lizzy and turn around to face him. He still looks handsome, even if he's more furious than ever. I notice Aunt Abby's shoulders start to shake.
"Bash, lower your voice, please?" I say calmly as I walk in his direction.
"What the hell are these liars doing in here?" He narrows his eyes at me. His mom cries louder.
My eyes start to water again. "Bash, that's not nice to treat your family this way." I remain calm and try my best not to yell back because he's being disrespectful.
"They're not my family, Trinity!"
My eyes widen. I can't take it anymore, and I need to do something.
"Bash, you are in my apartment, and you should respect the people I invited!"
"Really, Trinity? How much did they pay you to let them in? How much did they pay you to turn your side against me?" he just mocks me. I know he's hurting, but I am hurt that he thinks I'm swinging my price tag on his face.
"They didn't pay me a penny, Bash. They are your family. They were my family's friends before we were even born. And nothing has changed. They're still here for you because they love you no matter how you treat them. They care for you. Can't you see it? They will never turn their back on you, no matter what happens to you. No matter who you are."
He looks guilty and in pain. He blinks and swallows hard. "They're not my real family, Trinity. They lied."
"They may have lied, but they raised you well. They treated you like their own blood and gave you everything." I move closer to him. "They did what they thought was good for you, Bash," I add.
"K, that's enough." Uncle Seb cuts in. "Bash, we never lied to you."
"Oh? Do tell, Mr. Hughes? Who am I? Who are my real parents?" Bash asks his dad sarcastically, and I want to slap his mouth shut, but I can still feel the brokenness in his voice. Bash is so hurt, and I want to comfort him.
"We are your real parents, Bash. We are your family," his dad answers.
Bash barks out, laughing mockingly. "I just heard you, old man. Just tell me who the fuck I am, and I'll give you everything you gave me. Everything, including my share in your company. I don't need them all. I'd rather sleep in the street than take that's not mine."
Uncle Seb shakes his head. His eyes fill with tears that threaten to fall.
"I was molested." Aunt Abby chokes her words, making everyone gasp, and Bash looks horrified.
"He violated me," Aunt Abby adds.
Uncle Bash looks down, hugging his wife behind her back. Lizzy's hands over her mouth look horrified as well. Dean looks shocked too.
I never thought that no one knew about this, even Lizzy. My guess, only Aunt Abby and Uncle Seb know this shocking truth. To protect their children, they decided to keep it away from Bash and Lizzy.
My gaze is glued to Aunt Abby, and I feel the tears running down my face. I move closer to hug Bash because he's shaking, and I know he's crying, too, just like everyone around.
"Who did that to you, Mom?" Bash's voice breaks at the end, but I'm thankful he can call her mom again.
"Drew managed to make his first escape. He came to me that night in our home. I just put Lizzy to sleep when I went back to our room. Your dad was in Boston at that time for an annual visit. I was supposed to be with your dad, but Lizzy was catching the flu, so I stayed instead." She pauses to catch her breath.
"The window was broken, and that was how Drew got in. He hid in our closet. I locked the room's door. That was when he emerged from behind."