Page 5 of Love Under Siege

"LIES?!" I snap, my anger boiling over. "Are you serious right now?!" I struggle to contain my emotions, my voice trembling with rage. "YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M DONE!" I yell, my frustration reaching its breaking point.

"Do not talk to your mother that way!" My father's voice booms, his emotions taking over.

I turn and glare at them, "Oh, so because she’s mymother,I’m supposed to allow her to talk to me any wayshewants?! But the momentIstand up for myself,I’mthe one being disrespectful?!" I scream, the weight of years of pent-up resentment and pain crashing down on me.

"ANYA MARIE –"

"FUCK YOU BOTH!" I cut off my dad's attempt to call me back, storming out through the front door. Despite not having had one in weeks, I fish through my bag and retrieve a cigarette.

My hands tremble as I extract the cigarette from its fresh carton. My dad follows me outside, shaking his head disapprovingly as he observes me lighting it. Jacob joins me, followed by Nana and Pops.

My dad is about to say something, but Jacob cuts him off. "I think you should leave," he says to my parents as my mom storms out.

"Who doyouthink you are!? She’sourdaughter!" my mom shouts back.

“And she ismygranddaughter!”Nana says and she takes a breath, “But, I think that we should all take a breather and try to be civil about this”.

“Civil!” My dad shouts, “you should have told us what happened the moment it happened! We have a right to know what is going on with our daughter!”

Jacob's face is stoic, but his eyes show the anger inside. "Maybe you should start acting like you give a fuck then," he says through gritted teeth.

My dad scoffs, "That is one way to 'impress' your girlfriend's parents" he says, glaring at us.

"After seeing how you reacted when you found out your daughter was being abused and raped every day, and how you immediately assumed she was lying and brushed it off like it was nothing…" Jacob clenches his fists before releasing a deep breath. "Your opinion means nothing to me after the way you failed her," he finishes.

As my parents turn toward me, my dad's disapproving remark cuts through the tension. "Real nice, Anya," he says, his tone heavy with disappointment as if he's resigned to me making yet another mistake.

I've reached my breaking point by trying to fulfill their expectations of the perfect daughter. "At least he believed me the first time I told him the truth about Paul!" I snap, my voice laced with bitterness. "He never once questioned what I was wearing or what I did to deserve the abuse! He never made me feel like I wasn't good enough." Tears trickle down my cheeks despite my efforts to hold them back. Nana passes me a tissue silently, and I gratefully accept it before turning back to my parents.

I take a breath and continue, "The fact that someone I've only known for three months has treated me a hundred times better than those who have known me my whole life should give you pause. Maybe make you question why I didn't... why I don't want to come back," I explain, my voice trembling.

“Ahem” I hear my Nana fake a cough from behind me and I smile at her attempt to break the tension.

“Correction, better than those who have birthed me and raised me my whole life” I say as Nana smiles and nods.

My dad's expression falls, regret flickering in his eyes. "Anya – “

"Jacob is right. I think you guys should leave," I interrupt, my tone firm as I take Jacob's hand. I refuse to look back as my parents exit.

“I’m sorry for this happening” I say to Nana and Pops as I see a bunch of their neighbors staring toward us.

“Oh, hush dear, they’ve always been nosy” she says reassuringly and guides me back into the house with Jacob.

Closing the front door behind us, I collapse into Jacob's arms, finally allowing myself to break down as he offers his support and comfort.

CHAPTER TWO

Anya

*Clank! Bang! Crash!*

I open my eyes wide, result of the loud noises coming from outside my bedroom door.When did I come into my room?I think to myself as I scan my surroundings. It’s darker than before but it’s not fully nighttime yet.

*Clash!!*

I jump at the sound and slowly walk over toward my door. I crack it open a little and I hear talking and the smell of food. I shuffle my feet out of the room.

“Hey there sleepy head,” Jacob says lightly with a smile.

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