Page 25 of Twisted Salvation
“How was your relationship?”
“Healthy, I think,” I say. “He was always kind and respectful.”
“Did he ever touch you in any way at all?”
“I mean, there were times I would have a meltdown. He would hold my hands and talk me through my panic attacks. Usually, he would sit at his desk or on a different couch. He was always respectful,” I say.
“But you had his personal number, right?”
“Yeah. I am prone to panic attacks, and Leon would get angry at me. When things got really bad, he would help talk me through it. He wanted to make sure I could get in touch with him right when I needed to, rather than calling after hours and waiting,” I explain.
“When was the first time you were intimate in any way?” he asks.
“Today,” I say.
“So you were not dating before you last saw him a month ago?” he asks.
“No,” I say. “I sent him my location when Leon hurt me because I was scared. He’s known me for so long, and I knew he wouldn’t let me die. I knew he would know I wouldn’t do that.”
“But not me?”
“I haven’t known you as long,” I say. “I’m still learning to trust you.”
“But you and Dominic are together?”
“It’s not been explicitly said we are, but I live with him now,” I say. “I love him.”
“And how does he treat you?”
“Like a human. I’m not used to being treated with respect. He’s kind and patient. He doesn’t yell at me or call me names. He never does anything I don’t want, and he is always focused on my safety,” I explain.
“And you feel safe with him?”
“Yes. He shows me that I can live… like,reallylive without wanting to hurt myself. Life doesn’t hurt with him,” I say. “But he is also reasonable. If he thinks that I am being unrealistic or anything, he tells me. Communication is the foundation of everything with us, and that goes with every aspect of our relationship.”
“Do you think you can form that kind of bond with others?” he asks.
“Absolutely. I think I can with you and Natalie. I don’t know anyone else anymore, but I think I can have healthy relationships with people now that I’m away from Dad and Leon.”
“How did your relationship with Leon start?” he asks.
“He said I was failing his class, and he made me use my mouth to get him off so I could pass.”
“Did you feel like you had a choice?” he asks.
“No. He reminded me of Dad. I was afraid he’d hurt me if I said no. I just kind of got trapped when he kept making me come to him. Eventually, he convinced me to move in with him. I didn’t want to, though. I wanted to be in the dorms,” I say. “I found out that he went to college with my dad, though. He’s two years younger than him.”
“What do you think about your father wanting you to be under a conservatorship?”
“I think he just wants me close so he can keep raping me, and Leon will let it happen,” I say. “I won’t let him hurt me again. I know what freedom from pain feels like now. I won’t go back to how things were before. I want to heal and move on, but I can’t if he is still hurting me.”
“Thank you for talking to me about this, Myra,” he says with a soft smile.
“I just want to get better,” I say. “I can’t stay in my head, and I no longer have to when I know there are people like Dominic, you, and Natalie that can help me. I know there is a whole world full of people who would bend over backwards for me, even without knowing me. Not everyone is a demon like Dad and Leon.”
Chapter Nine
Dominic
