Kennedy's Redemption (The Protectors 3)

Twelve

Why me? The words played over and over in Creed’s head. They knew more now than they did before the girls were taken, but was she ready for the answers? Would she be able to handle them? “Have you read any of Emily’s letters, Sunshine?” He wondered.

Shaking her head no at him, he struggled with how to answer her without breaking her spirit further. “When they found you and Em at the mall, the woman saw a way to torture her husband for not letting her touch Emily. She wanted to break Emily. For what we don’t know, and I don’t think we ever will. But from what Em said he didn’t want her carved up, he wanted her flawless. And because of that, his wife took it out on you.”

The sadness and understanding in her eyes nearly broke him. Her emotions were shining through so brightly he could practically taste them. “So I was a pawn to them?” she asked sadly. At his nod a tear rolled down her cheek, hanging in limbo as it reached her chin before dropping to splash on her hand.

“Sunshine, do you still have Em’s letters?” Linc asked from her other side with a light hand on her shoulder. Nodding her head, he told her, “I think you should read them.” With a small nod, she left them all sitting there to go up to her room in search of the letters.

“What do we do here doc?” he asked.

“I think you need to continue moving at her pace, don’t let her go faster than what she’s prepared for, and honestly, I think she’s ready to go home. She needs to go home. She has a burning need to find answers that I don’t think she even realizes. I’ll put a list of trustworthy and dedicated doctors together for her to reach out to back in Texas. But gentlemen?” he asked. When they both looked at him, he told them flatly, “Do not for any reason leave her again. She started opening up to me when you two came. I once told her not long before you got here that maybe the reason for your voices bringing her back from her nightmares was because you were her saving grace. That maybe she was ready to learn to live again. For her sake, don’t make me wrong. If she needs me please call; otherwise, I’ll see her in two days for her regular appointment and give her those names.” With that scolding he left and they waited.

·?•? ?•?·

Opening the box with Emily’s letters, she hesitated upon grabbing the first one. Was she ready for this? Was she capable of absorbing her friend’s guilt and finding out more about her captors? “Grow some balls, Kenny. You need to move on,” she whispered out loud.

Picking up the first one, she opened it with shaking fingers…

Dear Kennedy,

I sit here and I watch you, hoping you’ll open those startling blue eyes of yours. I wait to see the laughter, and I wait and I pray but nothing happens. You know what I fear most? I’ll see hatred instead of laughter. That you’ll blame me for what happened because lord knows it’s all my fault.

Everything. All the pain you’ll feel. The scars you’ll bear. I’m to blame. I just hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I beg you to forgive me.

I’m so sorry, Kennedy.

Emily.

“I forgive you, Emily. I never blamed you,” she whispered out loud again, hoping her words would find their way to her friend.

Opening the next one she continued to read…

Oh Kennedy,

I’m still watching and waiting. I sure hope you aren’t stuck in your head reliving the pain again. I want to enjoy the fact I’m free from the fear, but now I’m drowning worrying about you. You’re always on my mind these days.

Your parents are so scared of how you’ll be when you wake up. They’re afraid you’re going to hate them for doing this to you. Please be ok, Kenny.

Emily.

These letters were slowly killing her inside. All the pain everyone felt because she kept trying to hurt herself. She was so selfish.

Kennedy,

Today has been three weeks since you’ve been in the coma, and my fear for you has worsened. I’m afraid you’ll never wake up. I’m afraid you’ll hate the world when you do. But worst of all, I’m afraid your hate for me will have grown.

You must be so hurt. Sometimes you’ll jerk around in your sleep, your eyes will flutter from side to side letting us know you’re there but you’re stuck. I just hope you’re not stuck back in hell.

I can never say sorry enough that I have caused you so much pain. If I could go back in time and never ask for help again, I would. It would kill me not to have Dane and Coop in my life, but for you, I would suffer any fate to make you happy again.

I wish you could see all the things happening around you. Your brothers and Keeley have gotten closer and their love is something to behold. It leaves me breathless at times. And Linc and Creed stand sentry at your bedside all night long, every night. They never leave until Keeley makes them go home to get some rest and even then they fight about it.

They’re still so angry at your parents for putting you in this restful slumber. I wish they weren’t, but I understand. I see you struggling to wake every day. I now know you are, in fact, stuck back in hell and I wish I could take it all away for you, Kenny. I wish you would never have asked me to go shopping with you. I wish for so many things, but my biggest wish right now is that when you do wake up, you’ll find peace.

God, I miss your laughter, Ken, your light. You had this bright light that I envy the hell out of and I hope that one day you’ll move past all the bad and find it again.

Emily.