Home
“Let me keep stroking your hair, babygirl,” Sir said in a comforting tone.
She laid her head back down in his lap and closed her eyes. His soothing touch was exactly what her heart needed after sharing the details of that terrifying moment. The feeling of unease hadn’t dissipated, but being with Sir was a balm for her tattered soul.
After so many days without sleep, his gentle touch lulled her into a deep slumber she didn’t wake from until Sir shook her lightly and said, “We’re almost home.”
Hearing the word “home” filled her heart with immense joy. Brie pulled herself up to a sitting position to gaze out the window as they drove down the familiar streets leading to the house.
Brie felt tingles start at the top of her head. Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe…
None of this feels real!
“What’s wrong, babygirl?”
Her bottom lip quivered when she confessed, “I’m afraid…” She lowered her head as tears fell to her lap. “I feel like I’m about to wake up and find myself locked in the darkness again.”
“No…” Sir assured her, pulling Brie into his embrace. “You saw the building burn to the ground. You don’t have to be afraid of ever going back to that place. None of you do.”
Brie nodded, grasping hard to the truth of his words.
“Look,” Sir said with enthusiasm as he pointed to the ocean. “We’re almost there.”
She felt a tangible quickening in her spirit at the thought of seeing her children again. She squeezed him tighter. “You brought me out of that hell and returned me safely to our home.”
“I would do anything for you, babygirl.” For the first time since her rescue, Sir leaned down to kiss her. It was a gentle, tentative kiss.
Brie closed her eyes, savoring the tenderness of his lips. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ve missed your lips.”
“I’ve missed every damn thing about you,” he stated fervently.
Brie suddenly felt anxious when the driver pulled into their driveway. It felt intensely surreal to be here after constantly dreaming about it, and fear gripped her heart again.
What if it was only a dream?
Rather than let her suffer in her state of shock and confusion, Sir took her hand firmly in his and help her out of the car. “You’re home,” he reassured her.
The moment Sir opened the door to the house, her mother ran to Brie, crying, “Oh, my God, you’re here! My sweet girl is really here!”
Brie suddenly felt skittish, not wanting to be touched, and she stiffened in her mother’s embrace. That feeling only worsened when her father walked up and tried to hug her.
He looked hurt when she backed away, muttering, “I’m sorry.”
Confused by her feelings, Brie looked at Sir and whimpered, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me…”
Sir gathered her into his arms, murmuring, “Nothing’s wrong, my dear. You just need time.”
Her mother looked at Brier strangely, clearly distraught by her reaction. Her father was shocked by it and growled, “What did that bastard do to you?”
Brie was unprepared to answer his question.
Sir attempted to defuse the situation by telling her parents, “Brianna hasn’t had a full night of sleep since the day she was kidnapped.”
Her mother held her hands up to her mouth, crying “My poor little girl… did the brute even feed you? Let me make you something to eat!” Her mother ran to the kitchen without waiting for her answer.
It was obvious her parents’ reaction they had no idea that she had been tortured and almost killed.
Her father stared hard at Brie. “What did Greg Holloway do to you that you would react this way to your own father?”