The End of the Chapter

The sun was blinding as I took that first step out onto the front porch. Red and blue lights flashed all the way down our street, and officers had already began taking notes about the findings while also whispering amongst one another. My eyes couldn't help but fall onto Uncle Ricky. He was sitting in the back of one of the cop cars, yelling at the officer leaning up against it. He was probably just fussing over the fact that the officer wasn't bothering to give him the attention he's always craved. Uncle Ricky was always unhappy when he couldn't be the center of attention.

The kind lady who helped guide me out of the house kept her hands propped on my shoulders as we walked past the cop car, past Uncle Ricky. She was saying in a low, hushed voice how I was safe now.

"Don't you worry about a thing," She'd say to me, "He can't hurt you anymore. I can promise you that."

Now. I fully understand that I'm safe now. In this very moment, I know that I am safe. I'm surrounded by those who done all they possibly can to help free me from danger. But... how can I be safe forever? Hell. Uncle Ricky was one of them. He was someone who held so much compassion for those around him. His heart was as pure as it could be. At least... it seemed to be. Am I really safe? Is it actually safe for me now? Should I trust those who seem to be the same as Uncle Ricky once seemed to be?

The first person to wrap her arms around me as I exited the house was my mother. Oh, have I missed that lavender scent of hers so much. She always smelled of it, even on her worst days.

"Oh baby," She let out as her arms squeezed my body so tight, "Oh, I was so afraid I'd never see you again."

Never see me again? Why? "I was just spending time with Uncle Ricky." I answered her.

She pulled out of the hug to look at me, cupping my cheeks in her palms, "Uncle Ricky?"

I nodded, moving my eyes towards the back of the cop car before looking back at my mother, "He promised me that I'd safest with him."

"Oh, baby." She pulled me back into another hug. Normally I'd hate this, but I have missed her hugs. I wrapped my arms around her, interlocking my fingers behind her back.

"I missed you, mommy." I told her. The next sounds out of my mother after I spoke those words were sobs. "Mommy?" I pulled away from her but she pulled me back into a hug.

"You don't understand how much I've wanted to hear those words."

My eyes jotted back towards the back window of the cop car. The cop who originally was standing next to the door had walked away, but Uncle Ricky still sat. His eyes had locked onto mine as he placed his hand on the window, mouthing the words, "I love you". I couldn't manage to pull my eyes off of his. I love you. How could he? Knowing all that he's done, how could he think I'd believe those words coming from his mouth? He took me from those who actually cared for me. He locked me away, destroyed me. He ruined me. He once promised me that I would be safe with him; that my mother would've joined us the second she got off of work. He lies.

Uncle Ricky lies. Uncle Ricky- Ricky destroyed me.

My eyes focused back on my mother, who was now looking back at him in the back of the cop car. My palm touched her cheek, bringing her focus back onto me.

"He's not a problem anymore." I told her.

"Honey-"

"I promise." I consoled her, "He can't hurt us anymore."