Within the past weeks alot has happened. They went by swiftly that I barely noticed we're only days away to approaching the summer. I completed the rest of my medical examinations online. I had enough time to study for them and the most comfortable environment to do so. I believe the results will be satisfactory, combined with my continuos assessment, I have confidence.

As for Enos and Robert, they reconciled again. Robert worked really hard to win back his son's heart. The damage he left behind in Orlando was great, he needed to make retributions. And it starts with Enos. He was the most affected by everything, having to bare a huge burden on his shoulders with almost no support.

Robert patiently began to reconnect with Enos, trying to perhaps soothe his wounds. It was difficult for Mister White to face the consequences of his mistakes, coming to terms and acknowledging the many painful things that his children went through because of that tragic history.

On a certain Friday evening when Enos wasn't home, Robert was laying on the coach and I offered company.

"Is the turkey ready?" He asked me.

"Let's give it fifteen more minutes and it'll be done." I was sited beside him, on a dining chair that I pulled out from the table. Enos and Charlie had gone to town to get groceries and Robert's medication, I stayed to make dinner for us and pick up Tulipa from school. They won't be back anytime soon and Tulipa mustn't remain there alone waiting for hours.

Robert looked at me and said, "I have been in Tennessee for way too long, Elisabeth. Long enough that I came to lose my ability to connect with everything, living a different life. The life of a man without a family. In some kind of false reversed reality where I am just Robert, the cripple." A sadness coaxed his voice. I wasn't expecting him to talk about that, especially with me. But I listened to Robert, he probably needed to confide in somebody.

"That cripple with nobody to love, neither wife nor children to care for. My grief and incapabilities drove my mind to believe that I was no longer the same man. That I was worthless to not just myself, but my entire family. I was officially, in every sense of the word, a complete failure. So I compelled myself to forget. To let go of everything because the anguish was too much to bare alone. And for a while, I was able to forget who I really was, the things I had lost and the memories. I accepted my fate and learned to live with my condition."

I held his hand, even though I knew he couldn't feel it. "Your children love you Robert. They never once regretted having you as their father despite what has become of you." I assured.

Mister White placed his functional hand on top of mine. "When I saw my son again, everything returned. The memory of what I had lost and the devastating truth. That I was not only just a cripple but also a useless father who let his children down. That morning in my bedroom, when Enos was venting out his frustrations, pointing out my short comings and failures, I was absolutely shuttered inside. I wished that I was there with him when he needed me most but I couldn't be."

"You are here with Enos right now." I uttered. "There is still a chance for re-invention, you mustn't give up."

"And that is precisely why I have this new found strength, Betty. Enos' presence in my life again is the reason I want to wake up in the morning. Knowing that I have another shot at making amends provides me a purpose that I thought I might never have again. Perhaps in the future, I will regain myself and become a better father for my kids. And that they will reconcile with me just as Enos has."

I smiled hopefully, "It will happen, I believe in you."

"I have faith in those possibilities too. There must be something productive that I can do despite this. I've witnessed many people rebuilding themselves after terrible accidents, and even with my paralysis, I'm positive that there's something out there for me. Enos coming back to me is giving me hope and courage to reface the world." Robert returned my smile.

"Have you been researching?" I asked.

He nodded. "I talked to Charles about that. There is an organization partnering with the hospital he works at. They give assistance to people with similar conditions as myself to get back on their feet. And I spoke to my lawyer recently, he is dealing with the papers and getting my documents ready. Perhaps I might secure an opportunity and even get lucky enough to start working again. It doesn't take much physical activity being a business consultant. I'll make it happen."

"That is amazing." I beamed. "I am really happy for you Robert. I pray everything works out perfectly and then you can finally reunite with your children again."

"It's the goal." He affirmed. "And Thank you for being in my son's life. I see that Enos finds comfort, happiness and peace with having you by his side. I am sure he wouldn't have stayed this long if it weren't for you offering that support and I'm grateful that you're always being a source of tranquil to him."

"Enos has saved me many times and I owe him more than you can imagine." I acknowledged.

In the course of time, Robert was able to make progress, he even started doing interviews online. Things were working out for him, going his way.

Enos was concerned about that though. He preferred that Robert focused on his health because due to the paralysis, he developed a fatal heart condition. Enos assured Robert that he could still take care of him and he has nothing to worry about. As expected, Robert declined.

"It's time for you to focus on yourself, Enos. Start college, move out and accomplish those plans of yours. I will take care of myself, and eventually keep the kids safe." He argued.

Enos expressed his concerns. "If this is about what I said the other day, I didn't mean any of it. I was upset and took things out on you."

"You were right though." Robert declared. "I've put you through alot. Let me make it up to you."

I stood at a distance, leaning by the door frame.

Enos sighed, "Dad, you are sick. Please think about the risks. And you don't have to make it up to me, I want to take care of you."

"I've made up my mind." Robert proclaimed. "You have done enough for me and you deserve to live your life, experience the world and be happy. I'll be alright."

"But I am happy, dad." Enos convinced.

"You can be happier."

"What if something happens and you relapse or get a stroke? I won't be happy when you are dead."

Robert frowned, "I won't die."

"Then allow me to keep taking care of you." Enos requested, moving from the sofa and going to sit beside his father on the bed, holding his hand. "I'm sorry for making you feel guilty for what is happening. But I understand dad. The accident wasn't your fault and mum was being selfish. I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did weeks ago. Reconsider your decision. Anything could go wrong."

"You won't lose me."

"What if I do?" Enos sounded worried and sad. "I can't lose you, I won't."

"I'll always be with you my boy. Do not be afraid of anything. I must do this or I'll never forgive myself for letting you guys down."

Enos hugged his father. "We already forgive you. Isn't that enough?"

Robert wrapped his arm around him. "One day I'd like to take you and your siblings around town. Buy each of you that favorite food and give you presents. And when you're all old enough to move out, then you can come and live with me and I will give you everything you'd ever need. That is my new dream. Wouldn't you want that?"

Enos nodded, "Very much."

"Then I must do this for our future." His father insisted.

Frequently, when I'm alone, I think about my father and how he left and never came back. And I wonder about my mother and why she always pushed me away. I think about the people I might never see again like my brothers, William, Callum, James and how far I've come with accepting my history.

_________________

I and Enos were walking along the fields on a Sunday evening and something inside me wanted to tell him about something that happened in my past.

"Remember when I moved into your school?"

Enos smiled. "As if I'd ever forget the day I met cinderella."

I bumped his shoulder lightly, "I'm being serious. "

He wrapped his arm around me. I wasn't sure though, whether Enos would still look at me the same way after I tell him everything. If the adoration in his eyes would fade away in time after he knows.

"Something happened to me before I showed up."

Enos seemed slightly alarmed, "In your previous highschool?"

"Yes, there." I confirmed. "It was...." I paused, taking a breath.

Enos looked at me with concern. "Love...."

"I want to let you." I expressed. "I never told anyone and it has been so hard holding it inside me and may be.....may be if I tell you then I can finally be free from that."

Enos moved to stand before me, he held my cheeks and gave my lips a tender kiss. "You can tell me anything."

My gaze shifted to the ground, "Would you still love me?" I was scared in a way.

I couldn't picture the look on his face as he hugged me tightly, "I loved you since the first day I saw you, I won't stop now."

"I did something bad!" I echoed, leaning on his chest. "I tried to stop it, I did everything to stop it but I wasn't strong enough."

I really wanted to cry.

"What happened? What's this about?" Confusion run his voice. "What did you do?"

"Please don't hate me."

"That is impossible." He hugged me tighter.

I really really wanted to cry. Just thinking about it makes me feel so disgusted.

"Cooper w-was our school principal and_" I stuttered. "He was ...there."

"Did he hurt you?" His voice was rushed, alert but ever sweet and comforting.

"He....he...he," the tears fell.

"Betty," Enos kissed my forehead. "Listen to me."

"Mmmmh."

"Whatever that bastard did to you isn't and won't ever be your fault."

"But I couldn't fight him and I was....was," I choked.

Enos compelled me to look at him, his hands caressing my wet cheeks, his diamond blue eyes assuring me, "It wasn't your fault."

I shake my head. "I went to his office, I saw him lock the door and I didn't do anything."

"Fuck." Enos cursed, anger coaxing his stature. "What did that son of a bitch do to you?"

"Please don't leave me." I whimpered. "I tried, I swear I tried everything."

Enos kissed my lips, harder than ever, "I will always love you, do you understand me. Don't ever forget it." He said against my trembling lips.

"But I......"

"No buts or what ifs." He declared, "Nothing you confess to me about your past will ever erase what I feel for you."

I cried harder. I can sometimes still feel that man's hands on me when I think about it. The ugly smirk on his face and the darkness in them.

"Did he force himself on you?"

I could feel myself shaking by the memory of it. I failed to comprehend whether I was sweating from the weather or the fear.

"Betty,"

"He pushed me, and he was stronger than me," I whimpered, "I screamed, I used everything I had of me but I was___was just not that strong."

Enos pulled me in his arms again. "Nobody heard me, there wasn't anyone to come inside and save me. And then he..."

Enos growled, "Christ." I felt tear drops landing on my hair. "Did he rape you?" There was a raw pain in his voice.

"He abused me," I reused, feeling weaker and weaker by the second. "He touched me. . ..everywhere...and.... Then he tore my clothes off and he used his fingers on me and it hurt so bad...and he didn't care if I was bleeding or if it was painful." I couldn't go on.

"Fuck." Enos held me tighter. "I'm so sorry."

I wrapped my arms around Enos, holding onto him. "He was terrifying and I was scared out of my mind but I couldn't rip him off of me. He wasn't able to go further than that though, because someone began knocking on the door and so he threatened me. He said if I ever told anyone he'd get me expelled. So I never said anything."

We stayed silent, for a while before Enos spoke again. "He got you expelled either way! Right?" Enos asked.

"Yes." I verified. "And he even accused me of trying to get into his pants." It was horrible. "Nobody in the council believed me when I said it was the other way around. It was only my mother and brothers who believed me and they had no choice but to inrolled me to a new school. And it was hard getting another one because of the accusations against me. It was thanks to my uncle who knew your school principal that I got accepted there."

Enos planted his lips on my temple, his eyes glistering with shallow tears for my sake. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

I nodded.

"And I still love you," he added, "No matter what."

I looked up at him, my own eyes smudged in tears. "He defiled me."

"He could never." Enos corrected. "You are beautiful, wonderful, precious, inside and out. That's never going to change. He tried to ruin that but he failed."

"I feel so disgusted." I cried. " I can't even look at myself sometimes. How can you not feel that way about me?"

Enos wipped my tears, "Because you are not disgusting. You are my baby girl. Gorgeous, special and everything I've ever wanted."

It was in that moment that any other doubt I ever had about Enos perished. This man loved me with all of his heart and nothing was changing his mind.

And I made a decision, to stay by his side for as long as I could. I wanted to.

After that evening, A weight was lifted from my shoulders. There was a new found freedom growing from the inside. And Every other day after that was better than the next. That was until one night, when I was least expecting it, an unexpected visitor knocked on our door.

I went to open it, Enos was having beers with Charles on the backyard while Robert was asleep.

I stared at him, shocked.

"James?"

My heart was beating on my face.

I couldn't believe.

__________