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- 12/16/2021
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Timothy - 52. Chapter 52
Arriving back home, “Tim, you need to talk with the doctors about what we found. With that information, there is a chance that Ann Marie could be released sooner.”
“I was planning on giving her doctor a call tomorrow from my office, and I’ll request an appointment with him. I think Mom knew what happened and kept quiet about it.”
“Do you think that is why she is acting like she is?”
“That’s a possibility. Her actions could be to protect Ann Marie, or she could feel guilty for covering it up. I’ll bet Dad would be shocked if he knew what happened to Ann Marie.”
“And that your mother had covered it up.”
I gave a lot of thought to our conversation. Mom wasn’t upset when I came out. I wonder how she would’ve reacted if I had started to date girls.
In the morning, while having our coffee, “Stephen, do you think Mom’s reaction to what I did for Ann Marie is because she feels complicit in the way Ann Marie acts. If she had Ann Marie see a therapist when this happened, we wouldn’t be in the situation we are now.”
“There’s no question that your mom should have made it a priority to have Ann Marie seek professional help. What happened had to have a traumatic effect on Ann Marie, and I’m sure she told your mother what happened.”
“Do you think that might be the reason Ann Marie hates me?”
“I think you remind her of what happened. I also think that is why she liked older men. Mr. Struthers certainly was unable to force himself on her, and she was window candy for him. He could brag about such a young wife.”
“She will have to relive that incident all over again.”
“Yes, only this time it will be under the guidance of a professional. I’m sure the doctor has helped clients through traumatic experiences.”
Friday, we met with Ann Marie’s doctor. “We think we found the reason you were only able to take Ann Marie back to her high school.” Over the next hour, we told the doctor what we found in an old newspaper concerning a senior’s abduction and the rape. “We think that girl was Ann Marie.”
“That could be the reason we can only go back so far until she blacks out. Knowing this, I’m sure we can help her. It will still take time, but now we know how to proceed.”
Stephen and I left the hospital with a feeling of hope for Ann Marie. After talking with her doctor, I had a different feeling. I began to believe my relationship with Ann Marie would change. I’ll no longer look at her as someone to avoid, and I hope to have a positive relationship with her.
“Hello, Stephen to Tim.”
“I was thinking. Donnie and I faced verbal abuse. Thanks to Donnie, no one would dare to get physical with us. We only had to put up with verbal harassment. I remember one boy went to grab my ass when I was walking with Donnie. Donnie grabbed him, pushed him against the wall. He yelled in the kid’s ear,’ The next time you look at him, you’ll have a couple of black eyes, and if you touch him, you’ll be in the hospital.’ The kid was shaking. He avoided us from that time on. Word got out, and we didn’t have any physical altercations, but the verbal continued, that we ignored.”
“I never had to experience any of that. I guess I was so far in the closet, and I avoided close relationships with boys. I had friends in school, none outside of school. I avoided parties unless I had a date. I made a habit of not dating anyone special and not for more than two dates. I was a geek, and computers were my girlfriend.”
“Well, you are still a geek. But you’re my geek.” I kissed him.
We walked home from the parking lot, holding hands.
Ann Marie’s doctor called me the day before Eva and John’s wedding. “We have made a breakthrough, and now we can help her.”
Eva’s wedding was a beautiful affair. Sitting next to Stephen, holding hands, I repeated the priest’s vows to unite John and Eva as a married couple. Stephen squeezed my hand, looked at me, and mouthed the words, ‘I love you.
The reception was held in the church hall. Stephen and I gave them a cruise for a wedding present,
Driving to the Farm, “It was a nice wedding.”
“Yes, I spoke to Dad at the reception. He asked about Ann Marie, and I told him she was making progress. I didn’t speak to Mom. When I went to talk to her, she saw me coming and walked away.”
“She’s afraid. If she talks to you, she’ll have to tell you why she’s acting as she does around you. She wants to talk and tell you she was wrong to act like she did with you but doesn’t know how without telling you about Ann Marie. Give it time. When Ann Marie is released from the hospital, we’ll all sit down and talk.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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