TW: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MENTIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

We just landed on our flight back home, with many tears from Echo and Aisha.

Aisha made sure that we knew to call her if we needed anything, or if Zameer needed to be talked some sense into.

Echo giggled at that part.

All of us were tired, including Zameer, so I decided to drive us all back to my apartment.

It was 7 in the morning.

Echo was sleeping in the backseat holding her stuffie, while Zameer was asleep in the passenger seat.

While I was driving, my phone began to ring, so I picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hi! Is this Phoebe Balewa, Echo Balewa's mother?"

I immediately recognized the voice of the nice lady who worked at Echo's doctor's office.

"Hi, this is she."

"I just wanted to confirm the follow-up appointment that's set for the 27th of November?"

I completely forgot. That's in 5 days.

"Uhm, yes, we'll be there."

"Perfect! We didn't even realize you had a new number until we actually checked!" She lightly laughed.

After I got a new number, I immediately registered it into the system, yet they were so used to calling my old one.

Let's just say Echo can be a bit dramatic at times, resulting in us going to the doctors often.

"Yeah, I got a new number a few weeks ago." I fake giggled, I really wasn't in the mood for a side conversation.

"I figured." She says kindly," Well, that was all I needed. I hope you have a good day!"

"You too," I replied, and hung up.

Finally.

Then, my phone rang again.

    For the love of God-

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"Baby."

I wake up to feather-like touches being scattered around my face.

I peel my eyes open and see Zameer cheesing at me.

"G'morning, love." He says before pecking my neck.

I wrap my arms around his neck before mumbling a little, 'morning'.

"You're friend is here banging on the door. I think her name is Shie" He explains, still smiling softly at me.

"You mean Shay?"

"Same thing."

I chuckle at him before getting up and stretching.

I hear Echo's giggle as I walk out my bedroom door. I see Shay laying on the ground while holding Echo in the ground. I smile at the sight and walk over to her.

"Hey, Shay." I yawn.

"Hey girl!"

"What're you doing here?" I say as I wander into the kitchen.

"Well, I was wondering if I could go to the new toy store that just opened with Echo?" She responds as she stands up and dusts herself off, moving Echo to her hip.

I just then remember I need to have the talk with Zameer, so this would actually be perfect.

"Yeah sure. Just don't spend too much please!"

By this time, Echo was already squealing and making grabby hands towards me.

I walk over to her and kiss her little nose.

"Thank you so so much, mommy!" She says, leaving wet kisses all over my face making me and Shay giggle.

"Uh-huh. Just be good okay?"

She nods her head and Shay gives me a small bye before they both walk out the door.

I turn around to walk back to the kitchen when I see Zameer leaning against the door.

"I'm ready whenever you are." He says before giving me a small smile.

"Uh, let me eat my breakfast first!"

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"Are you ready?" Zameer asks as I finish eating my breakfast.

"Let me brush my teeth. Then, I'll be ready." I say before sprinting into the bathroom.

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"Are you ready now?"

"Let me go do my laundry."

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"Baby. Now?"

"Uh, let me go clean the kitchen!"

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"Baby."

"Let me go sho-"

"No. No more stalling. I'm not trying to rush you or force you to be ready, but I know you're stalling. Please." Zameer states in a strict tone, pulling me onto his lap.

I take a deep breath before I begin talking.

"Uhm, so, please just don't interrupt me. Let me finish talking, and then you can ask questions."

He nods his head before kissing my forehead.

I sigh again.

"So, basically, my mom wasn't the nicest person in the world, which is one of the reasons my father left. She was very manipulative and always wanted her way. She was diagnosed with many things such as OCD, ADHD, Depression, Severe anxiety, Social Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, etc. Of course, I would never invalidate anyone if they are diagnosed with such things, but it was just so odd to me. It was just like she wanted to get diagnosed with these things. Like, she was always getting tested for something at every minor inconvenience. When I was about 7 or 8, she sat me and my dad for a talk and told us she had cancer and needed to start rehab right away. We were devasted of course. My dad had to quit his job to take care of me while she was out at rehab. This went on until I was 13. We should've known it was a lie, since she never went fully bald. But, we just thought she always wore wigs. So, it came as a surprise when we eventually found out she never had cancer. When she went to so-called rehab, it was actually just an excuse so she could go to clubs and parties with her friends." Zameer's eyes went wide as he gripped my waist a little tighter.

"When my dad found out, he was furious. He left some money on our dining table and just left. My mom then began drinking and blaming me for everything that ever went wrong in her life. Her phone won't turn on, it's my fault. Her stomach was hurting, it was my fault. She couldn't fit a carton of milk in the fridge, it was my fault. Anything and everything was my fault in her eyes. Not even 6 months after my dad left, my mom came home with a new boyfriend. He was nice at first. He would buy me toys, read me stories, and when my mom punished me by not feeding me, he would always bring up leftovers to my room. When my mom would hit me, he'd always ice the bruise no matter where it was. I just thought he was being nice. The first weird thing I noticed was that when my mom elbowed my shoulder and it got a bruise, he of course came up to ice it. But, while he was icing it, his hand went a little lower than it should've. I didn't say anything because I just thought his hand slipped. He seemed to be in a trance before he lifted it back up to my shoulder. That's when things began to get weird. I was 14 when it started happening. He would buy me really short shirts or spandex. He would offer me back massages, but I always denied them. He then started buying me lingerie, bras, he got me the same perfumes he would buy my mom and begged me to put them on. His hugs got tighter and he would always peck my neck after a hug. I caught him staring at my chest a few times. He made me very uncomfortable." Zameer's grip got tighter and his jaw was clenched.

"It was never physical until this one day. He, my mom, my mom's friend, my mom's friends' kids, and I all went to the pool one day. He begged me to wear this bikini he got me, and I didn't want him to be mad at me, so I did. My mom and her friend were lounging on the chairs while me and him were playing in the pool. He started looking around cautiously, which creeped me out a little bit, but I didn't say anything. He then grabbed me from behind by my waist and asked me to give him a kiss underwater. I was very weirded out, so I said no of course, and tried to swim away but he held me tighter. He started groping my breast with one hand and grabbed my privates with the other. I tried to move away, but he wouldn't let go. He started leaving gross kisses on my neck. I cried and begged for him to stop and to let go. But he wouldn't listen." I begin to tear up at the memory. Zameer holds me tighter and rubs comforting circles on my hips.

"It only just got worse after this. He would always come into my room with just his boxers on and would make me do things to him. I remember how I felt afterward. I just felt so dirty. I would cry and scrub my hands and body until skin broke. I was 16 when he decided to stop playing games and he took my virginity. There was so much blood. He held a knife to my neck while doing it to make me shut up. After he was finished, he spit on me and called me a 'dirty whore' then walked out. I got pregnant from him. He's Echo's father.." Zameer's eyes widened, and he began to tear up.

"When I found out I was pregnant, I cried until my eyes were dry. I immediately told Shay and Nie, and they told me they would support whatever I chose to do. I chose to keep her. I finally gained up the courage to tell my mom what happened. She was furious. At me. She yelled at me and called me a skank whore who 'tried to steal her man'. She tried to kick my belly, which immediately made me go into defensive mode. I packed the things I needed and ran away. I didn't want Echo living in that environment. Nie's parents let me stay with them until I decided to go off to College. They loved Echo so much and I'll always be thankful for them. They often come from time to time to check on us." I sigh and Zameer stays quiet.

"But yeah. Ta da." I say while tears stream down my face, trying to lighten to mood.

He stays quiet until I hear little sniffles. I move my hands to his cheeks and make him look up at me, and I see tears streaming down his face.

"Baby.." I whimper. I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tightly. We were both crying in each others embrace for some time before he pulls back.

"Phoebe, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. You deserve the world and more. I wish I could say more but I'm speechless, baby." He says, leaving kisses all over my face. "You're so strong, my love"

"Mane, I like you so much." I say, putting my forehead against his and giving him a big smooch on his lips.

"I like you so much too."

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hey guys :D Don't hate me for this chapter pls. Some of the stuff I put was actually things that happened to me, but you'll never know which until I decide to tell. If you guys in are the same position, please tell someone you trust. I never want anyone to go through these things and it just hurts to know that so many people, (Men and Women) go through this. Please reach out, and my DMs are always open if you need to talk. I won't tell anyone unless you tell me to:) But, thank you guys for 90k! Please vote and comment and I love you all so much!

p.s and please remember that no matter what happened/happens, it's never your fault.