Page 93 of Shadows of Recovery

"Gene was trying to be friendly,” she said, her hands shaking. “I smiled at him. But Damon... he just... he killed him without a second thought. I saw Gene... He was lying on the floor. There was blood. I could hear his final breath before it stopped.” Tears streamed down her face.

As Sophie grew stronger, Tristan and James watched the session through a two-way mirror. Chris worked with her to process these intense emotions, encouraging her to share her fears and memories. He used techniques to help her separate the past from the present, reminding her she was safe now.

Wednesday was particularly difficult. Sophie described the traumatic event with painstaking detail, her hands trembling as she spoke. It took all of Chris’s skill and patience to navigate this dark territory.

As they moved on to the memory of Damon dragging her by the hair and throwing her against the wall by the surgical supply room, Sophie’s breath grew ragged. "I thought I was going to die," she confessed, her body trembling. "He beat me so badly... I could barely move. And then... he... he..." she choked on her words, unable to continue.

Chris leaned forward, his voice steady and calming. "You're safe now, Sophie. Take your time."

She took a shuddering breath, forcing herself to continue. "He raped me. Over and over again. The pain... it was unbearable. And he... he sodomized me with such cruelty. I felt like I was being torn apart. I begged him to stop.”

Tristan's eyes filled with tears, his heart breaking for Sophie. James struggled to maintain his composure, his usually stoic demeanor cracking.

Chris's voice remained gentle but firm. "It's important to face these memories, no matter how painful. By doing so, you're taking away their power over you."

Sophie nodded, tears streaming down her face. "It wasn't just once. It happened... multiple times. Every time I thought it couldn't get worse, it did."

Chris guided her through grounding, helping her stay anchored in the present. "You're safe now, Sophie. Damon can't hurt you anymore."

Thursday's session restructured her harrowing memory. Her body tensed as she described the brutality she endured during the vicious beating. The room felt heavy with the weight of her words.

"He beat me... It was relentless," Sophie said, her voice barely a whisper. "I couldn't escape the pain. It felt like it would never end."

Friday's session delved into the most excruciating part of Sophie’s trauma—the repeated rapes and sodomizations. She struggled to speak about these experiences, her voice filled with deep-seated pain.

" I know this is incredibly difficult,” Chris said. “You don't have to go into detail if you're not ready. We can take the events in pieces. Take their power away.”

Sophie looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of despair and resolve. "He... he was cruel. He kept telling me I belonged to him. He made me feel worthless."

Chris's voice was steady but filled with compassion. "You're not worthless, Sophie. You're incredibly strong for facing this. And you belong only to yourself. You don’t belong to him or anyone."

As the week came to a close, Sophie was emotionally exhausted. Each session had brought her closer to facing the full extent of her trauma, but it had also been a test of her resilience. Chris, Tristan, and James had worked tirelessly to support her through this challenging time.

Tristan sat with Sophie after the last session of the week, his heart aching for her. "You've made so much progress."

She looked up at him, her eyes weary but resolute. "Thank you.”

Tristan took her hand in his, his touch gentle. "You’re doing amazing."

She had faced the darkest corners of her trauma and emerged stronger. But the journey was far from over. There were still wounds to heal, both seen and unseen.

On the final day of the week, Sophie sat with Chris, Tristan, and James, reflecting on her progress. "I never thought I could face those memories," she admitted. “Thank you."

Chris smiled, his eyes warm with pride. "You've done incredible work, Sophie. Remember, healing is a journey, not a destination. But you've taken huge steps forward." He left her alone with Tristan and James.

Tristan’s voice was choked with emotion. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart. You’re stronger than you know."

James nodded in agreement. "Keep fighting, Sophie. You've got an army behind you."

As he did every time since she had awakened from her coma, Tristan gently asked, "May I hug you, sweetheart?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him, vulnerability shining through. She nodded, then stood and curled up in his arms. Her head rested against his heart, and she wept, sobs racking her slender frame.

Tristan held her tightly, whispering words of encouragement and love. "It's okay to cry. Let it all out. I’ve got you. I love you."

Her tears flowed freely, a release of the pent-up pain and trauma she had confronted in her therapy sessions. Tristan's embrace was firm.

After what felt like an eternity, her sobs subsided, and she looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen. "Tristan, please," she begged, her voice a hoarse whisper. "Let me come home. I can't stay here any longer. I need to be home with you."

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