Chapter 55 - Breakdown (2/2)

Gary stopped and stared back at Lena. Even in the dark, he could tell that she was trying really hard not to cry. He walked over and held her.

”It's ok. You can cry.” Gary patted her head. And with that soft approval, Lena cried loudly.

She had thought that she had fully convinced herself that she didn't need tears. She had been standing strong so tall, but when she met Hazel tonight and lied straight to her face, everything that she had pushed herself through came crashing onto her.

She knew that she couldn't share this with Hazel, not like the previous times she had broken down about things. Maybe the doctor was correct, she should talk to someone. She wiped her tears on Gary's shirt and stopped crying.

”Can you be my Hazel tonight?” Lena softly asked.

”Should I go stuff myself with some clothes and jiggle my breasts?”

Lena laughed a bit. ”I just need a friendly ear.”

”Mhm...I have two, I can share one.” Gary replied.

They were silent for about 10 minutes before Lena spoke. ”I don't have nightmares when I sleep. But I can still vividly remember what happened that night. I can recall the gunshots and the bloody body falling onto me.”

”I was really scared when I got shot at. It was frightening to know that no one might come and save you. And I was scared knowing that I might not make it out the next day the same. I kept telling myself that someone will come, and I just needed to stall for time. But in the back of my head, I already made the conclusion that if no one came, I would rather die than go through all of that.”

”Don't say that. No matter what happens, your parents, Hazel, and I will still love you.”

”I know. I know that now. Thank you.”

Lena closed her eyes as Gary still held her, making sure she felt safe.

”I will be stronger… No, I am stronger. I will make sure my enemies won't dare lay a finger on me anymore.”

”If you need anything, know that I am always here.”

Lena sat up, releasing herself from the embrace. ”Gary, you are a really good Hazel.” She smiled. Gary chuckled softly.

”How are you going to get your revenge?” Gary asked.

”Holding onto grudges makes you weak. The same thing as me holding onto a man for years. You get blindsided and do irrational things. It's about protecting yourself and the people you care about. So if someone wants to harm me and my family, then I just need to get rid of them first.”