{{Age 12}} -- 7th Grade

Chapter 3 --

TRIGGER WARNING

{{"Ever since 1^st grade, Kaylee, Rena, Hanna and I became inseparable. We always had sleepovers, we had each other's back. If someone made them cry, that person would get yelled at by 3 other girls. Everyone that went to school with us knew that very clearly. Even siblings would hear from us. But one step sibling of Hanna's we had never expected, had evil intentions. He was a likable, loving guy..." my voice trailed off with the oncoming memory I was about to tell.}}

"Hanna, my mom bought all 4 of movie tickets to that movie we wanted to see. It this Thursday, you have to come!" Kaylee jumped besides Hanna on a bean bag with a bowl of popcorn. We were all over Rena's house, we were there to study for a couple of tests then watch some old movies.

Hanna was unusually quiet lately. I looked over to her and put my hand on hers. I knew something was wrong.

"Hanna, what's wrong? Is everything at home okay?" I asked her softly. As soon as I asked her that, she burst into tears and pulled me into a tight hug. I was so shocked at all the sudden gestures. So was everyone else. Kaylee and Rena rushed to Hanna's side.

Hanna was hysterically crying. Her eyes were completely red and puffy, her nose running tremendously. No one beckoned her to talk about it. She remained in my embrace, still crying. That's when Rena's mom came into the room, alarm in her eyes.

"HANNA!!" Rena's mom yelled. She dashed over to Hanna to pick her up and out of the room, then Rena's dad came soon after with boxes of tissues. They went downstairs with our beloved best friend and soon we heard louder crying, with an occasional scream. It wasn't a type of scream at a scary movie, but more of a scream for help, for someone to come to her rescue.

With Hanna still crying in the background, Rena's mother came up stairs once more. She looked somber and full of regret but I didn't know what for.

"Kaylee, Essie, I called your parents. Rena, Hanna is staying over for a couple of days, her home is currently... not safe for her." Rena's mom said. All 3 of us looked at each other. We were so confused but more concerned for Hanna more than anything.

When I got home, I sensed that Rena's mom told my parents what had happened because they sat me down at the dinner table.

"Honey... Hanna has experienced something traumatizing. Something that we must warn you about. Sometimes, there are people that would touch you inappropriately. Even people that are close to you. Anyone can do it." my mother said to me, her voice cracking a bit.

"Close to me? Like friends?" I asked.

"Yes, even friends. Essie, you are old enough to know that if anyone tries to touch you inappropriately is called molestation, you make sure you yell no at them. If they continue, and do more its called rape." my mother continued.

"I still don't understand..." my voice trailed off. "What makes it rape?"

{{"I was so young. I didn't know anything involving rape or molestation. At that point I didn't even know who had done it to Hanna, until 4 days later..." I said}}

"Hanna, oh my gosh. Tell me that you at least feel 1% better." Kaylee said, sadness in her voice and eyes.

"You idiot, that's hard to recover from!" Rena said embracing Hanna. All Hanna did was sniff.

"Who did it?" Kaylee asked.

"Why do you keep reminding her?! She's currently recovering, did you not see her crying 4 days ago?!!" Rena looked at Kaylee with anger in her eyes. "With a matter like this I doubt you can go ahead and make a big scene of it like you usually do!" Rena finished.

"It was my step brother Randall..." Hanna finally spoke. No emotion in her voice. She looked empty, like there was nothing left. The person's name she spoke was completely unexpected. Her brother was the kindest high school I knew. Kaylee and Rena had siblings in high school as well. "Then my step father continued," tears started flowing down her face. "I told my mom, she called the police and now they're going to court. I hate them both... so much." Hanna slammed her locker shut and walked away.

{{"Hanna was never the same since then. She withdrew from all friendships she had, the most she did for Rena, Kaylee and I was give us a small, unconfident smile to show us that missed us but wanted to be alone. We respected it too, the most we did for her, could do, was be there for her at a distance. We loved Hanna, she didn't deserve that." I closed my eyes, a tear rolling down my face. "She was a best friend that we had lost." I finished.}}

<< End of Chapter >>

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**Author's Notes: This chapter was ridicously hard to write. I really had to think, reread, think some more, type, reread all over again and then I finished. It took me the whole day to think of this chapter. As you saw in the beginning of this chapter, there was a tigger warning. If you don't know what that means, it means:  anything seen, read, or experienced that can cause a negative reaction within a trauma survivor's psyche, such as flashbacks or extreme anxiety due to exposure to something which triggers the memory of the traumatic event to replay within their minds. If you are one of these people, I apologize and respect you fully.

Thank you for reading!!