The Hardest Part Is Letting Go Of Your Dreams

I look over to Frank and see his face is a mask of pure hatred. "Baby" I say softly, reaching out and touching his arm and his trance breaks as he turns his head to look at me. "It's ok baby" he tells me as he takes my hand. "You'll be just fine." I nod and he smiles and leans in to kiss me and when we pull apart I scoop Ruby into my arms and take his hand again, walking forward with him, trusting he'll keep us safe. Ruby buries her face in my neck and lets out a small whimper and I turn my head to whisper in her ear. "Shh my baby girl, daddy's got you." She nuzzles further into my neck, desperate for a
place to hide and I tighten my arm around her, trying to offer her support. Franks grip on my hand tightens and it's only then that I realise just how much I'm shaking. "It's alright babe" Frank reminds me and I nod, taking a deep breath before walking again, approaching her slowly. Frank stares her down as we pass and she doesn't say a word, just stares back and watches us go. We make it another half block before Franks hand drops from mine and he spins around, raising his hands and yelling "Back the fuck off, right now." I turn my head to see her following us and I feel panic set in again. Everyone else on the street stares as they pass and Frank repeats "Back off right now or I'll call the cops." She smirks before saying "I'll be seeing you around," turning and walking off the way we just came. I take a deep shaky breath as Ruby starts to cry and I cuddle her closer to me as Frank turns to look at us again. "Shh Shh hey babe it's ok" he whispers to me as he cups my face and I feel the tears start to run down my cheeks. Franks gently wipes them away with his thumbs before turning and hailing us a cab, ushering us inside and getting in.

That night after Frank puts Ruby to bed he comes into our room to find me sitting on the bed, my knees pulled to my chest, shaking slightly. "Hey you alright gorgeous?" He asks and I look up him, my bottom lip trembling as I struggle to hold in more tears. "Oh baby" he sighs out, climbing onto the bed and pulling me into his arms. "What if she comes back here? With someone worse than Bert? I can't..." I trail off, sobs wracking my body and making it hard to breathe let alone speak. "Shh babe I won't let anyone hurt you or Ruby ever ever again, I promise." I sink into his chest, sobbing my eyes out, my hands clenched around fistfuls of his shirt, desperate to believe his words. Frank eases me to lay down and holds me close, gently stroking my hair and whispering soothing things into my ear until my sobs die down and I fall asleep. I wake up in the middle of the night, my head pounding and my throat aching. I slide out from under Franks arm and quietly leave the room, making my way into the kitchen and grabbing a glass of water and some pain killers. Just as I swallow them I hear a noise and I spin around, terrified but no one is there. I stand there shaking before taking a step toward the door when Ruby comes stumbling around the corner, her hair sticking up and rubbing her eyes. "Daddy" she groans out, holding her arms up to me so I pick her up and settle her on my hip. "You ok baby?" I ask and she nods before saying "Thirsty daddy." "Ok baby hang on" I tell her, sitting her on the bench and grabbing a cup, reaching out to turn the tap on when she lets out a scream and I spin around to see her mother standing in the doorway. I tremble hard as I hurl the glass at her, screaming for Frank as I step over infront of Ruby, desperate to protect her.

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