CHAPTER 5) Forgetting The Past ***MAY TRIGGER***

It was now late September and the leaves from the trees had begun to fall from the trees. There was a slight chill in the air but Amelia had put on a soft, purple, fluffy fleece. She was sat on a blanket under the apple trees, reading a book about neurology that she had loaned from the university library. Amelia had just started working on a neurological ward and wanted to read up on various neurological conditions so she would have knowledge of the conditions and illnesses her patients had developed. No matter how hard she tried, Amelia could just not concentrate on her reading. She got distracted every time there was a gust of wind or heard the leaves rustling on the perfectly mowed lawn.

Amelia began to up at the sky and suddenly became rigid and still. All of a sudden she was back in the field where she was raped four and a half years ago. She could feel Lewis’s breath on her neck and the pain ripping through her body. Then her mind fast forwarded to where she was lying in the field, alone. She was crying and in pain, struggling to stand up. She staggered the entire mile walk home. She knew she had to keep walking so she could get home and clean herself up, even though she was in excruciating pain. The next thing she knew, she was in her bathroom, washing the blood away from her face, hands, genitals and her legs. She had a bruise and cut on her cheek and another on her temple from where Lewis had struck her. She also had a split lip and her body, wrists and legs were covered in large, purple and blue bruises.

Amelia remained rigid while she snapped back into reality. She felt sick. She thought she had moved on from this but while Lewis had returned back into her life, she was living her worst nightmare all over again.  She felt numb. Amelia picked up her book and slowly took a walk back into the house, where she was greeted by her parents and Melanie. “Ams, fancy going into town later for a few bevies?” asked Melanie. Amelia hesitated with her reply but knew she could not disappoint her sister anymore than she had done recently. She managed a smile and replied, “Sure, I think a good night out is what I need. Just the two of us”.

It was early evening and the sky was turning a blood orange colour, so the girls decided it was time to get ready. They both looked in Amelia’s wardrobe to search for a dress to wear for the evening. “Err excuse me madam but you have your own wardrobe”, said Amelia, sarcastically.

“But your clothes are better than mine, please can I borrow a dress, please, please please. I’ll do your hair for you”, pleaded Melanie. Amelia smirked and picked out her favourite dress that she had not worn for over a year. It was a lavender coloured dress with a sweetheart cut over the bust with a ribbon that tied up around the waist. It was also incredibly short but both girls had stunning figures and could pull the look off. Amelia handed it to Melanie. “Oh Ams, but this is your favourite dress!” Melanie exclaimed.
“Just put it on”, Amelia insisted. Amelia then picked out a short, zebra print dress and put it on. The girls then began styling each other’s hair and compared makeup tips. After an hour and a half, the girls were finally ready.

It had been a long time since Amelia had taken her mind off thinking about her past and had been the first time she had genuinely smiled for a month. “It’s time to move on now” she thought to herself. She thought it was silly looking back on the past, especially as Lewis was never around at Tom’s and had not seen him since Tom’s party. Amelia smiled and took her sisters hand and danced. Amelia felt care free while she was twisting and shaking, and taking swigs from her apple vodka. It was definitely the best she had felt in ages. The two sisters flitted between club to club and had a fun filled night. It was three o’clock in the morning when the girls decided their feet hurt too much to party on and called for a taxi to take them home. Amelia grabbed Melanie’s shoulders and pulled her towards her and gave her a drunken sisterly hug. “I’ve been so worried about you sis”, slurred Melanie.
“It’s ok Mel. Trust me, I am fine now. Everything is going to be fine. This night out is what I needed. I had become so engrossed and stressed with my work that I had forgotten how to live”, reassured Amelia.
“Oh sis you fool. I thought it was something serious. I thought something had happened to you at Tom’s party. Remember sis, I am always here for you; don’t keep me in the dark. I love you”, Melanie grabbed Amelia and Amelia shed a tear. They looked at each other in a "don’t be so daft" manner and began to giggle.