The Stepbrother (UPDATED)

🔪 Chapter 20: Scars, Wounds, Lies, and Cameras (UPDATED)

Edited on: 09/21/2021

Updated on: 07/09/2023

Please Read! Trigger Warning: Mention of Themes of Sexual Trauma and Rape, mention of blood, sharp object (box cutter), and imagery of self-harm scars 

This chapter contains/mentions themes of sexual trauma and rape and mention of blood, sharp object, and imagery of self-harm scars that may be upsetting for some readers. Please proceed at your own risk or you can skip to the next chapter.

Aurora's POV

After a few minutes of walking on a cold, windy morning, I finally arrived back at the house. 

I head inside and I saw my Mom, sitting on the couch then she immediately gets up and walk towards me with a worried look on her face.

"Honey, where were you? You had me worried sick." She said as she wraps her arms around me, giving me such warmth and comfort that I need every day. 

I hug her back as tight as I could and try to hold back the tears.

"I'm sorry Mom, I guess I just lost track of time while I was out," I said, patting her back. She broke the hug and then made me look at her. Just by looking at her in the eyes, I can tell she's very worried about me.

"Aurora, are you sure you're okay?" She asks once more.

You have no idea how much I want to tell her that I'm not fine. I want to tell her that I'm crying for help. I want to tell her everything about Steven... the sexual harassment, the night when he raped me, the punishments... everything. It's killing me and I failed as a human being and as a daughter, who always fail to grab the chance to ask for help and feels so lost and trapped. But... I just can't... and I don't know why.

"Mom, I can reassure you that I'm fine," I said, forcing a fake smile but the kind of smile that will hide the truth.

'Lies.'

She then let out a sigh of relief and put on a smile. "I'm glad to hear that. You really had me worried back there."

'Mom... please help me. Can you hear me crying?'

"I'm so sorry Mom. It won't happen again." I apologized. "I didn't really mean to make you worried."

"Well, all that matters is that you're back here safe and sound and knowing that you're okay." She said. 

'Am I really okay... Mom?'

"Anyways, Mr. Anderson and I decided to take a day off from work since you guys don't have school today. And Mr. Anderson already took the boys out so it's just us two girls. Doesn't that sound nice, sweetie?" Mom said and after hearing that, It just makes me feel a little bit better on the inside. "Is there anything in particular that you would like to do?"

"I don't know, to be honest," I replied, shrugging my shoulders. As long as I'm with Mom, I don't care about where we're going or what we're going to do for today.

"How about we'll go to the nice cafe that you always like? The one with a small library inside?" She suggested and I put on a small smile on my face when she mentions it.

"Oh, I missed that place," I said. "But it's a little bit early and I think it's still close."

"You're probably right. I guess it wouldn't hurt to wait for a while. You didn't eat any breakfast this morning, do you want me to make something else? I could make your favorite." She said.