By the time morning had come, I really didn’t feel like I had slept at all. After tossing and turning all night, and with the only brief moments of sleep being riddled with horrifying stress dreams, I had a headache and my body was sore. Sitting on the edge of the bed while I attempted to gather myself, I felt Roman’s hands on my shoulders.

It was like he could read my mind. He began lightly massaging my shoulders, arms, and back. "How did you know I was sore?" I asked with a sleepy giggle.

"You tossed and turned all night," he explained with a frown. "It always makes me stiff and sore the next morning when that happens to me."

"Sorry if I kept you up," I frowned.

"You didn’t. I just noticed a couple of times. It’s alright, though. It’s understandable given the circumstances," he replied.

The circumstances that my father, awaiting arrest from the FBI for selling me at a human trafficking auction, was in my house. It didn’t feel real. It sounded like a movie script or like an episode of one of those cop shows.

"My head is killing me too," I sighed.

"Want to take a shower?" He offered.

After a soft nod, we moved together to the bathroom. We disrobed and got into the water. I was grateful for the steamy, hot water. It melted away some of the aching and actually managed to help me relax some. Roman just held me as we stood there and I was grateful. I wasn’t sure I was up for talking; even small talk sounded like a chore right then.

He helped me wash myself and my hair, which was an intimate thing but not sexual. It was his way of caring for me. For picking up the pieces as I was fracturing because of all the things going on around me. I was so incredibly lucky to have him, I just couldn’t believe life with him was real.

Eventually, we had to get out and ready for the day. Lori was meant to come over for breakfast that morning, and I wasn’t sure if I was looking forward to it, but I would be happy to have her there. The lack of sleep had me overthinking and feeling sensitive. Having my sister near would be a great comfort to me. Sliding on a pair of jeans and a blouse, I then busied myself with putting on some makeup while Roman got ready. The hope was that a little makeup wouldn’t just help me look more alive and functional, but feel it too.

As I put my makeup away, there were arms snaking around my middle. I looked up into the mirror and smiled weakly at the reflection of Roman and I together.

"How is it that you look better in jeans and a top than I will ever look in a three piece suit?" he asked me with a cheeky smile growing across his face.

"As if," I chuckled, reaching an arm up to hug his neck from that angle. "Thank you for this morning. I don’t know what I would do without you."

He leaned down and kissed my neck. "I too would be lost without you," he whispered.

Holding hands, we walked out of the bedroom and headed down for breakfast. Looking at the time, I knew that Lori would be there any minute. I eagerly poured myself a cup of coffee and added what was likely too much sugar in the sad hope of a sugar and caffeine high. Anything to help me function that early.

Then, there was the sound of someone walking into the house. I opened my mouth to call a greeting to Lori when I laid eyes on Ed and Marcus. Marcus held up a folded stack of paper. "Got our warrant," he announced.

"That was fast," I muttered.

"Sometimes the law works just as it’s supposed to. Sometimes," Ed commented.

"We’re just gonna grab him and be out of your hair," Marcus stated.

"Right now?" I gawked. They looked at me with confusion. "Can you please just wait a while? Lori is going to be here any minute for breakfast. I don’t want it to be a scene. I don’t want it to upset her, either."

"I know it’s bad timing, but we have things to get to today. We can’t just wait around for you to have a family meal," Ed frowned.

"Besides, the holding center is waiting for us to show up. We are on a tight schedule today, Hannah," Marcus added.

As I stammered to try and protest more, to find any sort of way to convince them, they headed for the stairs. I sank back against the edge of the dining table and sighed. This was going to be a tough morning, wasn’t it? I downed my coffee and sat the mug aside.

Just like clockwork, Lori walked in. She was wearing a bright and brilliant smile that I knew wouldn’t last long. It was likely going to be a matter of minutes before Ed and Marcus were dragging our dad through the house.

"Good morning," Lori greeted. "What’s for breakfast this morning?"

"Crepes, by the looks of it," Roman replied, gesturing to the table of food behind me.

"Geoffrey really knows how to impress. It smells wonderful," Lori commented before her gaze fell to me. When I didn’t return her smile, I witnessed her expression falter. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, just..." My words failed me. I sighed. What was the point in telling her when she was about to witness it at any moment? "It’s just going to be a long morning."

Her brows scrunched together, and I could see a follow-up question forming in her mind. But then, there were sounds in the hallway. I stiffened and Roman put an arm around me.

Ed and Marcus marched Court through the house and toward the door. I winced when I saw Lori’s face go from slight confusion into a bitter rage.

"Screw you, *sshole!" she yelled in his direction as the guys dragged him along. "You are such a waste of oxygen. I can’t believe mom ever saw anything in you! You’re a vile, disgusting pig! I hope you rot in jail!"

Our father could only stare at her. I was surprised to see the shock on his face. As though he would have never believed in a million years that Lori would talk to him in such a manner.

"I hate you," Lori hissed at him. "I can’t believe I ever saw anything good in you! You’ve always been horrible! Always! You’re good for nothing. You couldn’t even be a good provider because you’re so selfish. All that money you made, you completely wasted on your nonsense. Then to sell your own child?! There’s a special place in hell for people like you!"

I felt tears dripping from my face. I hadn’t even realized I was beginning to cry. It was a hard scene to watch as my father was taken away by the FBI while my sister yelled horrible, yet accurate things in his direction.

Lori was absolutely right. He had been horrible in every sense of the matter and had never acted in any way but for his own pleasure and gratification. He was getting what he deserved.

Yet, I wasn’t totally sure if the tears that were pouring down my face were happy tears, or sad ones. Maybe they were a mix of both, or maybe just a physiological reaction to the overwhelming nature of the day. Maybe I wasn’t happy or upset, but my body itself was processing the trauma.

I couldn’t tell, any guess was as good as any. Lori’s remarks turned to shrill screams as hot tears of her own poured down her cheeks. She followed them all the way to the door. Marcus and Ed were unphased by her outburst, probably because they understood it and knew it was more than justified. Lori was feeling and saying all the things that part of me had wanted to during my talk with him.

When the door shut, my body began trembling, and I felt my knees dare to buckle. Roman had his arms around me in an instant and my face pressed into his chest. "It’s okay," he breathed. "It’s all going to be okay."

I sobbed, and I mean I really, really sobbed. I let all that I had been holding back since the moment I had first laid eyes on my dad when he showed up there. Roman rubbed my back and squeezed me tightly. "He’s gone, and he’s not going to come back. Remember this is progress in the investigation, but also for you. This is part of your healing journey. Let yourself feel what you need to," he whispered to me.

He was right. It wasn’t just about the case. This was my life. I clung to him and swept.