L A U R E N
"How are you feeling?" He asked me.
I just nodded my head and he held my hand. "Thank you for staying," I whispered to him.
He sighed a deep one and tightly smiled. "You should eat. Let's go downstairs?"
He helped me got up from bed and we immediately went downstairs. We were greeted by the maids of our mansion and said that we should wait first for my parents.
It's been... almost one year...
I was thankful Arthur and my parents were there also. I also had my Psychological Therapy every week and it help me to move on with the process a lot. We got help from Psychologists and Counselors to do a Psychological Therapy designed for me—for the situation I've been through.
"Good-morning, princess..." Mom was all smiles but I can also sense of sadness in her actions and her eyes.
We started eating and it was one of the mornings that my Dad and Arthur would talk a lot about the company, which I chose to leave from work first until I fully recovered. But I will try to distract myself with the things that will help me through my recovery.
"Don't forget about what we've talked about, Arthur." Dad looked strictly straight to him and I was confused when Arthur nods like his son.
"I'll never forget about it, Mr. Del Valle." Wala nang sinabi si Dad. This looks so confusing. Even my mom doesn't know about this. Mukhang silang dalawa lang ang nakakaalam.
I HAD to meet the therapist for me today. My treatment was almost done and I thank her for the immediate solution for this. My family was a big part too, they helped me a lot through the whole process. Even my nieces were there for me. They were just kids but can understand me well.
Things get better each day.
"Two hours for your treatment today. Is it okay for you?" It was Arthur who was now doing the seat-belt for me.
"It's almost done. I can bear with the time. Are you willing to wait for me?" I asked him.
"I'm always ready to wait for you." He gently said and I know it was twice the meaning.
"Arthur, I just can't... yet." I'm afraid to risk again my heart. My poor heart who has been hurting for the past months.
He touched my hand. "It's fine. Don't force yourself, I am just here for you."
I mouthed him thanks and he started to drive.
Smell of the hospital, screeching sounds, and sometimes... screaming patients. Those were the things that I've been hearing for the past months. At first, it irritates me but Arthur thought me that these were all part of the treatment.
It feels great when every treatment goes well. Yes, it will be a long process but my therapist says that my development is fast. Unlike any other patients that she handled. It also helped that my parents, my best-friend, Lexa and Arthur were always be there.
"How did it go?"
"It was great. I think I'm going to have my full recovery soon enough, Arthur." I turned to him and smiled. "I'm happy."
"Let me take you home. Your parents are waiting for you." I nodded at his suggestion. This will always be our task everyday. My parents advised him to be on my side whatever happens. In short, my personal bodyguard.
I sighed. The guards were at our back and that incident left them trauma. Our family has been more influential each and every day. My parents were just being careful and let nothing in our family have the same devastation again.
Arthur drove home. Excited pa nga ako, eh. It's Sunday—nasa loob ng mansion lahat.
"Tita! Tita!" Larzene greeted me when I got out of the car. Tumakbo siya palapit sa akin at mabilis naman akong lumuhod para yakapin siya.
"You're getting bigger each and every day, cutiepie!" I praised her and shower her with kisses.
Arthur silently bid a goodbye while I walk hand in hand with my niece. She's adorable as ever!
"Lauren," Kuya called me and hugged me tight. "Kamusta ka na? I heard you are recovering fast."
I nodded at him. "I'm fine, Kuya. No need to worry about. Nand'yan naman kayong lahat kaya mabilis na ang recovery ko."
"Ate!" Lily quickly walked towards me. I am loving my half-sister every day. "Kailan ka babalik sa DVG, ate? Wala na kasi akong ka-daldal doon."
I chuckled. "Soon, Lilian."
"Tita!" Larzene was pulling me away. "Let's eat! Let's eat!" Pareho na lang kami natawa ni Lily at nagpahila na rin sa pamangkin ko.
It was a family gathering for all of us. It was simple but I can say it that were all happy. Hindi nga lang maiiwasan ang tensyon sa pagitan nila Zaira at Xander—my brother and his wife. Naaawa na ako para sa mga bata. Napatawad ko na si Zaira sa ginawa niya pero eto namang si Xander ang matigas pa rin.
It was really an awkward situation. Kung ako, nasasakal sa tensyon sa paligid, paniguradong mas nasasakal sila.
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"Zaira..." I called her first thing in the morning. She was just sitting on the bench and watch Lexus—their youngest to play on the mat laid down in grass.
She turned to me. "Hmm?"
"You looked stressed. Inaalagaan mo pa ba ang sarili mo? Parang mas lalo ka atang pumapayat?" I asked her. Hindi na maayos ang kundisyon niya. Hindi na rin kasi maganda ang marriage life nila ng kapatid kong si Xander kaya siya siguro ganito.
Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa anak at huminga ng napakalalim. "Masyado na kasi akong tutok sa kanilang tatlo. Si Larzene, lumalaki na. Si Lexus, kailangan nand'yan ako para sa kanya. Si Xander naman... hinihingi ko pa rin ang kapatawaran niya."
"Mahal na mahal mo talaga si Xander, 'no? Geez. That asshole, really?"
"May ibang side kasi si Xander na sobrang minahal ko kaya siguro gano'n. He's still my husband. I'm in love with him," marahan niyang sagot. I really salute her for that love. Sa tingin ko nga, sobrang bihira ng ganyan.
Lahat nagpapaka-tanga para sa atensyon ng isang Del Valle.
'Yan ang naririnig namin kadalasan. Matagal na ngang napapatunayan ang kasabihan na 'yan—why would Delandra Jane chase my older brother, Austin desperately? Bakit nga ba nagkakaganyan si Zaira kay Xander?
Crazy love. Tss...
"Ma'am, si Sir Arthur po nandito." One of the maids told me and got up from my seat.
I politely leave them and quickly walk towards the pavilion of our house. He was standing there with his hands on his pockets. I don't know why but he is becoming more attractive to me this days.
"Arthur!" Tinawag ko siya. Mabilis akong naglakad papunta sa harapan niya. I was all smiles.
"Hey." He chuckled and played with my pinky finger. "I just want to visit you. Your father told me..." he sighed and smiled. "...hindi naman ako makakatanggi."
I nodded. I signaled him to sit with me in one of the benches. "Pwede ko bang matanong kung tungkol saan ang pinaguusapan niyo ni Dad?"
"It's... between us first, heart. You'll know it soon—when your father sees that you fully recovered." He held my hand and kissed it.
"Hindi talagang pwedeng sabihin?" Napanguso ako. Gusto ko na kasing malaman tungkol saan yung pinag-usapan nila!
"I'll give you a clue... it is for your own good." He gently said and smiled.
●♥●
Footnotes:
Rape Therapy: Treatment for Rape Victims
—Therapy for rape victims can include one-on-one therapy, group therapy and even, in some cases, Pharmacotherapy (medication) used alongside other therapies.
The type of rape therapy used depends a lot on the individual and their circumstance but common rape therapies include:
Stress Inoculation Therapy—was developed to treat those with elevated fear and anxiety as well as specific avoidance behaviors (such as avoiding walking in the dark). Stress inoculation rape therapy includes three phases:
**Education—explains that fear is a normal response to trauma. Also teaches about cues that may trigger fear (such as places that remind the victim of the rape)
**Skill building—rape victims are taught to control their fear reactions physically and psychologically. This includes cognitive behavioral techniques like thought stopping, mental rehearsal and guided self-talk.
**Application—victims now use their new skills to engage in fearful behavior. They are also taught to avoid self-criticism and manage avoidance behavior as well as reward themselves for their progress.
Stress inoculation therapy has been shown to be successful in treating the symptoms of PTSD in rape victims.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy—is also known as flooding and is a way of desensitizing a person to the trauma of rape through repeated exposures to memories of the traumatic event. In prolonged exposure therapy, victims are asked to repeatedly recount their rape as well as confront situations in real life that remind them of the rape. Victims also listen to tape-recorded sessions telling of the rape to increase exposure.
Prolonged exposure rape therapy has been found to treat PTSD as well as feelings of depression and guilt associated with the trauma.
Cognitive Processing Therapy—is designed to help people suffering from PTSD and depression. In this rape treatment, education, exposure and cognitive techniques are used. Victims are encouraged to identify parts of the trauma with "inadequately processed emotions" associated with them, known as "stuck points."
Cognitive processing rape therapy has been shown to effectively treat PTSD, depression and guilt as well as other feelings associated with the rape.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)—is a therapy specifically designed to address trauma survivors. EMDR involves exposure therapy alongside cognitive techniques. During an EMDR session, a rape victim recounts the sexual assault scene while focused on the movement of a physical object like the therapist's finger. The external attention required is theorized to allow the reprocessing of the event.
EMDR is a somewhat controversial treatment in that some feel the eye movement is unnecessary but in small studies it appears that EMDR can be used to treat PTSD and depression in assault victims.
Supportive Counseling—supportive counseling rape therapy is used in many rape crisis intervention centers. The therapist provides unconditional positive regard, active listening and general support. While this type of therapy may be appropriate immediately after a trauma, in comparison studies, cognitive behavioral therapies are generally more effective.
***Stress inoculation therapy, prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy are all considered cognitive behavioral therapies.
Many treatments for rape victims focus on treating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as that is what women typically suffer from if trauma from the is experienced long-term.
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