AI The Raven's Nest was unusually busy for a Tuesday night. Rory scanned the crowd as she maneuvered through the sea of bodies, clutching a tray of empty glasses. The din of raucous laughter and clinking glassware enveloped her, a cacophony that had once been music to her ears but now just sounded like noise .
She spotted Silas at the end of the bar, his silver signet ring glinting under the dim lights as he wiped down glasses with a well-worn rag. She caught his eye and tilted her head towards the hidden door leading to the back room, silently asking for permission to slip away. He gave her a curt nod, and she slipped through the crowd, the heavy bookshelf swinging open to reveal her sanctuary .
It had been weeks since she'd last passed through this door, seeking solitude away from prying eyes. She sank into the leather armchair, cradling her head in her hands as she closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. How had it come to this?
The click of heels on wood afforded her no warning before a familiar voice pierced the silence . "Rory Carter, as I live and breathe."
Her eyes flew open, the voice pulling her from the past and anchoring her firmly in the present. There, standing in the doorway, was a ghost from her former life.
Eva looked every bit the high-powered attorney she'd become, dressed in an immaculate black suit, her brunette hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Rory stood, taking tentative steps towards her childhood friend before they embraced, the years melting away like ice under the summer sun.
"I thought I recognized that black hair from across the bar," Eva chuckled, holding Rory at arm's length. "You look different, though. What's new?"
Rory couldn't help but laugh at the irony. Different? She was living a completely different life than the one she'd left behind in Cardiff. But how could she explain that to Eva, who knew nothing of the horrors she'd faced at Evan's hands?
"I could ask you the same question," Rory deflected, gesturing to Eva's expensive attire. "What brings a hotshot lawyer to my humble abode?"
Eva's smile faltered as she glanced around the room, taking in the old maps and pictures lining the walls. "I'm on a case in London. Thought I'd come by and see how you're doing, maybe catch up over a drink?"
The mere suggestion of alcohol turned Rory's stomach , memories of Evan's drunken rages flooding her mind. She shoved them away, forcing a smile onto her face. "I don't drink anymore, but I can make you something non-alcoholic."
Eva raised an eyebrow , curiosity written across her features. "Since when?"
"Since I realized it was never really my thing," Rory lied, moving towards the small bar in the corner. "What'll it be? Soda? Juice?"
"A soda's fine," Eva replied, her tone suggesting she didn't quite believe Rory's explanation . She waited for Rory to mix the drink before continuing, "So, how've you been? What've you been doing since you ran off to London?"
Ran off. The words echoed in Rory's mind, eliciting a wry chuckle. "I didn't run off. I just needed a change of scenery."
"And this was the best you could do?" Eva gestured around the room, her distaste for the dilapidated surroundings clear on her face.
Rory bit back a sharp retort, reminding herself that Eva knew nothing of Silas' true nature or the solace he'd provided her during her darkest hours. "It suited me at the time," she said instead, handing Eva her drink before sitting back down.
Eva took a sip, her gaze never leaving Rory's face. "And now?"
"Now, I'm happy where I am." It wasn't entirely true, but it was close enough. She'd found a measure of peace working for Yu-Fei and living above Silas' bar, even if the nightmares still plagued her on occasion.
They fell into an awkward silence , the years stretching between them like taut wire. Rory searched for a neutral topic, something to break the tension . "How's your family?"
Eva shrugged, taking another sip of her soda. "Mam's still teaching, Dad's still arguing cases before the Supreme Court. You know, same old."
"And your sister? How's Grace?"
A shadow crossed Eva's face, her fingers tightening around the glass. "She's... she's not doing well, actually. Got mixed up with some bad people, ended up in rehab."
Rory's heart twisted, remembering the bubbly blonde girl who had once followed them around like a devoted puppy. "I'm so sorry, Eva. That must be hard on your family."
"It is, but we're managing." Eva cleared her throat, obviously eager to change the subject. "Enough about me. What about you? Are you seeing anyone?"
The question caught Rory off guard, sending a jolt of pain through her chest as memories of Evan flashed through her mind. She swallowed hard, shaking her head. "No, I... I don't think I'll ever be ready for that again."
Eva's eyes widened , realization dawning on her face. "Rory, what happened? Did he... did Evan do something to you?"
"He didn't do anything I didn't let him," Rory whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of guilt and regret . "I stayed because I thought I loved him, even when he started hitting me."
Tears welled up in Eva's eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she reached out for Rory's hand. "Why didn't you tell me? I would've helped you, Rory. You should've told me."
Rory shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "And say what? That I was too weak to leave him, that I let him hurt me over and over again?"
"You weren't weak, Rory. You were... you were being abused. That's not your fault."
But it was her fault. She'd stayed, she'd let him hurt her, she'd let him tear her apart piece by piece until there was nothing left but broken fragments of the girl she'd once been.
The tears came then, flooding her eyes and spilling down her face as she crumpled into Eva's arms. They held each other, crying for the years they'd lost, the friendship they'd let fall by the wayside, the pain they'd both endured.
"I missed you, Eva," Rory whispered, her voice muffled by Eva's jacket. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Rory," Eva murmured, stroking her hair as she rocked her back and forth. "I promise, I'll never let anything like that happen to you again. I'll keep you safe, no matter what."
They stayed like that for a long moment, two old friends bound by the weight of time and unspoken regret, finally finding solace in each other's arms.
When they finally pulled away, Eva wiped her cheeks, offering Rory a watery smile. "I have to go back to my hotel, but I want you to call me, Rory. Anytime, day or night. I'll always be there for you."
Rory nodded, knowing that Eva meant every word. She watched as her childhood friend stood up, smoothing her suit before she turned to leave.
"Eva, wait," Rory called out, her voice trembling . "Thank you. For everything."
Eva paused at the door, looking back at Rory with a soft smile. "It's what friends do, Rory. It's what we should've done a long time ago." With a final nod, she slipped through the bookshelf, leaving Rory alone once more.
Rory sank back into the armchair, her body wracked with sobs as she let the tears flow freely. She cried for the girl she'd been, the one who'd let love blind her to the truth of Evan's cruelty. She cried for the friend she'd lost, the one she'd pushed away during her darkest hours. And she cried for the future she feared, the one where she'd never be able to trust again, to love again.
But as the tears began to subside, a glimmer of hope flickered in the depths of her heart. She'd survived Evan, she'd survived her own self-loathing and despair, and now, with Eva by her side once more, she knew she could survive anything.
She stood up, taking a deep breath as she squared her shoulders and faced the bookshelf. It was time to face the world again, to step out of the shadows and into the light.
And so, with a final glance at the room that had been her refuge for so long, Rory stepped through the door and into the bar, ready to begin the next chapter of her life.