[chapter twenty-nine]

Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)

This story is gonna be darker, and deal with serious, sometimes disturbing issues. Just so everyone knows. Okay? Okay.

**

~Faye's POV~

It's been 43 and a half hours since I've seen Jimmie.

And it's making my heart hurt.

But I had to get out of there. I had to get out of his realm and into my own. At least for a while.

He needs to concentrate on something other than me. And I need to concentrate on something other than him.

I need to concentrate on myself.

Which is why I checked myself out of Jimmie's world and into this hotel. To concentrate on what I need.

I need to remind myself of a few things.

I am not a victim.

I am a survivor.

I do not deserve to be abused.

Mentally or physically.

I do not deserve to be in an unhappy relationship.

I deserve freedom.

I deserve my own life.

I deserve not to be a victim ever again.

And maybe, just maybe, I deserve to be happy.

But in order to have all the things I want, I have to believe all that. And I have to trust myself.

What do I want?

My life back. My emotions under control. My world back in alignment.

And I want Jimmie.

But he deserves me whole too.

Not some shell of a Faye.

Which is why I'm here.

Not there.

Not yet.

I just hope he's not angry with me. For just…leaving.

But it was the only way.

This is better.

This will be better.

I will be better.

Sooner, rather than later.

I hope.

chapter thirty