Chapter 52

I woke up and found Kenzy wasn't beside me. I searched the apartment and eventually found her on the balcony, staring up at the stars. The night air was cool, and the city lights cast a soft glow around her. She was clutching her phone, a picture of her and Kathy displayed on the screen. Tears glistened on her cheeks.

I approached quietly, not wanting to startle her. "Kenzy," I said softly. She looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

She turned, her eyes red from crying. "Hey."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I needed to say."I'm really sorry about yesterday, for talking to Emily and ignoring you. It was wrong of me, and I shouldn't have done that."

She nodded, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "It's okay."

"Also," I continued, pulling out the small box with the bracelet, "happy birthday. I got this for you."

She took the box, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened it. "Thank you, Max," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

"I know this is a tough time," I continued, "but can I ask you a question?"

She nodded slowly.

"How much did Kathy mean to you?" I asked gently.

She didn't look at me but continued staring at the photo on her phone. She took a deep breath and stood next to me. "If I tell you what happened to me, will you judge me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

I moved closer, putting a comforting arm around her. "I will never judge you, Kenzy. You can tell me anything."

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage.She hesitated, then began. "When I was young, my mum, Haley, was friends with my dad. But his family didn't like her, so he never wanted her. My mum's family pushed her to get pregnant, hoping for a son who could take over my dad's position. But when I was born a girl, she was disappointed. She felt overwhelmed and ended up asking my grandmother to take care of me."

Kenzy paused, her voice trembling. "I lived with my grandmother, never really knowing my mum. When I was five, my grandmother took me to an orphanage. I stayed there until I was ten when my mum came to get me because my father was looking for me. She had told him I was gone, but he didn't believe her."

Her eyes glazed over, lost in the memories. "My mum took me to live with her brother, Frederick. He had a lot of issues and struggled with them often. I used to see Kathy walking around the neighborhood. She was this friendly girl who always smiled at me."

Kenzy's voice wavered. "So my uncle, Fredrick started raping me everynight. It was kathy who came to comfort me when he first started. I had no one to talk to or tell my pain. Kathy was my everything. She made me feel safe. She understood me. When things got tough, she was always there for me. Eventually, my uncle passed away, and my mum came to take me. She discovered I had developed some addiction to hard drugs. My mum took me to a rehab center to get better."

I squeezed her shoulder gently, encouraging her to continue.

"Kathy's dad had some legal troubles, and she kept visiting me in rehab, offering support. Because there too i wasn't safe, i was abused their as well. She helped me overcome my fears and get back on my feet. We promised each other that we would survive and support each other no matter what."

The night air was thick with her pain, but there was a strength in her voice. I hugged her tightly, feeling her tremble against me. "Kenzy, you're incredibly strong. We'll get through this together."

She leaned into me, her body shaking with silent sobs. We stayed on the balcony, the city lights flickering around us, a silent testament to the battles we both fought. I knew the road ahead would be long and hard, but I was determined to be there for her every step of the way.

As dawn approached, I guided her back inside. She was exhausted, and we lay down together, her head resting on my chest. She finally fell into a fitful sleep, and I watched over her, my heart aching for the pain she had endured and the love I felt for her.

The next morning, I woke up to find Kenzy already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking lost. "Hey," I said softly. "Did you sleep at all?"

"A little," she replied, her voice flat.

"Did you eat anything?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No."

"I'll make something light for you," I offered, heading to the kitchen. I made a simple breakfast and brought it to her. She ate slowly, and I felt a small sense of relief.

Cherry called again, asking about Kenzy. I reassured her that Kenzy was okay and thanked her for helping with the arrangements for Kathy.

The rest of the day, Kenzy moved like a ghost, her eyes empty and her movements slow. I stayed by her side, offering support and love. She shared more about her past, each revelation more heartbreaking than the last. But through it all, I held her, determined to help her heal.

As night fell, I held her close, whispering words of comfort.

**Kenzy's POV:**

I woke up with a jolt, drenched in sweat, my heart pounding. I grabbed my phone, still feeling the remnants of the nightmare clinging to me. Kathy's name flashed on the screen. I hesitated, my mind foggy with fear and confusion, but I answered.

"Kenzy, you need to meet me," Cathy's voice trembled. "I'm in huge trouble."

"Cathy, what's going on?" I asked, my voice shaky.

She gave me a location, a deserted place on the outskirts of the city. The drive there felt like an eternity. The streets were nearly empty, the orange glow of the streetlights casting long shadows. Cherry tried calling me, but i didn't pick up. The silence of the night pressed down on me as I parked and looked around, finally spotting kathy.

She was pacing up and down, tears streaming down her face. "Kenzy, I'm so sorry for dragging you into this."

I ran to her, holding her by the shoulders. "Kathy, tell me what's going on."

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "I got set up by a guy named Rick. He's related to Louis, you know, the guy who throws those wild parties. Rick framed me for stealing money and the death of a police officer. Now, I'm wanted, and I've been hiding."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? You know I would do anything to help you," I said, feeling a mix of frustration and fear.

Kathy's sobs intensified. "I didn't want to drag you down with me. But I need your help now. I don't know where else to turn."

I quickly texted Cherry, sending her my location. "Stay here, I'll get you something to eat," I said, running to a nearby store.

When I returned, Kathy was still pacing, her eyes darting around in fear. Soon after, Cherry arrived, surprisly with Max. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. As they stepped out of the car, a group of armed men appeared, their faces covered.

"Run, kathy!" I screamed, but it was too late.

The men chased after us. I grabbed kathy's hand, pulling her along as fast as we could go. Max was right behind us,

A gunshot rang out, and I felt Cathy's hand slip from mine. I turned to see her collapse, a dark stain spreading across her chest.

"No! Cathy, no!" I screamed, dropping to my knees beside her. "Please, don't leave me. You promised you wouldn't leave."

Max reached us, his face pale. "Cherry, call the cops" he shouted.

The minutes dragged on like hours until the ambulance arrived. The paramedics confirmed what I dreaded most—Cathy was gone. My whole world crumbled. I felt like I was in a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

Max helped me to his car, and we drove back to his apartment in silence. The city lights blurred past, a cold contrast to the warmth Kathy had brought into my life. At the apartment, Max guided me to the couch, wrapping a blanket around me.

"I'm so sorry, Kenzy," he whispered, his voice full of sorrow.

I didn't respond. I couldn't. I felt numb, the shock still settling in. I spent the night in a daze, unable to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kathy's face, heard her laughter.

The next morning, Max made me a light breakfast. "You need to eat something," he said gently, placing a plate in front of me.

I nodded, picking at the food. The taste was bland, but I forced myself to eat. Max sat across from me, watching with concern.

"Cherry called," he said after a while. "She wanted to know how you're doing."

"I'm... I don't know," I replied, my voice hollow.

Max reached out, covering my hand with his. "Kenzy, I'm here for you. We'll get through this together."

Later, as the sun began to set, I felt the weight of my past pressing down on me. From the moment i met kathy till the moment she dropped down.

Max had asked me what kathy means to me.

I don't know how i did it but i was able to talk about some traumating things from my past.

I took a deep breath, after narrating everything, i broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Max held me, whispering comforting words. "You're so strong, Kenzy. We'll get through this."

As the night wore on, I finally fell asleep in Max's arms, feeling a small glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.