Page 1 of Echoes From Within

Prologue

Sophia

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us,” the young mother tells me and my father. “You’ve saved our lives.”

“No,” dad responds. “We simply gave you the tools.”

“Reaching out for help is one of the hardest and bravest things you could have done,” I tell her. “The second you called us was the very moment you saved yourself.”

“Maybe,” she smiles. “But, if it wasn’t for what you guys do here, there wouldn’t have been anyone to reach out to.”

I return her smile and pull her in for a hug. Marsha has been here at UNITY with us for a few months now. Her husband has finally been caught and put behind bars for killing their three-month-old daughter and beating Marsha so severely that she had to be hospitalized.

The coward had been on the run since but we’ve been informed that it’s now safe for Marsha to leave the security of our shelter.

UNITY is an acronym for, Unite, Nurture, Inspire, Transform, and Yield to change. Through unity we nurture survivors, inspire change, transform societies, and yield to the changes needed to end domestic violence.

Before my mom and dad met, mom was in a relationship where she was abused physically and mentally for years. She tried reaching out many times for help from her family, the police, hell, she even begged for help from the mailman. But none ever came.

The bastard died in a plane crash and that was how she eventually broke free from the hold he had on her. My parents met a few years after that. From what I understand, it took mom a long time to trust that dad would never hurt her.

Years after they were married, they created UNITY with a single thought in mine. To be there for someone when no one else is. My mom is a huge advocate for people experiencing domestic violence. We all are. When no one else will help you, we’ll be right by your side. When no one else will believe you, we will.

UNITY has saved countless lives of both men and women over the years and I couldn’t be prouder of my parents.

They had me a little late in life. I’m currently twenty-nine years old and my parents are both in their early eighties. They want to retire and travel for a bit but only if I agreed to take over UNITY. It was a no-brainer. They’re leaving in a few hours to start their vacation. Dad’s here to say goodbye to some of our long-time residents before they head to the airport.

“If you ever need anything, just reach out to us,” I tell Marsha before she enters the taxi.

With a nod, she shuts the car door.

“Another life saved because of you and mom,” I tell my dad as we watch the car drive away.

“Yeah,” he sighs. “It’s hard not to think about all the lives lost that could have been saved had they just reached out, though,” he tells me. “Promise that you won’t let this job eat you up, babydoll.”

I don’t say anything because it’s not a promise that I can keep. I’ve worked here for years already and I know exactly what he’s talking about. I’m currently watching one of them drive away. Marsha was being abused by her husband for years before he killed their daughter. Had she reached out sooner, even a single day sooner, they both would be in that car driving to their new lives.

I’m not victim-blaming. At least, I’m not trying to. It just hurts my heart knowing that she lost her child because she was afraid for their lives when in the end, it was her daughter’s life, and almost hers, that was ultimately destroyed.

I can’t say that I understand that type of fear, but I can sympathize. Marsha was terrified that her husband would kill her and her daughter if she tried asking for help. And he would have. I know that without a shadow of a doubt.

“Daddy, how can I do this job, help these people, if I don’t understand what they’re going through? Mom was able to connect with them because of their shared experiences. All I can do is hold their hands and give them my support.”

“Sometimes, being someone to lean on is all they need,” he tells me. “You reaching out your hand could be the very thing that gives them the hope to move on. All you need to do is be their strength when they don’t have any of their own.”

“What if I don’t have enough strength for everyone?” I ask. “What if I can’t do this without you and mom?”

Dad pulls me in for a hug, wrapping me in his loving arms.

“My sweet, sweet, Sophie,” he says softly. “I have never met a stronger and more wonderful person than you. You’re smart and kind. Your shoulders could hold the burden of every soul that walks through these doors and you would do it with love and understanding in your heart. I can walk away with absolute confidence that you will continue the work your mother and I started here and that you’ll make it even better.”

I snuggle into his embrace but choose not to respond. I smile knowing that he’s right. I always have and will continue to give my entire heart to what we do here at UNITY.

Dad eventually has to leave to pick up mom. My parents and I spent several hours together earlier today knowing that we won’t see each other again for at least a month. I’m happy they get to go on this extended vacation but I’m going to miss them.

***Three Months Later***

“I’m heading out for the night,” I tell, John, the lead security guard. “I’ll check back in around midnight.”