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Julieta was slowly adapting to being back home, even after months.
It still felt so surreal every time she woke up next to her beloved husband. Even though she was fully aware that she was safe now, sometimes it still felt as though if she woke up, it would all be a dream, and she'd still be there, being brutally tortured at the hands of the men that took her hostage.
However, that was never reality for her anymore. She was safe - she just had trouble getting used to it.
She didn't think she ever would.
Either way, today, she had to take care of one more thing.
She had spoken about her trauma to most of the family now, with the exception of Antonio, as Pepa and Félix had to explain it to him in a way he could properly understand, without going into too much detail.
But there was one person she still hadn't really spoken to since coming home.
Her mother.
She decided it was finally time to open up about what happened to her. This was her mother, and it felt wrong not telling her everything, considering she had left out bits and pieces from every family member that wasn't her husband, just to keep from traumatizing anyone.
She was going to make sure they wouldn't even visualize what happened to her.
However, her mother deserved to hear everything. She needed to know after so many months. She hadn't even explained it to her much at all, because she was still adjusting to the concept of the family no longer having to be used for their gifts.
So, on this fateful night, she would finally tell all.
~
"Mamá, are you busy?"
"No, mija, I'm not. Is everything alright?"
Julieta had been wanting to talk to her for a while now, but she wasn't sure how to start the conversation. So, she just went out on a limb.
"This is…well, this is important. Do you have a few minutes?"
"Of course."
When they sat down, Julieta spilled every detail of what had been done to her. Every cut, every bruise, and all the things in between.
They were both in tears by the time she was done talking.
"Mija…why didn't you tell me?"
"I…I don't want to hurt anyone by telling them everything. That includes you."
Alma hugged her within seconds, sobbing even louder than her as she was quick to tighten her grip.
"You know you can tell me anything. I'm your mother."
Julieta sighed into her shoulder, her entire body trembling.
"It didn't seem like that before."
Alma gasped at her daughter's sudden sharper tone.
She was right, though.
"I know," she whispered. "I've done a lot of things wrong, but…I promise, for your sake and the rest of the family's, I will do my best to correct things."
Julieta nodded, fighting through the last of her tears before hugging her mother one last time.
"Buenas noches, Mamá."
"Buenas noches, mi vida."
With that, Julieta shut Alma's door, leaving her to finally let out her tears of relief.
Her sobs echoed through her room for the rest of the night, but she, too, had so much bottled up.
But at the very least, she wouldn't have to worry about outliving her daughter, just as she had outlived her husband.
By the grace of a miracle, her baby was okay.
~
When Julieta got into bed, Agustín was already half asleep.
Still, when she cuddled up to his chest, he was quick to notice as he gently wrapped her up.
"I love you so much," he mumbled.
Julieta still had tears in her eyes. And yet, as much as his statement made her feel better, it still brought her to even more tears than before. She sobbed quietly into his shoulder for a while before her own physical exhaustion knocked her out.
The nightmares were still there, unfortunately. However, her crying woke him up easily, and he was quick to pull her closer, giving her as many soft kisses as he could just so she would remember where she was.
She was his priority right now, and he vowed to do anything he possibly could to be there for her. This was no exception.
"I'm here," he whispered, giving her a soft kiss on the lips as his own eyelids began to fall once more.
"I know. I love you."
By the time Agustín had opened his mouth to respond, her eyes were already closed again.
She smiled as sleep finally took over completely, without her waking up again the rest of the night.
She knew.