It's only been a few weeks since she's been home and yet Lacy felt like she was in a foreign place, like her home wasn't her home anymore. She didn't know here she belonged, honestly. Nothing made sense anymore. She's hardly left the house even when her dad tried to get her to go to the store with him. She didn't feel safe anywhere. The first week of being back home after she was found was pure hell. It was too much for her. It was too much for her dad. It put a strain on both of them.
But Samuel did everything he could. He was the perfect father. It was Lacy that couldn't get past it. She always felt like she was still in that room, still in that shed. She felt completely trapped. She was depressed, anxiety ridden, and exhausted. She wasn't herself anymore. She wasn't his daughter anymore. She was just an empty shell.
Lacy opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a bottle of water. The temperature of the bottle cooled down her hands and she pressed it to her face, sighing at the feeling. The house was always quiet, seeing as it was just her and her dad. There were some nights where Sam would be gone this early in the morning because of his job. But he was home now in bed. He didn't want to leave her side. Silently, Lacy was thankful for it.
"Lacy?"
She flinched hard and accidentally slammed the refrigerator door shut. "Jesus, dad, you scared me." She exhaled, seeing her dad standing at the bottom of the stairs. Lacy slowly took a breath and turned to him. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"Nah, you know me. I'm a light sleeper," Samuel Austin said with a small, tired smile. He walked into the kitchen and turned on the overhead light. "Did you have another nightmare?" He asked and walked to the fridge.
"Yeah," she answered quietly. Lacy watched him pull out a piece of cherry pie and she giggled. "Dad, it's almost three in the morning."
"Had that ever stopped me before?" Sam asked, recalling the nights he always got an appetite for sweets late at night/early in the morning.
"No, I guess not." She said and reached inside the silverware drawer. She grabbed two forks. "It was about, uh. . ." She tried to say but the words got stuck in her throat.
Her dad frowned. "You don't have to tell me, baby girl." He almost whispered. Sam kissed the top of her head and sat down at the island. He watched her lean against the counter. "You know, if you want to stay home from school, you can. How does homeschooling sound?"
Lacy cracked a smile. "Tempting, but. . .I have to go back eventually."
Sam shook his head. "No, you don't."
She bit into the piece of pie on her fork. "Everyone already knows I'm back, don't they?" She muttered while chewing. The look on her face was dreary.
Her dad stared at her. Samuel thought about when she was found, when Hannah was found, and the news that showed up at the hospital, at the police station, and at their home wanting a statement from Lacy. She remembered how loud she screamed from being overwhelmed at all the questions, at the flashing lights in her face. Sam remembered yelling at all of them to get the fuck off of his property. "We can move," he declared.
"It was on the news everywhere, daddy. I can't escape it. I never will," Lacy stated softly, her eyes becoming sad. She sat the form down on the table, making a light clinking sound. "I'm scared. Believe me, I am. But if I don't go back, I never will, and I'd like to graduate at some point."
When she saw her dad's eyes water, she started to feel guilty. "I know. I just want you to be comfortable, baby girl. I know you haven't been." Sam said and wiped his eyes.
Lacy frowned and moved to stand behind him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and she laid her head on his shoulder. "But I have you. I'm safe with you." She whispered.