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Stephanie stepped out of the limo, grateful toward the chauffer. Then, painfully, she began to make her way up the enormous drive to the front door.
She rang the bell, her hand shaking as she did so. She was finally home... Home was where she would feel safe - at long last.
The door opened, and instead of the butler, who usually answered for visitors, the person standing before her was a most warm, welcome sight.
"Mom..." the brunette cried, her tears finally breaking free.
"Stephanie... My baby." Linda McMahon broke down as well, a sob escaping her as she pulled her daughter into the house and into her arms. She pushed the door closed and smoothed a hand down Stephanie's long hair, trying her best to comfort the young woman.
They stood there hugging like this for a long time, until Linda finally released her reluctantly, pulling her further into the mansion.
Stephanie wanted only to go up to her room - the room she'd had for so very long, which, even when she'd moved out, her mom had still kept up for her.
"Baby... Can I get you something?" Linda asked, her blue eyes still brimming with tears. "My God... We should call the police!"
"N-no!" the brunette cried, terrified. She knew they *should* do that, but she was scared. Composing herself somewhat, she turned her teary blue eyes back to her mother. "I... I just want to clean myself up and get some rest."
The McMahon matriarch nodded wordlessly. She followed Stephanie up the stairs to her room, concern flooding her.
The brunette nearly broke down and cried again as she entered the room. Here, she'd never once felt scared or unsafe. This room had always been the place where she could escape, feel at ease and truly alive, and focus on dreams and exciting aspirations. Nothing could touch her when she was in this room.
Linda eyed her daughter quietly as she moved over to the bureau to retrieve fresh clothing for her. The young woman was a mess. Her shirt was partially torn in one place, her hair was mussed, and the older woman had sadly detected a bruise on her daughter's delicate jaw. She hated Paul Levesque at that very moment and wished him nothing but misery and suffering. The man deserved to be put away forever for the sickening things he'd done to her daughter!
Stephanie turned around, gratefully accepting the cozy pair of pink pajamas her mother was handing her. They were her favorites.
"Thank you, Mom." She turned to head into the adjoining bathroom, dropping her cell phone on a small table on her way. She turned back as Linda was heading out. "Mom? Would you please... stay in here and wait for me?" she asked, her voice small and childlike.
Linda nodded.
"I'll be here, sweetheart." She perched on the edge of the comfortable armchair just beyond the vanity table and dresser.
Moments later, Stephanie was in the bathroom, the hot water full blast in the shower - so much so that the room was completely filled with steam. She could barely see as she stepped into the shower, allowing the water to sluice over her battered body.
The tears came again, so quickly, and the brunette sobbed softly, rubbing her face with both hands. She paused to grab the bar of beauty soap and began lathering herself up, washing away all of the filth... the contamination.
Her crying increased as she scrubbed further, the horrid memory returning to her. Visions of him tearing viciously into her, slamming mercilessly, carelessly, violently, overwhelmed her. Stephanie recalled every single feeling, every ounce of pain and horror and humiliation. None of it would be leaving her anytime soon.
The wet, distraught brunette sank to the shower floor, sobs still gripping her. She cried
harder and harder still as she sat there, the soap still clutched in one hand as she drew her
knees up to her chest. She rocked back and forth ever so slightly, willing it all away... But
she knew this was not a nightmare from which she would awaken. It was her reality.