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Trout

A story of love, friendship, and the feeling of being understood. For survivors of abuse.

By Luke LoganPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
1
For survivors of abuse.

There was a rainbow trout who lived in the babbling brook.

Maggie was born that summer; the trout was a year older than her.

Maggie’s parents took her to the brook, where she would feed the trout.

The trout grew; Maggie grew the same.

Maggie would visit the trout every single day, sometimes two or three times!

They could not wait to see each other and talk about their lives.

They trusted each other with their deepest secrets: Break-ups, crushes, loves, and hates.

Maggie did not dare tell ANYONE she talked to trout.

Trout did not dare tell ANYONE either.

Why would they want to? The relationship was theirs.

Nobody could possibly understand it.

Once when Maggie was 12, her dad played with her in a funnier way. It was different.

When she told the trout, trout just said, “You did nothing wrong. Your dad is very sick."

Maggie felt better.

Once, when trout got sick, Maggie camped out all night beside the brook, even though it was her grade 9 prom.

Maggie was the prom queen, but she never heard her name called. She was busy by the brook, she made sure her best friend was feeling normal again.

Trout had swallowed a hook.

"Did I do something wrong?" asked trout

"No, you were just curious. There's nothing wrong with that."

Maggie made trout feel better.

"Those men were just sick."

They could always make each other feel normal, even if most people would think they were abnormal.

In the strangest of ways, they understood their circumstances, because they took the time.

One day, Maggie forgot to go down to the brook.

Another day, the trout forgot to swim by and say hello.

Those days became more and more frequent.

There was no anger or resentment, they just grew apart.

They kept each other in their hearts.

They grew into the shapes they needed to become. Strong. Independent.

Trout and Maggie needed each other less and less as they grew.

On graduation day, Trout met Maggie at the brook.

"I'm graduating to the lake!" Exclaimed trout.

"I'm going to college!" Squealed Maggie.

What a night they had together, saying goodbye.

In the morning they laughed one more time, and went their separate ways.

Many years later, Maggie had a husband, and her own little Maggie, only her name was Scarlet.

Maggie wanted her family to meet trout. Although it would be a great surprise to tell them the secret, Maggie's family was pure love, and she knew she could trust them.

She couldn't wait to see trout after so many years; there was so much to tell each other!

Pulling up to the old house, Maggie was itching at the door to get out.

Her big old bear of a father was at the end of the porch. Mother had been sick. Too sick to come downstairs.

Maggie rushed to get situated. Her father IMPLORED her to eat dinner before the brook.

"Fine, fine, dad! But I have to get to the brook!" Was all Maggie could say.

They sat around the table, catching up.

Even her mother came downstairs, and had more energy and smiles than ever before. It was magic. It was love.

They ate all the bread, they drank the wine, they waited for the main course.

Dad limped into the kitchen and returned with a platter.

Under the cover, was a steaming, glistening rainbow trout.

Covered in butter.

Eyes wide as quarters.

"Couldn't believe this one, just laying there ready to be dinner!" said Dad.

"Did the trout suffer grandpa?" asked Scarlet.

"No Scarlet my love, it almost looked happy to see me." said Dad.

Maggie was stone cold. She could not move.

Maggie's husband could tell something was wrong. EVERYONE could.

Maggie's mother broke the ice. "When is your mysterious friend coming dear?"

Maggie looked at trout.

Trout looked at Maggie.

Only they knew what was said.

Mother knew. After the first bite.

Father knew. After the first bite.

Husband knew first.

"She's here."

trauma
1

About the Creator

Luke Logan

Former fuckboy

Lethario

Searching for true love

Constantly trying to be more attractive.

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