Twenty Two
Scarlett
I wake to a relentless beeping beside me. Before I even open my eyes, an unsettling sense of dislocation washes over me—I know I’m not at home. Pain radiates from my head, and my entire body feels like it has been put through a meat grinder. A sterile scent permeates the air, underscoring the reality: I’m in a hospital.
Outside my door, murmurs and hushed conversations level with the beeping of the machines.
Slowly, I crack my eyes open, letting them adjust to the dimly lit room. Harsh lights above me only add to the confusion. My surroundings are stark, clinical, with machines beeping in tandem like a morose symphony of alarms. I glance down; IV lines snake into both arms, and my head feels heavy from something wrapped tightly around it, a reminder of the pain I can't yet fully understand.
As panic begins to rise in my chest, the machines beside me seem to scream in agreement. I struggle to move, desperate for clarity—am I paralyzed? My heart pounds, and the beeping accelerates in rhythm with my rising fear.
Then, a nurse rushes in, her presence enveloping me in a calm I don't possess. “It’s okay, Scarlett. You’re safe,” she assures me. Her voice is warm, even as everything else feels cold.
“Water,” I croak, my throat a desert. She quickly hands me a cup, and I sip gratefully. The liquid is life itself, but it barely soothes my parched throat.
“Why am I here?” I finally ask, my voice hoarse and faltering. I trail off as fragments of the day before suddenly crash through my mind; memories like flares, fleeting and painful—loud voices, a scuffle, pain, and then darkness.
The nurse watches me with compassion etched on her face, her hand warm on my arm. “You’re in the ICU at Barton Hospital. You suffered a severe concussion, a sprained ankle, and several bruised ribs.” Her voice softens, and she takes a deep breath. “You also needed suturing due to a tear in your perianal area. The doctor will discuss that with you when she comes in to do rounds later today. I’ll let your fiancé know you’re awake.”
Her words land like heavy stones in my stomach. I want to tell her not to bother. I don’t know if I can ever trust Whit again. He may have saved me from his father, but can he save anything else? My mind races, swirling with emotions—angry, hurt, conflicted.
As if on cue, the door swings open, and Whit hurriedly crosses the threshold, his form looming large. He kneels beside my bed, and his blue eyes, usually so bright, are clouded with worry.
“Little flame,” he begins, grasping my hand.
I flinch and pull it away, heart racing. The tears in his eyes are evident, distress written all over his face.
“Don’t,” I whisper, the word barely escaping my lips.
“Scar,” he breathes, desperation lacing his tone. “I’m so sorry. I would never do anything to hurt you.”
The plea in his voice strikes a nerve. “You were kissing her.”
Caught in his own turmoil, he reaches out to brush a tear from my face, but I instinctively turn away, every inch of me screaming to keep my distance. “Don’t touch me!”
“Please,” he says, his voice cracking with emotion. “Just let me explain. I was high…”
I blink rapidly as confusion churns with resentment. “How did you even find me? Are you stalking me?”
The accusation hangs in the air like a thick cloud, and he recoils as if struck. “No, yes, fuck, Scarlett. I wasn’t stalking you. I was…” He falters, desperate for the right words. “I was worried that you needed me. I put a tracker on your phone to make sure you were always safe.”
He reaches out to touch my hand, but I flinch, pulling it away. “No, Whit. I can’t. I’m done. I don’t want to hear your excuses. We’re over. Just leave,” I say quietly, but firmly.
“Scarlett,” he says finally, and there’s a weight behind it, his defeat palpable. “Please, let me show you I can change. I can be better.”
The declaration lingers between us, fraught with unsaid words. My heart tugs at the possibility, yet my mind screams to resist.
“Change?” I scoff, bitterly. “You think that’s just a flick of a switch? You broke my trust, Whit.”
His eyes spill over with raw emotion, a heartbreak I’d once thought I could embrace. I feel a pang in my chest as he shifts, kneeling in earnest on the cold tile floor.
“Scarlett, I’d do anything to take back that night. You have no idea how it felt when I found you like that, how helpless I was.” The desperation in his voice makes my heart waver, but I steel myself.
“I can’t forgive you that easily,” I murmur, looking away, tears pooling in my eyes.
Silence hangs heavy as we grapple with the weight of our circumstances. I feel his gaze burn into me, searching for clues, for hope.
“Whit. I thought we had something beautiful.” My voice trembles.
“We do,” he whispers, inching closer, but keeping a respectful distance. “But I messed it up. I was stupid. I let my demons control me, and I never meant to push you away.”
The air tingles between us—a tempest of conflicting emotions. I wish I could surrender. I want him to hold me again, to whisper that everything would be okay.
But the walls I’ve built are sturdy, each brick a reminder of betrayal, anger, and heartbreak. “Love isn’t supposed to hurt like this, Whit.”
He bows his head, a mixture of shame and longing stitched into every fold of his being. “I know, and I promise to fight for us, if you let me.”
There’s something infinitely fragile in the way he says ‘us,’ as if he knows he’s treading on glass. I long to trust him, to allow the love we once had to emerge from the ashes. But healing takes time, and I wonder if I’m strong enough to give him that time.
“Just go,” I plead, my heart breaking with every syllable.
The nurse comes in holding a syringe, and must see the tears in my eyes. “Sir, you need to leave. You’re disturbing my patient.” She comes over to my IV and inserts something into the port. “That will help with the pain, sweetheart.” She smiles at me sweetly.
“Thank you,” I murmur, my throat thick with emotions.
“You can come with me, young man. Ms. Scarlett needs some rest. I can’t allow you to stay here if you are going to upset her.”
He stands up and turns to the nurse. “I’m not leaving her side. She needs me.”
“Please, Whit. I don’t want you here.”
He looks at me, his eyes full of sadness, but he doesn’t argue.
“No one will ever love you as fiercely, as obsessively as I do. Remember that.”
His words send a shiver down my spine, and I know they are true. He turns to leave, but before he does, he looks back at me with a mix of anger and sadness.
I close my eyes as tears fall down my face. I can’t deal with this right now. I’m in so much pain, both physically and emotionally. I need time to process everything that’s happened. The drugs the nurse gave me start to kick in and I relax into the bed, closing my eyes. I know it’s only a temporary escape, but I need it right now. I just need to escape it all.
“Wake up, Scarlett,” I hear a soft voice beside me say. My eyes flutter a few times before they actually stay open. It feels like there’s sand in them.
“Hi there, I’m Dr. Matthews. I’m the OB/GYN on staff here. I know you’ve had a rough day, but I wanted to talk to you about what happened to you,” she says softly. I feel a wave of nausea come over me, and the beeping of the machines starts to speed up again. The doctor pushes a button on the machine next to me and the beeping stops.
“We did a rape test on you, and it came back positive for rape. We found traces of semen and blood. We were able to get a DNA sample from it. The police will be in touch with you regarding that case.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Thank you,” I manage to say, my voice trembling. I feel so vulnerable and violated.
“We also did a full body exam, including a pelvic exam. I’m afraid you suffered a partial tear in your anal area. I was able to repair the tear, but you’re going to have to wear a pad for a few weeks while it heals.”
The doctor pauses, looking at me with a sympathetic expression. “I’m so sorry, Scarlett. I know this is a lot to take in right now. But I wanted to make sure you’re aware of everything. The good news is, you don’t have any STDs and you’re not pregnant.” She pauses again, giving me a chance to ask any questions I might have.
“I’ll be back later to check on you. Just push the call button if you need anything.” She squeezes my hand gently before turning to leave.
As she’s about to walk out the door, she stops and turns back. “Scarlett, if you need to talk to someone, there’s a therapist on staff. Her name is Dr. Davis. She’s really great. Just let one of the nurses know if you want to talk to her.”
I nod and she walks out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Whit would be upset to know I wasn’t pregnant, since he’s been trying every chance he gets. I guess he can have a baby with his red headed lover. I shake those thoughts from my mind.
Before I close my eyes, I hear a commotion coming from the hallway. There is shouting from several different people, but the one I recognize is Whit.
“I have to see her. She needs me!” he screams.
“Please sir, you will have to come back during visiting hours.” I don’t know this voice, but I assume it’s security. I hear a loud thump and then something crashes. I try to get up, but I can’t. The pain is too much.
“Scarlett, if you hear me, please baby. I’m not going to let them take you away from me. You’re mine and I love you.” Whit’s voice cracks and he sounds so broken. “Please, little flame. I need you.”
I close my eyes and the tears fall down my face. I can’t handle this right now. I need time to heal. I can’t even move right now.
The nurse comes into the room, her expression stern. “Ms. Scarlett, is he your fiancé?”
I shrug, unable to speak. She sighs. “Well, I’m sorry, but we can’t let him in here. He’s too disruptive. You need to rest. If you need anything, just call.” She leaves, and I’m alone again.
I hear him screaming my name, begging for me to talk to him, and it breaks my heart.
“You might try to escape, but I’ll always find you. Our fates are intertwined, and there’s no breaking free,” he yells.
“Scarlett is the only thing that matters to me. Everything else can burn in hell for all I care. She is my world and I will do whatever it takes to make sure she is safe. Even if that means destroying everything and everyone who stands in my way,” he shouts right outside my door, knowing I can hear him.
Then I hear Blaine.
“I’m sorry, man. We’ve gotta get out of here before they call the cops.”
There’s shuffling, probably him dragging Whit away. Once the silence returns, I can finally relax, the tension leaving my body. I know Whit isn’t going to give up, but right now all I can think of is sleep.