EPILOGUE
CHARLIE
I hear chaotic, muffled sounds all around me. I’m not sure what to make of my current situation because I’m in so much pain and I’m so cold. I hear whispering in my ear but I can’t make out the words. My head feels heavy and I can’t seem to concentrate. I’m shivering so bad my teeth are chattering.
I’m scared. I don’t know what’s going on. Nothing is making sense. I’m trying to think, to form cohesive thoughts, but everything is muddled and I feel heavy, so heavy. All I want to do is sleep. That’s what I need. I’m going to sleep. Just for a few minutes.
“Charlie! Charlie! Stay with me!” I hear somewhere far away.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
I don’t remember changing my alarm clock sound. That beeping is going to drive me crazy! I try to roll over but realize I can’t really move my body. In fact, I feel super stiff and I’m trying to open my eyes, which is proving difficult. I swear my eyelids are weighted down by ten pound dumbbells. Groaning, I take a deep, steadying breath and am finally able to open my eyes a crack and I’m instantly assaulted by a bright light above me.
“Wha…!” I grunt out and throw my arm over my eyes in reflex to shield my burning eyes. .
“Hey! Hey… it's okay. You're okay.” Yuri says soothingly. In an instant he’s by my side, placing his hands on my cheeks, cradling my face and talking to me like he would to calm down a feral animal. “You’re in the hospital. You’re safe! Can you stay calm for me, Malyshka ?” he breathes out a worried sigh.
I move my arm and place my hands in my lap. Then I look at him, really look at him. He’s looking at me like he’s afraid I’m about to break into a million pieces, and I’m scared that I might do just that.
I look at him confused and croak out, “What, what happened?” Shaking my head, I try to remember what could have happened that ended in me being brought here.
“I found you and you’re safe. The doctor said it may take some time for all your memories to come back due to the trauma, but I will answer any questions you have as soon as they start to come back. I…I don’t want to overwhelm you.” He sighs, taking my hands in his, “I am so sorry I didn’t figure it out sooner. I should have. I should have seen what was happening and told you sooner so you would understand. I shouldn't have hidden anything from you. I am so sorry!” He buries his head in our conjoined arms on the bed.
I sigh and take in my surroundings. The hospital room is scary white, like overly sterile white. White walls, white sheets, white curtains... a private room? It must be, since I am the only person in the room. I don’t even see another empty bed. Of course he would make sure I had my own room. He thinks of that kind of stuff. I sigh again, exhausted.
“How long have I been asleep? I feel like I could sleep for a year.” I giggle trying to break the tension.
His brows pull together sadly; he looks me in the eyes and touches my face again, “Charlie…you’ve been unconscious for three days…the scariest three days of my life.” He whispers gently, concern dripping from his features.
It's then I see the bruises under his eyes and the cut on his forehead. I try to sit up and reach for the stitched up gash on his face, but I stop when a sharp, stabbing pain forms at my side. An injury I can’t remember getting.
He helps me lay back down, grabs my hand, and kisses my palm in reverence. “I am fine,” he says clearly seeing my concern, “and I’m better now that you are awake.” He sighs, breathing deeply, still holding my hand to his mouth. “I don’t know how I would survive without you in this world.” He takes a deep labored breath and looks me directly in the eyes as if punctuating how serious this entire situation is.
He almost lost me? Oh! My! He almost lost me! I almost died! I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart so that the heart monitor doesn’t show just how scared and concerned I am.
“Come here,” I tell him softly, gesturing to the bed for him to slide in next to me. I need him to hold me. He climbs up and when we’re situated, I snuggle into him. “I will never leave you alone of my own free will. Ever!” I whisper against his chest. Closing my eyes and falling asleep.
The room is dark and all I hear is deep, menacing laughter. My body is cold, I’m shaking and terrified as I see the shadow of a man approaching me.
I startle awake, gasping for air and hear the heart monitor going crazy as I breathe through the panic.
It was just a bad dream! Wasn’t it? “Holy shit! Dominic!” I look around to assess my surroundings. Was I dreaming that Yuri was here? Did Dominic take me to hospital to treat me? Is he still going to sell me to the highest bidder or worse?!
Panic floods over me and I curl into a ball. I can’t breathe until Yuri comes running into my room. As soon as we make eye contact, I cry. He’s by my side in a second. I’m safe. Yuri saved me. It was real. He’s here. I keep chanting those truths over and over in my head.
I know I’m ugly crying and my face is red and puffy, I can feel it, but I can’t stop the tears. I won’t let go of Yuri. I’m too afraid this is all a dream and when I wake up I’ll be back there… alone…. with Dominic… dying.
I have a death grip on Yuri’s hand, not that he is complaining, but I am pretty sure the second I try to release it my hand will hurt from being stuck in one position for so long with so much pressure. I don’t care. I need to feel him touching me, reminding me that this is real and not a dream.
“What do you remember? You don’t have to tell me everything, or anything really if it is too much right now.” He says gently rubbing circles on the top of my hand. I am pretty sure even if I tried to pull away he wouldn't let me at this point either.
Yuri's dad ushers in a man. He’s tall and has pale skin like me. His dark red hair is styled short and sleek. He’s wearing black dress pants, a deep green button up shirt, and a matching suit coat. He looks important and I’m nervous. Yuri’s dad whispers to him sternly and then he nods before walking over to stand next to Yuri.
“Hi, Charlotte, I’m Detective Liam Fitzpatrick,” he introduces himself in a soft, gentle, yet firm voice. “I need to ask you a few questions. I know you’ve been through a lot, so take your time. Wherever you are comfortable saying now would be helpful to us in our investigation.”
I look at Yuri, my eyes asking if it is safe to tell him the truth. He gave me a subtle nod.
I take a deep breath, grounding myself in the smell and touch of Yuri, “It… It was Andrey. He…” I take another steadying breath. “He cornered me in that alley by the coffee shop by my apartment, I don’t remember the name of it. It was raining so hard and I could barely see, so I went under an awning to get my bearings. He…He came up behind me. Scared the shit out of me.” I take another slow breath to keep myself from panicking. He isn’t here. I am safe. I am with Yuri. I chant once again in my head before I continue. “He drugged me? I think?
Next thing I knew I was with Dominic and he..he was so mad. He hates Yuri and his family and he wanted to get back at them for something. We fought.” I begin to blink back the tears. Still in shock that I lived through that. That I am here alive. I am safe. I am with Yuri. “I had to get out of there. He said… he was going to sell me! I heard him talking about some auction. He took out a knife and he, he stabbed me. I think…I think he was going to force himself on me and I, I couldn’t…I couldn’t.” I say, shaking my head, “I thought he was my friend. He was supposed to be my friend and he used me and then...” I begin to cry again. Heavy, hard, terrifying tears. I can feel my fear and anger easing with each drop that falls from my cheek. I can’t even think about what would have happened if Yuri hadn’t shown up. I could have…I would have died if he hadn’t found me.
“You don’t have to say anymore. What you gave me is more than enough. I will leave my card with your boyfriend. If you need anything at all. Don’t hesitate to reach out.” He nods at Yuri handing him a card and leaves the room.
I look at Yuri and tug him closer. I need him touching me. He must be able to tell by the look on my face because he climbs into the bed with me holding me while I cry.
“I hate seeing you like this. I want to take it all away. I wish it was me,” he whispers into my hair. “You are so brave and strong and I love you so fucking much Charlie.” He kisses my hair and holds me tightly as I continue to cry into his chest.
I slept for a few more hours after Detective Fitzpatrick left. Telling him about what happened wiped me out. When I woke up my doctor came in to introduce me to one of their trauma psychologists. I was nervous at first, but my determination to overcome this, to not let Dominic win, spurred me on, so I met with a psychologist.
We’ve been meeting every week for a few months now, and after a lot of talking, she and I both agreed that meds were not for me. But she had another idea that I fell in love with instantly. She recommended, since I’m a journalist, that I use my creativity to express what happened to me. She said writing can be a great way to process my trauma, so I figured what the hell? Why not?
Bill welcomed me back to work after I recovered and was very supportive of the story I wanted to write. He said it would “look really good on paper” and be “helpful to the general public” to get a good look into organized crime. So with the support of Yuri and his family, my boss, and my psychologist I wrote my story.
I met Yuri and his family when I was five years old. I was finally going to full-day school…