CHAPTER 35 MINA
I walk into the room, nervously clenching my fists. My fingernails dig into my palms, a savory sweet sting that keeps my mind focused. I’m terrified of what they’re going to ask me, but I’m here for one thing. To finally bring Jason down.
“Have a seat,” the HR lady says with a smile, beckoning to the chair. “My name is Sharon, I’m with the Human Resources Department. Please state your full name for the record.”
“I’m Dr. Yasmina Abdul, third year resident here. My friends call me Mina.”
“Dr. Abdul, am I to understand correctly that you are in a relationship with Alex Guirero?”
“Yes ma’am, that is correct.”
“And you are here of your own free will, without persuasion or coercion from Mr. Guirero?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Very well. We may proceed.”
The questions go on and on, from the nature of my relationship with Alex to the persistent and unwelcome advances of Jason. I relay the emotional torment I’ve endured at his hands, as well as citing instances of him harassing others. I happily give them Katie’s name as another witness, because she greenlit the idea when I gave her the heads up that this was going down today. The others I’m more hesitant about. I don’t need to drag them all into my shitstorm. Hopefully between Alex, Katie and myself, we’ve got it covered. If not, I know I can persuade the others to at least talk to HR.
Finally, it was time to tell them about the confrontation today. I tell them how he assaulted me in the lounge, and show them my wrist, which has started to bruise. When I tell them how he had violated me, I can’t help it. Tears well up in my eyes and spill out, and I can hardly get the words out. My voice is trembling as I recount the terror I felt in that moment, and how I feared he wouldn’t stop at just a grope.
Sharon is aghast. “He did that to you?”
“He did,” I choke out through sobs. “I kept hoping someone would walk in, but no one came. I was so afraid, it felt like I was stuck. I couldn’t fight back.”
“That is beyond unacceptable.”
“I know, I should have done more,” I cry. “I feel silly feeling so dirty and violated, since it was over my clothing, but I still—”
“No, honey,” she interrupts. “What he did was unacceptable. I’m so sorry you’ve had to endure this. Rest assured, we will be doing a very, very thorough investigation into Dr. Visera. The more testimony we can gather, the better.”
“Thank you,” I manage to say through my tears. “Thank you for listening.”
“That’s why we’re here. Listen, you go home. Get some rest, physically and mentally. You can come back at your next scheduled shift, if you feel ready. We will make sure to schedule you as far away from Dr. Visera as possible until this is concluded.”
I nod, the sound of my bed seeming impossibly good right now. I just want to bury myself for weeks and not come out.
The meeting concludes and I stumble out of the room. Alex is waiting for me, and I fall into his arms, all the tension I’ve been feeling finally released.
He holds me close and kisses the top of my head.
“Hey baby, how’d it go?”
“As well as can be expected,” I sniffle into his chest. They’re sending me home to rest, after the assault and everything.”
“Wait, the assault?” Alex pulls back, his eyes flashing. “What do you mean, assault?”
My eyes well up again as I quickly recount the details of the encounter in the lounge.
“You didn’t mention that before, babe! He put his hands on you?” He grits his teeth and snarls, “I’m going to kill him.”
“No, baby, let it go. HR is going to handle it.”
“Yeah? And if they don’t? I’m not trying to sound pessimistic, but I’ve seen the system fail good people before. Hell, I’ve been failed by ‘the system’ before.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Right now I just want to go home.” A shiver runs down my spine as I remember. “Shit. My parents know. He told them. I’m going to be walking into a mine field.”
“You can go back to my place if you need. Rest there. Face your family when you’re ready.”
“No, it has to happen, I might as well face the music today. Just get it over with.”
“Ok babe, whatever you think is best.” He pulls me close again, planting another kiss on my head. “Just remember I love you, I’m here for you, and if you need an escape, I’m just a call away.”
“Thank you, my love. I’ll let you know how it all goes down.”
“You better.”
I steel myself as I walk through the front door. I already know what will be waiting for me. My parents are sitting in the living room, waiting expectantly.
“Well, Yasmina,” my mother says. “You certainly have some explaining to do.”
“I know,” I say, tears once again biting at my eyes. “I know I do.”
“Tears won’t help,” my mother chides me. “You’re not a child anymore.”
“The tears are for a long day, mother, not for what you think you know.”
“Well what do I think I know that I don’t?”
“Well first of all, that man who so helpfully shared Alex’s job information with you? He sexually assaulted me today.”
“What?” My father stands to his feet, hands clenched. “He did what?”
“Yes, Papa. He assaulted me, and he’s been harassing me for years.”
My father sinks back to the couch and buries his head in his hands. “How could this happen to my baby?”
“That kind doctor I met in the hospital lobby? I thought he was your friend? How could he—”
I cut my mother off before she can continue. “That ‘kind doctor’ is nothing more than a predator, Mother. He’s lying, manipulative, and dangerous. And I’m done keeping my mouth shut about it. I have a man who loves me. A good man, a kind and gentle man. A man who sure, maybe he’s not a doctor or someone who comes from money. He can’t promise me palaces and jewels, or private jets and exclusive parties. But he can give me what he does have to offer, and to me that means the world.”
My mother stares at me, mouth agape. She doesn’t seem to be protesting, so I continue, allowing my thoughts to finally pour freely.
“You’ve always thought you know what’s best for me. And I know that you only have my best interests at heart and think you’re guiding me well. But you’ve been so blind, both of you. There’s so much more I want… no, I need, than money and success. I need to be loved. I need to be cherished. I need to be valued as a person, not just for what I bring to the table. And Alex gives me that.”
“Because he’s using you for your success! Don’t you think if you were just some lowly janitor like he is, that he wouldn’t give you a second thought?”
“That’s a disgusting thought, Mother. Alex doesn’t see people like that. He doesn’t value them for what’s in their bank account or what their status is. Does he wish he had more to offer? Probably. We all do. But he’s done the best he can with the life he’s been given. And considering what he had to deal with, I think he’s done pretty damn well for himself!” I realize that I’m yelling now, and my parents both look shell-shocked. I’ve never spoken to them like this before.
I soften my tone and sink into the chair opposite them. “I’m sorry for losing my temper. I’ve had a very difficult day, and I don’t mean to take it out on you. This is just something I feel very passionately about. Alex has been there for me in so many ways. In ways I didn’t even know I needed someone. He has already put me first so many times, and has given me the opportunity to experience love that I only thought existed in fairytales. I love him. And I want you to love him, too. Money or no money, status or not. I wish you could see him the way that I do.”
“I just don’t think—” my mother begins, but my father interjects this time.
“I see him,” he says. “I saw him when he was here. The things he said, the way he looks at you… this is love. That, I can accept.” His tone sharpens slightly as he glares admonishingly at me. “What I can’t condone is that you lied to us. Both of you. Lied to our faces and let us believe he was someone he isn’t.”
“I understand, Papa. We were wrong to lie. We always wanted to tell you. Him especially. He hated the idea of lying to you at all. It was me. I was afraid you wouldn’t even give him a chance if you knew the truth up front.”
My father sits back and sighs. “You’re right. We probably wouldn’t have.”
“Now, you don’t know that!” my mother spouts indignantly. “We weren’t given the opportunity to even try!”
“Can you honestly say you would, mom? Even in this conversation now, you called him a ‘lowly janitor’ and insinuated he’s a gold digger. That doesn’t sound like someone who would have given him a chance.”
She crosses her arms and mutters something under her breath, and my father places his hand on her leg.
“Mina, we love you. We will always love you, that will never change. But right now we are feeling betrayed. If you want to be with Alex, and you think you love him, that’s fine. We can’t stand in your way. You are a strong, intelligent adult capable of making your own decisions. We won’t stand in the way of your happiness. But it may take a while before we are willing to open our hearts back up to him. We need to heal from this, and trust has to be rebuilt before we can all move forward.”
“I understand, Papa.”
“Now come here and give me a hug. My heart needs it, and I think yours does, too.”
We both rise and my father wraps me tightly in a hug. He was right. My heart really did need this. With everything finally out in the open, I feel free, but also completely exhausted.
“Now, what can we do about this scoundrel who hurt you?”
“Nothing, HR at the hospital is taking care of it. He’s been harassing Alex too, so we made a report today. There are other witnesses, so hopefully this is all handled quickly.”
“Ok, if you say so. But if you do need us to do anything, your mother and I are here.”
I glance down at my mom, who is still sitting there pouting.
“I’m going to head to my room and crash out for a while. I’m so exhausted.” I lean over and kiss my mother’s head. “I love you.”
“I’ll wake you know when dinner’s ready,” she replies, and I know she means she loves me too.
I make my way to my room and close the door, then quickly climb into bed. I don’t even bother undressing first. I just need to rest.