2. 2
2
D awn
I didn’t want to admit it, but I felt a lot better after eating. What I really wanted now was to get clean. I felt self-conscious about what I must look and smell like. I know that Doc had given me a sponge bath after he brought me back and was checking over my more private injuries. I’m thankful I was mostly out of it for that exam. How embarrassing to have the man you have crushed on for years be the one to do that. I didn’t tell him I had been a virgin before that night. I let him think all the blood was just from the brutality of the rape. Honestly at this point I didn’t think I wanted to ever be touched like that again. I knew that position would be a trigger for me for sure. I eased off the bed and went to the bathroom to take care of business. I had some bruising on the inside of my thighs where hands had held me open and used me. Suddenly I was back in that room with the musky smells, the crying and screaming. I started to shake as the memories assaulted my mind. I slid down the wall to sit on the floor when I heard a knock at the bathroom door.
“Dawn, are you okay in there?” Katherine said softly. It snapped me out of it and then I vomited in the toilet. Seeing some washcloths on the counter I wet one down and held it against my face. “Dawn, let me in.”
“I’m fine, I’m going to shower then I’ll be out.” I yelled back. I didn’t want her to come in here and see me like this. I hated being seen as weak and I damn sure didn’t want them to continue looking at me like a victim. I was a survivor damn it! Doc had removed the IV this morning before we ate so I reached in and turned on the shower and stripped off the shirt I had been sleeping in. Once the water was warm enough, I climbed in and started to wash my hair. I was sore but I needed to move around so I didn’t get too stiff. The hot water felt like heaven on my skin. I scrubbed every inch of my body. I felt so dirty, like I would never be able to get rid of the feeling of their hands or their eyes on me. When everything was clean, I sat down on the bench and just enjoyed the steam from the shower. When it started to get cold, I turned off the water and got out. Wrapping the towel around my body I realized I forgot to get anything to put on. I looked in the mirror and I had some bruising on my face, neck and torso. It was starting to yellow. I looked for a comb or brush and found one in the drawer. I ran it through my hair trying to get the tangles out. I was exhausted now and just wanted clean clothes and to crawl back into bed.
I opened the door to the bathroom and saw Katherine had put fresh sheets on the bed and there were clothes laid out for me. She was sitting in the chair in the corner with her e-reader. She looked up at me and smiled.
“No need to be shy. I’m a doctor too. Sophie brought you some of your clothes. I found them in the drawer. I imagine you are wiped from the shower. It’s amazing how that will take it out of you when you have been in bed recovering for several days. If you like, I’ll braid your hair for you.” Katherine said softly. I noticed she made no move to come near me. Probably afraid I’d freak out. I knew Katherine pretty well since we both had brothers that were MC members. We were close in age but went to different schools. She was a little bit older than me but not much.
“I’d appreciate that. I thought about it, but I just don’t have the energy to do it.” I told her as I offered her a smile. After I was dressed, I sat down on the bed, and she sat behind me. Taking a comb from her purse and a ponytail holder she started to French braid my hair. I can’t remember the last time anyone did that for me. When she finished, she got up and sat back down in the chair. I crawled under the blankets and tried to get comfortable.
“I put some Tylenol and some ice water by the bed. You should probably take them so you can rest more easily. We figured the sooner we weaned you off the heavy pain medicine the better.” Katherine handed them to me, and I swallowed the pills and drank some of the water. “We do need to get something else on your stomach. I heard you throwing up. Did the food upset your stomach?”
“More like flash backs. I’ll try again after a nap.” I frowned as I laid back, closed my eyes and welcomed the privacy sleep would hopefully bring me. I fell asleep to the sound of the fan and the coolness of the room. I slept for a few hours and woke up to my stomach growling. I heard Katherine laugh.
“How about I go fix us some sandwiches. Is there anything you don’t like?” she asked me.
“I’ll eat whatever. Thanks.” I told her as she went to the kitchen. I saw her e-reader by the chair and suddenly wished I had my things from my dorm. I didn’t even have my phone because they tossed it. Katherine came in a few minutes later with a tray and two plates. There were sandwiches, some chips and cut up apples with grapes. She also had two glasses of iced tea. “That looks yummy.”
Katherine put the tray on the moving table and sat by me to eat. She looked thoughtful. We ate in silence, mostly because I didn’t know what to say and I was hungry. When I had cleaned my plate, I sat back and rubbed my stomach.
“I wish I had my phone or my stuff from my dorm. I’m going crazy laying around and sleeping. I’m going to get behind on my schoolwork and I’m almost done.” I moaned out loud. Katherine picked up her phone, sent a message and then smiled at me. “What’s that look for?”
“It so happens that your brother collected your things from the dorm and also arranged for you to finish your classes online. He explained that you had been kidnapped and injured to the Dean and your professors, they all agreed to allow you to do that and take your final exams locally with a proctor.” She told me before getting up to open the door. My brother came in with a bag in his hand and a box.
“Hey sis, I know Doc wants to keep an eye on you for a bit longer but since you’re awake and alert now I brought your laptop. I was also able to recover your phone and some other personal items I thought you might want while you’re here.” Austin sat down on the end of the bed and looked so sad. I was mean to him when they brought me home. I didn’t really blame him but at the time I guess I needed to lash out and he was a safe target.
I reached over, taking his hand and pulled him to me for a hug. “I’m so sorry if I made you feel like I blamed you. I was scared, hurt and angry. It wasn’t your fault and it had nothing to do with the club. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m just lucky you found me before they sold me.” I mumbled into his chest as he held me close.
“I’m so damned sorry that happened to you. I promise, I did not disclose those details to anyone at your school. Just that you were taken and hurt. I should have insisted that you go to school here in town, but you worked so hard for those scholarships, and I was so damn proud of you.” He was still holding me, so I leaned back a bit.
“Thank you for getting my things and making arrangements for me not to get behind. This will keep my mind occupied while my body heals. Will you pull out my laptop and plug it in for me please?” I asked my brother as I looked at my phone. I turned it on and saw messages from my roommate. I sent her a message letting her know that I would be fine and that I wasn’t coming back to school. I told her that my part of the dorm was paid for the semester so she should have the place to herself. I put the phone back down and looked at my brother.
“I’m so glad you’re speaking to me. I missed you so much. Your room at our place is ready whenever you decide you want to come home.” He said as he ran his hand over his head. “I’ll be at work tomorrow, I’m only a phone call away if you need anything.”
“I know and I love you so much. I’m glad to be home, I just wish it had been on my own terms.” I whispered as tears ran down my cheeks. “I think I’d like to be alone for awhile if you both don’t mind. I know Doc didn’t want me to be here alone, but maybe at least I could be alone in the room for a while.”
“Sure, I can go read in the living room.” Katherine said as she left the room. Austin hugged me one more time and kissed the top of my head like he did when I was little.
“I’ll see you later.” He smiled at me and closed the door behind him. I leaned back and closed my eyes. I knew I needed to check on my assignments, but I just didn’t have it in me at the moment. I pushed the tray with my laptop off the bed to the side and fell asleep.