I gave Victoria a hug, and we parted ways. It was a few days after her confession to me, and we had just left the police station. We gave Detective Stratton everything that each of us had, and told him everything we knew.
Luke's trial was scheduled for October, and they were going to be pressing charges on Nate, too. Detective Stratton said he would be talking to the prosecutor the next day and putting out a warrant to search his apartment and seize his computer, and also for his arrest for accessory, premeditation, and possession charges. Detective Stratton said they may add other charges, but this was the preliminary plan.
I wait until Victoria rounded the corner and then I went back into the station. I asked the front desk again to speak with Detective Stratton. One of his fellow Detectives saw me sitting there and took me up to him.
"Hey, Aleah, did you remember something else?"
I bashfully looked at my feet. "No... I just wanted to check in..." I trailed off.
Detective Stratton sighed. But his voice softened. "Aleah, you already know that I couldn't tell you anything even if I knew."
"I know," I said sadly, staring at my hands.
"Hey," he put his finger under my chin to move my head up, making my eyes meet his. "This is what you need to remember. No news, really is good news."
~~~~~~~
I was curled up on my couch eating some Almond Butter balls. It was a recipe I had discovered/altered when I was at home late one night and craving something sweet, and healthy-ish, that I could make with some random ingredients. They hit the spot, perfectly. I was catching up on So You Think You Can Dance, when my phone started ringing. It was a number I didn't recognize with an out of state area code.
I frowned at my phone. I normally don't answer numbers I don't recognize, however, I was hoping it was Aaron, calling from where ever he was.
"Hello?"
There was a brief pause on the other end of the phone. Then a tentative female voice. "Uh, hello. Is Aleah available?"
"This is she."
"Hi, Aleah. This is Quinn, Aaron's mom."
My eyes widened. I definitely didn't know how she got my number. I also had definitely never met her or spoken to her. Aaron had told me a little bit about his family. I knew they lived in Illinois, specifically a suburb of Chicago. I knew he had 4 sisters and his parents are divorced. He had said he was relatively close with his family, but didn't see them often because of the distance. He had also told me he wanted me to meet them, but with my last semester being crazy, and then him being in Philadelphia, and then who knows where, it just hadn't happened.
I cleared my throat, completely aware of my awkward silence. "Oh, um, hi!" I really didn't know what to say, and knew I was making this even more uncomfortable with my inability to hold a conversation at the moment.
There was gentle laughter coming through. "I'm so sorry to call you out of the blue like this. Aaron had given me your number, before he went AWOL, in case of an emergency."
"Oh my..."
She must have heard the terror in my voice and cut me off. "Oh, no no no. I'm sorry. There's not an emergency! Aaron spoke very highly of you, and he also seemed very worried about you the last time I talked to him. I wanted to check in... on his behalf. But, also, I'd really like to meet the woman who my son is so enamored with."
Monday, August 17, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
Because I'm Sorry
If you haven't read it, yet, make sure you don't miss the bonus from Saturday, Impressions.
~~~~~~~
"Well, isn't THAT a force to be reckoned with," bellowed Nate. He sneered at Victoria and I. I saw her jerk her head up and shift her weight backwards, away from him approaching us.
Nate was Luke's roommate. The dirty one, who was also on the basketball team. The one who also happened to have had a conversation on Facebook with Luke about their dirty, horrific plan of what they were going to do to me.
I bristled, but didn't say anything. Victoria almost seemed to cower. He stopped within feet of us, just appraising each of us. I crossed my arms. I wasn't going to let him win this battle. We were in public, so nothing was going to happen.
"I like it when you cross your arms like that," he calmly said, staring at my chest.
I finally spoke. "We are busy. Is there something you need?"
Wrong question.
"Actually, yes. I need a good fucking. I think you two could more than help me with that." He squinted his eyes at each of us, challenging either of us to cross him.
My heart was pounding, but I wasn't giving in. "Literally, over my dead body. Now please leave."
He glanced at me one more time then turned his attention to Victoria. He reached out and grabbed one of her curls, pulling at it. "Oh, Vic, you know how good I can make you hurt."
She was quickly turning red, and looked like she wanted to melt into a pile of death.
I reached out and slapped his hand downward, hard, knocking it away from her. I grabbed Victoria by the arm and dragged her away.
"Well, shit, ladies, I hate to see you go, but really do love to watch you leave."
Neither of us turned around.
Once we were outside and a few blocks away, I stopped at a bench and sat down, hard. Victoria slowly sat beside me. "He's just as bad as Luke. Maybe worse," I started.
She shook her head, silencing me. I looked at her, and saw she was crying. I watched her, quizzically, but didn't say anything.
She eventually broke her silence. "He's way worse."
I questioned, doubting her. "Is that even possible?"
"It is." She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, and sighed. "Luke was always crass and at times rude, but he was always straightforward with me. When he came to school here, he changed pretty quickly. He was short on the phone, evasive, and I caught him in a few small lies. I didn't know how bad it was until you entered the picture. No offense. But, Nate was who he was placed with to room with when he came here."
"But are you sure Nate corrupted Luke and it wasn't the other way around?"
"I came to visit Luke on a weekend, which later I found out you were gone for tennis, which is how he got away with it. But I went to a party with him, and they were pill popping. He said Nate did them all the time and introduced him. He said they helped keep him alert in classes with drinking a lot." She shook her head, her curls bouncing around her face. "So I was still here visiting when you came back from your tennis trip. I was supposed to leave the next day in the afternoon. Well, apparently Luke wanted to see you when you got back, so he told me he had a school project he was meeting with a group and then they were going out for beers after to celebrate the completion. I was hanging out at their house waiting for him to come back when Nate got home. He said he'd keep me company so we were playing some Wii games. We both had a drink anyway, so we turned it into a drinking game. After mine was gone, he offered to get me another. That's the last thing about that night I remember until I woke up in his bed that morning, naked."
"Oh, no..." I gasped.
She rolled her eyes, then brushed away the tears. "Yeah, that's not even the worst part, if you can believe it." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Turns out that to help Luke get away with being with you for as long as he wanted or needed that night, he had made a deal with him that Nate could do whatever he wanted with me, as long as he used protection." She scoffed, clearly still disgusted. "Luke betrayed me, and sold me out," she said, sadly.
I widened my eyes in disbelief. "No!"
"Yeah. And it was Nate's idea. I mean, don't get me wrong. Luke is a piece of shit, too. I just think Nate is the king shit." Her face then fell, and she just sat there, staring miserably at the sidewalk.
I saw Victoria, then, for what she was really was. Hurt and damaged. As horribly scarred as I was from Luke in the brief amount of time I'd known him, she had dealt with him and his crap for far longer than I.
I didn't realize I was crying, until Victoria asked me why I was. "Because I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way Luke and Nate treated you. I'm sorry you had to go through that."
She shook her head. "It isn't your fault."
"No, but I really am still sorry." And I reached over and grabbed her hand, and we sat like that in silence, letting the reality of how deep this mess really was, wash over us.
~~~~~~~
"Well, isn't THAT a force to be reckoned with," bellowed Nate. He sneered at Victoria and I. I saw her jerk her head up and shift her weight backwards, away from him approaching us.
Nate was Luke's roommate. The dirty one, who was also on the basketball team. The one who also happened to have had a conversation on Facebook with Luke about their dirty, horrific plan of what they were going to do to me.
I bristled, but didn't say anything. Victoria almost seemed to cower. He stopped within feet of us, just appraising each of us. I crossed my arms. I wasn't going to let him win this battle. We were in public, so nothing was going to happen.
"I like it when you cross your arms like that," he calmly said, staring at my chest.
I finally spoke. "We are busy. Is there something you need?"
Wrong question.
"Actually, yes. I need a good fucking. I think you two could more than help me with that." He squinted his eyes at each of us, challenging either of us to cross him.
My heart was pounding, but I wasn't giving in. "Literally, over my dead body. Now please leave."
He glanced at me one more time then turned his attention to Victoria. He reached out and grabbed one of her curls, pulling at it. "Oh, Vic, you know how good I can make you hurt."
She was quickly turning red, and looked like she wanted to melt into a pile of death.
I reached out and slapped his hand downward, hard, knocking it away from her. I grabbed Victoria by the arm and dragged her away.
"Well, shit, ladies, I hate to see you go, but really do love to watch you leave."
Neither of us turned around.
Once we were outside and a few blocks away, I stopped at a bench and sat down, hard. Victoria slowly sat beside me. "He's just as bad as Luke. Maybe worse," I started.
She shook her head, silencing me. I looked at her, and saw she was crying. I watched her, quizzically, but didn't say anything.
She eventually broke her silence. "He's way worse."
I questioned, doubting her. "Is that even possible?"
"It is." She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, and sighed. "Luke was always crass and at times rude, but he was always straightforward with me. When he came to school here, he changed pretty quickly. He was short on the phone, evasive, and I caught him in a few small lies. I didn't know how bad it was until you entered the picture. No offense. But, Nate was who he was placed with to room with when he came here."
"But are you sure Nate corrupted Luke and it wasn't the other way around?"
"I came to visit Luke on a weekend, which later I found out you were gone for tennis, which is how he got away with it. But I went to a party with him, and they were pill popping. He said Nate did them all the time and introduced him. He said they helped keep him alert in classes with drinking a lot." She shook her head, her curls bouncing around her face. "So I was still here visiting when you came back from your tennis trip. I was supposed to leave the next day in the afternoon. Well, apparently Luke wanted to see you when you got back, so he told me he had a school project he was meeting with a group and then they were going out for beers after to celebrate the completion. I was hanging out at their house waiting for him to come back when Nate got home. He said he'd keep me company so we were playing some Wii games. We both had a drink anyway, so we turned it into a drinking game. After mine was gone, he offered to get me another. That's the last thing about that night I remember until I woke up in his bed that morning, naked."
"Oh, no..." I gasped.
She rolled her eyes, then brushed away the tears. "Yeah, that's not even the worst part, if you can believe it." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Turns out that to help Luke get away with being with you for as long as he wanted or needed that night, he had made a deal with him that Nate could do whatever he wanted with me, as long as he used protection." She scoffed, clearly still disgusted. "Luke betrayed me, and sold me out," she said, sadly.
I widened my eyes in disbelief. "No!"
"Yeah. And it was Nate's idea. I mean, don't get me wrong. Luke is a piece of shit, too. I just think Nate is the king shit." Her face then fell, and she just sat there, staring miserably at the sidewalk.
I saw Victoria, then, for what she was really was. Hurt and damaged. As horribly scarred as I was from Luke in the brief amount of time I'd known him, she had dealt with him and his crap for far longer than I.
I didn't realize I was crying, until Victoria asked me why I was. "Because I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way Luke and Nate treated you. I'm sorry you had to go through that."
She shook her head. "It isn't your fault."
"No, but I really am still sorry." And I reached over and grabbed her hand, and we sat like that in silence, letting the reality of how deep this mess really was, wash over us.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Impressions
"Hey!" I walked up to the table where James was sitting, waiting for me. Our schedules at work usually conflicted now, so we didn't see each other often.
He stood up and enveloped me in a hug, kissing my cheek. Then he pulled my chair out for me before sitting back down in his seat. "Aleah, such a sight for sore eyes." I rolled mine.
We briefly caught up, acknowledging that while I was in a relationship, James was once again single. Never were we single at the same time. We each ordered food and he dove right in for what to expect for the interview, what they were hiring for, and details about the actual position. As we concluded our food, he finished with, "And please, for the love of all that is holy, if you truly do not know the answer to a question, do not ramble pointlessly. It's painful. That's a great moment for you to admit you don't know everything but that you're a quick learner."
I chuckled, "Got it. Admit I'm not perfect."
"Close, but not quite." He grinned.
He picked up lunch. We were waiting for the waitress to return with his credit card, when I heard my name being softly called behind me.
I turned and saw Victoria standing there. She shyly looked past me at James, then met my eyes. Sheepishly, she said, "I'm a little early, sorry."
I had made plans with Victoria to go shopping/walk around downtown after lunch with James, and told her where I'd be and about when I'd be done. I quickly looked at my phone, seeing that she was actually on time, our lunch was just going a little late.
"It's okay. We were just finishing up." The waitress dropped off the book then, and James filled out the receipt. I stood up. "Oh, and Victoria, this is my friend James, James, this is Victoria."
James stood and clasped Victoria's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Victoria. Aleah never mentioned she had such a beautiful friend."
I rolled my eyes behind his back. But Victoria was feeding right into it and giggled like a high schooler. I noted she was blushing. "Oh thank you. But the pleasure is all mine!"
We walked out of the restaurant. James pulled me into a tight hug, saying bye. He told Victoria it had been nice meeting her, and he left.
Victoria and I started walking, in awkward silence, down the sidewalk, looking for a shop to go browse in.
"Sooo..." she started. "Are you and James good friends?"
I glanced at her and saw her staring straight ahead, but blushing. "Sometimes."
I saw her steal a quick glance at me, and she laughed. "What does that even mean?"
I sighed. "Well, we go in waves of talking and not talking. We work together at the Racquet Club, but we've been friends since I started there. Sometimes we are closer than others."
She then made eye contact at me. "Did you two ever date?"
"Uh, no." I raised an eyebrow at her. "Why?"
She tried to hide her smile, but couldn't. "Because he's hot! And I'm single now... but, you know... given our history I don't want to immediately start off by stepping on your toes by maybe developing a slight crush on someone you may have dated."
"That's a very valid point." I laughed out loud, but internally felt torn. "I have no claim on him. Besides, I'm dating someone and am very happy."
She seemed to get even more excited. "Oh, yeah! That detective guy, right?"
I grinned. "Yeah, that detective guy."
We went in and out of several small shops downtown. Our conversation actually flowed pretty naturally, and after the first awkward silence, we didn't have any. I could see why Luke actually liked being around each of us. We were pretty similar, after you got past Victoria's rough edges. We liked a lot of the same music and types of movies and books. Plus, we enjoyed a lot of similar activities.
"Oh, lets stop in at the bookstore," Victoria said. "I've had quite a bit of down time and want to find a new series to read."
I shrugged. "Okay."
We entered and browsed around. She was reading the back of a book and I was glancing at titles, to see if anything struck my interest when I saw someone come down the aisle towards us.
I looked up, and froze, in surprise.
He stood up and enveloped me in a hug, kissing my cheek. Then he pulled my chair out for me before sitting back down in his seat. "Aleah, such a sight for sore eyes." I rolled mine.
We briefly caught up, acknowledging that while I was in a relationship, James was once again single. Never were we single at the same time. We each ordered food and he dove right in for what to expect for the interview, what they were hiring for, and details about the actual position. As we concluded our food, he finished with, "And please, for the love of all that is holy, if you truly do not know the answer to a question, do not ramble pointlessly. It's painful. That's a great moment for you to admit you don't know everything but that you're a quick learner."
I chuckled, "Got it. Admit I'm not perfect."
"Close, but not quite." He grinned.
He picked up lunch. We were waiting for the waitress to return with his credit card, when I heard my name being softly called behind me.
I turned and saw Victoria standing there. She shyly looked past me at James, then met my eyes. Sheepishly, she said, "I'm a little early, sorry."
I had made plans with Victoria to go shopping/walk around downtown after lunch with James, and told her where I'd be and about when I'd be done. I quickly looked at my phone, seeing that she was actually on time, our lunch was just going a little late.
"It's okay. We were just finishing up." The waitress dropped off the book then, and James filled out the receipt. I stood up. "Oh, and Victoria, this is my friend James, James, this is Victoria."
James stood and clasped Victoria's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Victoria. Aleah never mentioned she had such a beautiful friend."
I rolled my eyes behind his back. But Victoria was feeding right into it and giggled like a high schooler. I noted she was blushing. "Oh thank you. But the pleasure is all mine!"
We walked out of the restaurant. James pulled me into a tight hug, saying bye. He told Victoria it had been nice meeting her, and he left.
Victoria and I started walking, in awkward silence, down the sidewalk, looking for a shop to go browse in.
"Sooo..." she started. "Are you and James good friends?"
I glanced at her and saw her staring straight ahead, but blushing. "Sometimes."
I saw her steal a quick glance at me, and she laughed. "What does that even mean?"
I sighed. "Well, we go in waves of talking and not talking. We work together at the Racquet Club, but we've been friends since I started there. Sometimes we are closer than others."
She then made eye contact at me. "Did you two ever date?"
"Uh, no." I raised an eyebrow at her. "Why?"
She tried to hide her smile, but couldn't. "Because he's hot! And I'm single now... but, you know... given our history I don't want to immediately start off by stepping on your toes by maybe developing a slight crush on someone you may have dated."
"That's a very valid point." I laughed out loud, but internally felt torn. "I have no claim on him. Besides, I'm dating someone and am very happy."
She seemed to get even more excited. "Oh, yeah! That detective guy, right?"
I grinned. "Yeah, that detective guy."
We went in and out of several small shops downtown. Our conversation actually flowed pretty naturally, and after the first awkward silence, we didn't have any. I could see why Luke actually liked being around each of us. We were pretty similar, after you got past Victoria's rough edges. We liked a lot of the same music and types of movies and books. Plus, we enjoyed a lot of similar activities.
"Oh, lets stop in at the bookstore," Victoria said. "I've had quite a bit of down time and want to find a new series to read."
I shrugged. "Okay."
We entered and browsed around. She was reading the back of a book and I was glancing at titles, to see if anything struck my interest when I saw someone come down the aisle towards us.
I looked up, and froze, in surprise.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Phone Time
The phone was ringing. My stomach was churning. Even though this was something I wanted to do, it still made me nervous, knowing Victoria's connection to Luke.
Voicemail.
I hung up quickly, not wanting to leave a message, yet. If I didn't hear back from her, I would send her a text message the next day.
I set my phone down, and as soon as my hand left it, it started ringing. I quickly snatched it up, expecting to see Victoria's number, but saw it was from a number I didn't recognize.
"Hello?" I answered tentatively. Ever since the second Luke incident, I was scared I was going to answer and he would somehow be on the other end.
"Hi, is this Aleah Lange?" It was a kind sounding female.
"Yes, this is she."
"Hello, Aleah. My name is Wendy. I work for the Department of Health and Human Services. I was calling about a job application you had submitted through our website?"
I brightened up. I had forgotten in all of the issues with Luke, and my worry about Aaron, that I had applied for a job working as an investigator for the child protective services.
"Oh, yes! Thank you for calling."
"We'd like to schedule an interview with you here at the office. Would you be available sometime at the beginning of next week?"
"I would." I didn't want to sound too available. Like I wasn't doing anything with my life. Which, I kinda wasn't. "I could do anytime Tuesday afternoon, if that would work, and if not I could rearrange some things to make a different day and time available?"
"Yes, that'll be perfect. How does 2 p.m. sound?"
"That will work and I'll put it on my calendar!"
After we ended the call I stood up and did a little happy dance. Unfortunately, Sarah wasn't home. My mom and dad were both at work. Who I really wanted to tell first was Aaron, but I had no way of getting a hold of him. I sighed, loudly. I pulled up Facebook on my phone. I figured I would just send him a message on there, and hopefully he'd check it. I went to my search bar and started typing in his name, but it wasn't pulling up. "That's weird," I muttered to myself. I went to the "About" section of my profile and scrolled to my relationship status and saw that it said "In a Relationship" but Aaron's name was gone. I frowned. I tried actually searching for Aaron, but there were no matches.
My temper flared up and I threw my phone against the back of the padded chair that was sitting close to the couch and watched my phone bounce off, hit the seat of the chair and slide onto the floor.
I sat back hard against the couch, not moving to get my phone. I stayed like that for about 10 minutes, having a mini pity party and pouting.
It was at that moment that an imaginary light bulb went off above my head. I stood up and retrieved my phone and pulled up a new text to James. Yes, the same James who works with me at the Racquet Club and that we've had a secret attraction to each other forever. Also, turns out, for his "real" job, James is a supervisor for the child protective services, which is how I found out about the job. I had told him one night that I wasn't sure what I was going to do, or even where to begin searching for jobs. He had suggested applying. So I did.
Guess who has an interview at your workplace next week!!!!! :)
Immediately he responded back: You mean there's a possibility I could see your sexy face almost every day of the week?
Don't get ahead of yourself, there, James.
But yes! haha
Meet for lunch on Friday and I can give you some pointers?
Sure!
Awesome. I'll let you know Friday morning what time and where.
I smiled to myself, but then remembered Aaron's missing Facebook. I pulled it up again and tried searching for him. No results.
I sighed again and decided to call Detective Stratton. I wanted to check in on where the case with Luke was. Plus, hopefully he could at least let me know Aaron was alive.
As I was scrolling through my contacts to find Detective Stratton's number, an incoming call popped up on my screen. Victoria.
Voicemail.
I hung up quickly, not wanting to leave a message, yet. If I didn't hear back from her, I would send her a text message the next day.
I set my phone down, and as soon as my hand left it, it started ringing. I quickly snatched it up, expecting to see Victoria's number, but saw it was from a number I didn't recognize.
"Hello?" I answered tentatively. Ever since the second Luke incident, I was scared I was going to answer and he would somehow be on the other end.
"Hi, is this Aleah Lange?" It was a kind sounding female.
"Yes, this is she."
"Hello, Aleah. My name is Wendy. I work for the Department of Health and Human Services. I was calling about a job application you had submitted through our website?"
I brightened up. I had forgotten in all of the issues with Luke, and my worry about Aaron, that I had applied for a job working as an investigator for the child protective services.
"Oh, yes! Thank you for calling."
"We'd like to schedule an interview with you here at the office. Would you be available sometime at the beginning of next week?"
"I would." I didn't want to sound too available. Like I wasn't doing anything with my life. Which, I kinda wasn't. "I could do anytime Tuesday afternoon, if that would work, and if not I could rearrange some things to make a different day and time available?"
"Yes, that'll be perfect. How does 2 p.m. sound?"
"That will work and I'll put it on my calendar!"
After we ended the call I stood up and did a little happy dance. Unfortunately, Sarah wasn't home. My mom and dad were both at work. Who I really wanted to tell first was Aaron, but I had no way of getting a hold of him. I sighed, loudly. I pulled up Facebook on my phone. I figured I would just send him a message on there, and hopefully he'd check it. I went to my search bar and started typing in his name, but it wasn't pulling up. "That's weird," I muttered to myself. I went to the "About" section of my profile and scrolled to my relationship status and saw that it said "In a Relationship" but Aaron's name was gone. I frowned. I tried actually searching for Aaron, but there were no matches.
My temper flared up and I threw my phone against the back of the padded chair that was sitting close to the couch and watched my phone bounce off, hit the seat of the chair and slide onto the floor.
I sat back hard against the couch, not moving to get my phone. I stayed like that for about 10 minutes, having a mini pity party and pouting.
It was at that moment that an imaginary light bulb went off above my head. I stood up and retrieved my phone and pulled up a new text to James. Yes, the same James who works with me at the Racquet Club and that we've had a secret attraction to each other forever. Also, turns out, for his "real" job, James is a supervisor for the child protective services, which is how I found out about the job. I had told him one night that I wasn't sure what I was going to do, or even where to begin searching for jobs. He had suggested applying. So I did.
Guess who has an interview at your workplace next week!!!!! :)
Immediately he responded back: You mean there's a possibility I could see your sexy face almost every day of the week?
Don't get ahead of yourself, there, James.
But yes! haha
Meet for lunch on Friday and I can give you some pointers?
Sure!
Awesome. I'll let you know Friday morning what time and where.
I smiled to myself, but then remembered Aaron's missing Facebook. I pulled it up again and tried searching for him. No results.
I sighed again and decided to call Detective Stratton. I wanted to check in on where the case with Luke was. Plus, hopefully he could at least let me know Aaron was alive.
As I was scrolling through my contacts to find Detective Stratton's number, an incoming call popped up on my screen. Victoria.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Swiping Right
"What were you thinking?" Sarah asked.
I knew that she was saying it with love, but it still made me bristle, actually hearing the words come out of her mouth.
I sighed loudly. On purpose. But my shoulders drooped, defeated. "I don't know. I just wanted to do what I would do if Luke had never entered my life. I just wanted to feel.... normal."
I had been avoiding saying Luke's name since the second incident, but my therapist was encouraging me to say it and face it. He kept telling me that by altering my life, it was letting him win. It was letting him have power over me.
Sarah and I were having a girls' night in. We had invited Maddie and Elena, but neither of them could make it. We had stockpiled summer sausage, cheese, and crackers and a couple bottles of Barefoot crisp white wine. We had American Ninja Warrior on in the background, as we watched, ate, and gossiped.
We both had paused the conversation, as we were watching one of the competitors attempt to run the course. "I wish I had that kind of body control and strength," I rhetorically said.
"You and me both," Sarah agreed.
Once the run finished, Sarah responded. "I know you do. I can't keep up with you running, but if you start training again..."
I cut her off. "I AM going to start training again."
"Okay, okay. WHEN you start training again, I can go with you. We'll just have to plan the runs out in advance so I make sure I can do them. I'll roller blade or bike along with you."
"I suppose," I pouted. I really wanted to be independent. Thankfully, the self-defense classes Aaron wanted me to take were beginning the next week and Sarah had thought it'd be a good idea for her to participate, too.
Sarah's tone of voice softened, then. "Listen, Aleah, I'm really sorry this all happened to you. And twice, at that. Luke is a piece of shit and deserves to rot. I want you to be able to feel normal, too. Also, I'm sorry I had been gone at Matt's so much before the last attack." Prior to the last incident, Sarah had been staying at Matt's almost every night. I had asked her at one point if she just wanted to move in there, and that I wouldn't be offended, but she said she didn't want to, yet. She said they hadn't even been together a year, and mentally they had to at least make it to that point. "I'm going to make a point to be here more often. I've missed you, anyway."
I grinned and threw a cracker at her face. "You're giving me the feels."
She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "You know I absolutely despise all those weird word shortenings."
"SMH, girl, you know they're legit."
She glared at me. "You suck."
"And you're on fleek." I giggled.
She threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "I don't even know what that means!"
I shrugged. "I don't either."
We both laughed and finished the first bottle of wine and screwed open the other. (Hey, we like cheap screw top wines.)
"So..." Sarah tentatively began. "Heard from Aaron?"
I unwillingly grimaced. "No."
She gave me a side eye. "I'm sorry. I'm sure he misses you as much as you miss him!"
"I know." I let out a long, lingering breath. "I know he brought me those flowers at the hospital. I just wish he could've been there when I was actually coherent, so it didn't feel like a fleeting dream. I miss him a lot and don't even know where he is! It's been several weeks since I got out. He could be dead." I took a long sip of wine, pushing the morbid thoughts of him laying in a ditch bleeding out far away, to keep the tears from forming.
"Aleah, that man loves you. He will make sure to make it back here alive for you. Otherwise, he knows you'd kill him." She smiled.
I rolled my eyes at her, this time. "You're a nerd. And yes. I know he loves me. I really do. It's just hard."
We watched the next couple of competitors and their stories in silence. I yearned to change the topic. "So I think we should force Maddie and Elena to leave their hubbies and we need another night out in Omaha. Maybe we can do an overnight and go to a few clubs and dance a whole lot?"
"Oh my gosh, yes. Please, yes. I've been missing some dancing in my life."
"Alright, lets figure out a weekend next month that works and check with the other two."
"How would you feel if I invited Kate?" Kate is Sarah's longtime high school friend who had overdosed on drugs and went into rehab. I know she'd been out and doing well, and Sarah had been talking about asking Kate to come out and visit with us for a long weekend or week.
I smiled. "You should! I always liked Kate and think we'd all have fun."
I hesitated at my next question, because I didn't know what Sarah would say, though I knew she'd be honest.
"Soooo... I've been thinking... I might ask Victoria to hang out sometime."
Sarah's eyes practically fell out of her face. Before she could say anything, I rushed on. "I feel really bad for her, she doesn't know anyone up here, she might be kind of depressed, and she got screwed over by Luke, in some ways more than me. I think she could use a friend. And if she and I had met in any different circumstances, I think she would've been part of our group, honestly."
Sarah's mouth opened and closed several times, before taking several loud gulps of her wine. Sarah a lot of times overreacted to things at first, but if she managed to keep her mouth shut for a few minutes and thought about it, she tended to be reasonable.
She squinted at me, as if to read to see if I had an ulterior motive. She seemed to think my rushed reasoning sufficed, though. "I think you should be really cautious. I don't know if you should trust her. I think I would suggest to not be friends with her. However, you typically are a really good judge of character." At that, she gave me a pointed look and I knew she was thinking about the exception of Luke. "I also think you're right, and I kinda feel bad for her."
"I do, too. I don't know if I could or should ever trust her. But I at least want to see. If it doesn't work out, no love lost." I shrugged at the thought.
Sarah let out a short laugh. "You're treating her like a Tinder date."
"Then I guess I'm swiping right!"
She shook her head. "At least let me hang out with you guys, too."
I saw the determined look on her face and knew she wasn't going to let me get away with hanging out with her alone. "Fine. But no complaining for whatever I decide. If she even wants to. I guess we'll see."
We dropped it at that, and went back to watching our show.
I knew that she was saying it with love, but it still made me bristle, actually hearing the words come out of her mouth.
I sighed loudly. On purpose. But my shoulders drooped, defeated. "I don't know. I just wanted to do what I would do if Luke had never entered my life. I just wanted to feel.... normal."
I had been avoiding saying Luke's name since the second incident, but my therapist was encouraging me to say it and face it. He kept telling me that by altering my life, it was letting him win. It was letting him have power over me.
Sarah and I were having a girls' night in. We had invited Maddie and Elena, but neither of them could make it. We had stockpiled summer sausage, cheese, and crackers and a couple bottles of Barefoot crisp white wine. We had American Ninja Warrior on in the background, as we watched, ate, and gossiped.
We both had paused the conversation, as we were watching one of the competitors attempt to run the course. "I wish I had that kind of body control and strength," I rhetorically said.
"You and me both," Sarah agreed.
Once the run finished, Sarah responded. "I know you do. I can't keep up with you running, but if you start training again..."
I cut her off. "I AM going to start training again."
"Okay, okay. WHEN you start training again, I can go with you. We'll just have to plan the runs out in advance so I make sure I can do them. I'll roller blade or bike along with you."
"I suppose," I pouted. I really wanted to be independent. Thankfully, the self-defense classes Aaron wanted me to take were beginning the next week and Sarah had thought it'd be a good idea for her to participate, too.
Sarah's tone of voice softened, then. "Listen, Aleah, I'm really sorry this all happened to you. And twice, at that. Luke is a piece of shit and deserves to rot. I want you to be able to feel normal, too. Also, I'm sorry I had been gone at Matt's so much before the last attack." Prior to the last incident, Sarah had been staying at Matt's almost every night. I had asked her at one point if she just wanted to move in there, and that I wouldn't be offended, but she said she didn't want to, yet. She said they hadn't even been together a year, and mentally they had to at least make it to that point. "I'm going to make a point to be here more often. I've missed you, anyway."
I grinned and threw a cracker at her face. "You're giving me the feels."
She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "You know I absolutely despise all those weird word shortenings."
"SMH, girl, you know they're legit."
She glared at me. "You suck."
"And you're on fleek." I giggled.
She threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "I don't even know what that means!"
I shrugged. "I don't either."
We both laughed and finished the first bottle of wine and screwed open the other. (Hey, we like cheap screw top wines.)
"So..." Sarah tentatively began. "Heard from Aaron?"
I unwillingly grimaced. "No."
She gave me a side eye. "I'm sorry. I'm sure he misses you as much as you miss him!"
"I know." I let out a long, lingering breath. "I know he brought me those flowers at the hospital. I just wish he could've been there when I was actually coherent, so it didn't feel like a fleeting dream. I miss him a lot and don't even know where he is! It's been several weeks since I got out. He could be dead." I took a long sip of wine, pushing the morbid thoughts of him laying in a ditch bleeding out far away, to keep the tears from forming.
"Aleah, that man loves you. He will make sure to make it back here alive for you. Otherwise, he knows you'd kill him." She smiled.
I rolled my eyes at her, this time. "You're a nerd. And yes. I know he loves me. I really do. It's just hard."
We watched the next couple of competitors and their stories in silence. I yearned to change the topic. "So I think we should force Maddie and Elena to leave their hubbies and we need another night out in Omaha. Maybe we can do an overnight and go to a few clubs and dance a whole lot?"
"Oh my gosh, yes. Please, yes. I've been missing some dancing in my life."
"Alright, lets figure out a weekend next month that works and check with the other two."
"How would you feel if I invited Kate?" Kate is Sarah's longtime high school friend who had overdosed on drugs and went into rehab. I know she'd been out and doing well, and Sarah had been talking about asking Kate to come out and visit with us for a long weekend or week.
I smiled. "You should! I always liked Kate and think we'd all have fun."
I hesitated at my next question, because I didn't know what Sarah would say, though I knew she'd be honest.
"Soooo... I've been thinking... I might ask Victoria to hang out sometime."
Sarah's eyes practically fell out of her face. Before she could say anything, I rushed on. "I feel really bad for her, she doesn't know anyone up here, she might be kind of depressed, and she got screwed over by Luke, in some ways more than me. I think she could use a friend. And if she and I had met in any different circumstances, I think she would've been part of our group, honestly."
Sarah's mouth opened and closed several times, before taking several loud gulps of her wine. Sarah a lot of times overreacted to things at first, but if she managed to keep her mouth shut for a few minutes and thought about it, she tended to be reasonable.
She squinted at me, as if to read to see if I had an ulterior motive. She seemed to think my rushed reasoning sufficed, though. "I think you should be really cautious. I don't know if you should trust her. I think I would suggest to not be friends with her. However, you typically are a really good judge of character." At that, she gave me a pointed look and I knew she was thinking about the exception of Luke. "I also think you're right, and I kinda feel bad for her."
"I do, too. I don't know if I could or should ever trust her. But I at least want to see. If it doesn't work out, no love lost." I shrugged at the thought.
Sarah let out a short laugh. "You're treating her like a Tinder date."
"Then I guess I'm swiping right!"
She shook her head. "At least let me hang out with you guys, too."
I saw the determined look on her face and knew she wasn't going to let me get away with hanging out with her alone. "Fine. But no complaining for whatever I decide. If she even wants to. I guess we'll see."
We dropped it at that, and went back to watching our show.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Please Be Okay: Aaron's perspective
"Fuck." I ran my hand through my hair. "Are you shitting me, Brad?" I immediately started throwing random things haphazardly into a duffel bag. I couldn't fucking believe he attacked her again. I knew, deep down, I just KNEW that I shouldn't have left her. I'm sorry, Aleah. Please be okay.
"I just thought you'd want to know. Don't do anything stupid, Aaron." I hung up the burner phone, throwing it into the bag along with whatever else I'd tossed in there.
I rolled my eyes. I knew even taking off like this could jeopardize everything for me, but I didn't care. Making sure Aleah was okay was more important. Leaving her was terrible, but ultimately, I was doing it for us. I knew having this experience would lend its hand one day for a major payoff, probably in the form of a promotion. I wanted to be more than enough for her.
If she even knew how close to her I really was, she wouldn't be happy that I hadn't contacted her. But I couldn't. Infiltrating this drug ring was crucial, and that meant only meeting my one police contact in our designated spot at the predetermined meeting times. I couldn't have outside contact with anyone. Another undercover had made it in, and he was bringing me in, as a friend from a previous life, trying to enter into this one. They needed someone young and attractive who could swing the partying lifestyle, and not only talk the talk, but walk it.
I shoved Jose's shoulder, as he lay still passed out on the other cheap hotel bed we were crashing in after our long night of drinking. My headache was only worsening with each passing minute. He was my partner, and I needed to let him know I was going to be gone for a minute, without letting him know. We never knew when we were being watched. "Jose. Jose!" I shook him, to wake him up.
He stirred, groggily, blindly swatting at my hand. "Dude, what," he said without opening his eyes.
"I gotta go, brah."
He opened an eye to look at me. He propped himself up on an elbow, yawning, and cocked an eyebrow at me. I knew he was silently asking me where without asking.
"I just need to walk last night's shit off." That was literally a code for "it's personal and I can't tell right now."
"Don't be long. We have to swing by Tito's." He gave me a pointed look.
I knew what that meant. We had an "engagement" that we needed to be at later in the day. I nodded my head at him and left.
~~~~~~~
I had a baseball hat on, and looked grungy. I made sure I did. I didn't want anyone recognizing me. The door to Aleah's hospital room was shut. I lightly knocked on the door, and there was no answer. Perfect.
I slipped in, and knew I needed to make my visit brief.
I stopped when I saw her. Eyes closed, hooked up to machines. Her head was wrapped in a bandage. I put my hand to my forehead, blinking hard. I don't cry.
But.
Seeing Aleah helpless, almost appearing lifeless, hurt. I didn't protect her and I should have. I should've been there to beat the shit out of that worthless fucker, Luke. I sniffed hard, pulling it together, wiping the lone tear that threatened to break the barrier across my cheek.
I approached slowly, holding the bouquet of flowers in my hand. I got her favorite. I couldn't have her know I was there, so in the small wafer thin paper stuck in the flowers, I had drawn a heart, and that's it. I hoped she would know just by that.
As I neared her bed, she seemed to stir. Her head moved slightly, and her eyes fluttered half open. She didn't appear to be with it.
"Hey babe," I said gently, hoping she wouldn't hear the waver in my voice.
She smiled, barely. It made my heart clench, in pain. I smiled back, but wasn't sure she could even tell, as her eyes were more closed than open. Her mouth opened slightly, but she didn't speak. I set the flowers on the table next to her bed and grabbed her hand closest to me with both of mine. It was cold and limp.
I swallowed hard. "You know I had to see you with my own eyes." To make sure you are okay. I needed to make sure you weren't hurt beyond repair. I wouldn't forgive myself if you were.
I squeezed her hand. I grabbed the flowers and showed them to her. "I brought you this." I set the vase on the table next to the couch.
I again thought of Luke and what he had done. I clenched my fists, but forced myself to release. "I should have been there. I'm so sorry." My voice was shaking, precluding the thunder before the storm. I didn't know if I could hold it together.
I grabbed her hand again and just sat there for a few minutes I knew I didn't have much time. I then noticed a single tear falling down her cheek. I hastily wiped it away. I love her so much, I felt as if I was going to implode.
Her hair that was sticking from under the bandage was plastered to her forehead and temple. I stroked it back, pushing it behind her ear. "I love you," I said, as I kissed her cheek. I continued pushing her hair back behind her ear, my fingers gently caressing her face, until her eyes fully closed again.
At that moment, I contemplated backing out of my gig. I thought about calling my temporary boss and telling him I couldn't do it. However, I also knew Aleah would be very angry with me if she knew I did. She would be thankful I was there, but would also be very angry.
I placed my finger tips on either side of her face, and kissed her lightly on her lips. "I love you," I told her one more time, before I quietly slipped out of her room, and left the hospital.
"I just thought you'd want to know. Don't do anything stupid, Aaron." I hung up the burner phone, throwing it into the bag along with whatever else I'd tossed in there.
I rolled my eyes. I knew even taking off like this could jeopardize everything for me, but I didn't care. Making sure Aleah was okay was more important. Leaving her was terrible, but ultimately, I was doing it for us. I knew having this experience would lend its hand one day for a major payoff, probably in the form of a promotion. I wanted to be more than enough for her.
If she even knew how close to her I really was, she wouldn't be happy that I hadn't contacted her. But I couldn't. Infiltrating this drug ring was crucial, and that meant only meeting my one police contact in our designated spot at the predetermined meeting times. I couldn't have outside contact with anyone. Another undercover had made it in, and he was bringing me in, as a friend from a previous life, trying to enter into this one. They needed someone young and attractive who could swing the partying lifestyle, and not only talk the talk, but walk it.
I shoved Jose's shoulder, as he lay still passed out on the other cheap hotel bed we were crashing in after our long night of drinking. My headache was only worsening with each passing minute. He was my partner, and I needed to let him know I was going to be gone for a minute, without letting him know. We never knew when we were being watched. "Jose. Jose!" I shook him, to wake him up.
He stirred, groggily, blindly swatting at my hand. "Dude, what," he said without opening his eyes.
"I gotta go, brah."
He opened an eye to look at me. He propped himself up on an elbow, yawning, and cocked an eyebrow at me. I knew he was silently asking me where without asking.
"I just need to walk last night's shit off." That was literally a code for "it's personal and I can't tell right now."
"Don't be long. We have to swing by Tito's." He gave me a pointed look.
I knew what that meant. We had an "engagement" that we needed to be at later in the day. I nodded my head at him and left.
~~~~~~~
I had a baseball hat on, and looked grungy. I made sure I did. I didn't want anyone recognizing me. The door to Aleah's hospital room was shut. I lightly knocked on the door, and there was no answer. Perfect.
I slipped in, and knew I needed to make my visit brief.
I stopped when I saw her. Eyes closed, hooked up to machines. Her head was wrapped in a bandage. I put my hand to my forehead, blinking hard. I don't cry.
But.
Seeing Aleah helpless, almost appearing lifeless, hurt. I didn't protect her and I should have. I should've been there to beat the shit out of that worthless fucker, Luke. I sniffed hard, pulling it together, wiping the lone tear that threatened to break the barrier across my cheek.
I approached slowly, holding the bouquet of flowers in my hand. I got her favorite. I couldn't have her know I was there, so in the small wafer thin paper stuck in the flowers, I had drawn a heart, and that's it. I hoped she would know just by that.
As I neared her bed, she seemed to stir. Her head moved slightly, and her eyes fluttered half open. She didn't appear to be with it.
"Hey babe," I said gently, hoping she wouldn't hear the waver in my voice.
She smiled, barely. It made my heart clench, in pain. I smiled back, but wasn't sure she could even tell, as her eyes were more closed than open. Her mouth opened slightly, but she didn't speak. I set the flowers on the table next to her bed and grabbed her hand closest to me with both of mine. It was cold and limp.
I swallowed hard. "You know I had to see you with my own eyes." To make sure you are okay. I needed to make sure you weren't hurt beyond repair. I wouldn't forgive myself if you were.
I squeezed her hand. I grabbed the flowers and showed them to her. "I brought you this." I set the vase on the table next to the couch.
I again thought of Luke and what he had done. I clenched my fists, but forced myself to release. "I should have been there. I'm so sorry." My voice was shaking, precluding the thunder before the storm. I didn't know if I could hold it together.
I grabbed her hand again and just sat there for a few minutes I knew I didn't have much time. I then noticed a single tear falling down her cheek. I hastily wiped it away. I love her so much, I felt as if I was going to implode.
Her hair that was sticking from under the bandage was plastered to her forehead and temple. I stroked it back, pushing it behind her ear. "I love you," I said, as I kissed her cheek. I continued pushing her hair back behind her ear, my fingers gently caressing her face, until her eyes fully closed again.
At that moment, I contemplated backing out of my gig. I thought about calling my temporary boss and telling him I couldn't do it. However, I also knew Aleah would be very angry with me if she knew I did. She would be thankful I was there, but would also be very angry.
I placed my finger tips on either side of her face, and kissed her lightly on her lips. "I love you," I told her one more time, before I quietly slipped out of her room, and left the hospital.
Monday, July 13, 2015
With My Own Eyes
"Hey, babe."
I smiled, ruefully, at the hazy image. I opened my mouth, but my throat burned. I couldn't talk. Tears prickled the corners of my eyes, but I smiled through them.
"You know I had to see you with my own eyes."
He squeezed my hand, gently. Which I just realized he was holding with both of his.
"I brought you this," he said, while holding up a small bouquet of stargazer lilies. My favorite.
His expression shifted. It was all still blurry, but I could tell what was once a loving look shifted to darkness. He quietly said, "I should have been there. I'm so sorry."
He removed one of his hands from mine and wiped away the tear that was falling from my right eye. He stroked my hair, tucking it behind my ear. "I love you," he gently whispered, and kissed my cheek.
I opened my mouth to talk, but it felt like sludge was blocking my throat. It was just too much effort. He continued stroking my hair, and I drifted back to sleep.
~~~~~~~
I grinned to myself. He came. Aaron came to see me. I knew he'd come.
My eyes felt so heavy. I could hear quiet voices talking. The beep beeping of a nearby machine.
I wanted to see Aaron.
Slowly, my eyes started opening. Everything started to focus and I blinked multiple times. I slowly rolled my head to the right, and saw two people sitting on the couch.
I scrunched up my face trying to figure out where I was. Everything smelled so... sterile. I blinked a few more times, raising my hand to rub my eyes, noticing the IV stuck in my arm. The hospital.
The voices stopped.
I opened my eyes again, feeling a little more able to focus.
My mom and dad. They both stood up and rushed over to me. My mom spoke first, gently placing her hands on either side of my face. "Aleah, baby, how are you feeling?"
"I'm so tired." I paused. "Why am I in the hospital?"
My mom didn't look fazed. "What's the last thing you remember?"
My dad interrupted, "I'll be right back."
"Umm..." I closed my eyes, to help me think. My head was pounding. "I remember going running. I was running a longer route than I normally do. I was in the woods and..." The visual came rushing back, reminding me of what I last remembered. I lightly reached up and touched my neck, knowing why my throat hurt now.
Tears started to well up in my eyes. "Where's Aaron?"
"Honey, Aaron isn't here, you know he's somewhere working."
"No, I saw him! He was here earlier."
My mom looked at me quizzically.
"What day is it?" I was starting to feel panicked.
"Tuesday."
"I've been out for two days?"
"Yeah... there's some stuff that happened..." my mom trailed off as my dad came back in with a doctor. He was an older man, with white hair and wearing a bow tie. I could sense his compassion through his kind eyes, and liked him immediately.
"Hi, Aleah. I'm Doctor Hudson," he smiled warmly.
I couldn't help but to smile back, despite my panic.
He sat on a roll-y stool and moved close to my bed. "How are you feeling, dear?"
"I don't understand why I've been sleeping for so long. I was wondering if you saw my boyfriend, Aaron? And why is my head pounding?"
He opened his mouth to talk, but I remembered another question. I whispered, my heart rate quickening, "Where's Luke?"
My dad quickly jumped in. "He's in jail, sweetie. No bond."
Dr. Hudson spoke then. "Well, I'll answer the easiest question first. You've have many visitors in and out, and if your boyfriend came by, I didn't get the pleasure of meeting him. I'll answer your next two questions as one big answer."
I nodded.
He continued, "I'm sure the detective will have questions for you, but what he told me I could tell you was that apparently you were choked and unable to breath to the point of passing out. A couple of joggers heard your screaming and found Luke on top of you, with his hand around your neck, and when the joggers ran up, they yelled at him, he turned, picking your head up by your neck, and then slammed your head back down to the side, onto a rock. If you hadn't already been passed out, the impact may have knocked you out. You have quite the laceration on the back of your head. After you were transported here by ambulance, you woke up, and panicked. We had to give you a sedative because you were thrashing around screaming, and we were concerned you were going to hurt yourself."
I was shaking, hearing what had happened to me, but I didn't even remember or know.
"Your vitals look good, Aleah. You'll probably be in some pain, specifically your head and your throat. We have you on a drip right now, helping ease the pain in your head. And we're expecting the bruising around your neck to fade considerably. Tomorrow morning we'd like to stop the drip and see if you are able to swallow some pain pills, and get you home in the next few days."
I nodded, feeling unsure.
The doctor looked in my eyes and my throat, and then left me alone with my parents.
My dad said, "I need to call Brad, and let him know you're awake now."
My mom asked if she could get anything for me, and I asked for some water. My throat hurt, but also felt dry. She nodded and left the room.
I took a shaky breath, regretting my decision to run. I carefully repositioned my head to the side. I was still so tired. I started to close my eyes, but they popped open, something catching my attention.
There, sitting on the small table next to the couch, was a vase filled with stargazer lilies.
I smiled, ruefully, at the hazy image. I opened my mouth, but my throat burned. I couldn't talk. Tears prickled the corners of my eyes, but I smiled through them.
"You know I had to see you with my own eyes."
He squeezed my hand, gently. Which I just realized he was holding with both of his.
"I brought you this," he said, while holding up a small bouquet of stargazer lilies. My favorite.
His expression shifted. It was all still blurry, but I could tell what was once a loving look shifted to darkness. He quietly said, "I should have been there. I'm so sorry."
He removed one of his hands from mine and wiped away the tear that was falling from my right eye. He stroked my hair, tucking it behind my ear. "I love you," he gently whispered, and kissed my cheek.
I opened my mouth to talk, but it felt like sludge was blocking my throat. It was just too much effort. He continued stroking my hair, and I drifted back to sleep.
~~~~~~~
I grinned to myself. He came. Aaron came to see me. I knew he'd come.
My eyes felt so heavy. I could hear quiet voices talking. The beep beeping of a nearby machine.
I wanted to see Aaron.
Slowly, my eyes started opening. Everything started to focus and I blinked multiple times. I slowly rolled my head to the right, and saw two people sitting on the couch.
I scrunched up my face trying to figure out where I was. Everything smelled so... sterile. I blinked a few more times, raising my hand to rub my eyes, noticing the IV stuck in my arm. The hospital.
The voices stopped.
I opened my eyes again, feeling a little more able to focus.
My mom and dad. They both stood up and rushed over to me. My mom spoke first, gently placing her hands on either side of my face. "Aleah, baby, how are you feeling?"
"I'm so tired." I paused. "Why am I in the hospital?"
My mom didn't look fazed. "What's the last thing you remember?"
My dad interrupted, "I'll be right back."
"Umm..." I closed my eyes, to help me think. My head was pounding. "I remember going running. I was running a longer route than I normally do. I was in the woods and..." The visual came rushing back, reminding me of what I last remembered. I lightly reached up and touched my neck, knowing why my throat hurt now.
Tears started to well up in my eyes. "Where's Aaron?"
"Honey, Aaron isn't here, you know he's somewhere working."
"No, I saw him! He was here earlier."
My mom looked at me quizzically.
"What day is it?" I was starting to feel panicked.
"Tuesday."
"I've been out for two days?"
"Yeah... there's some stuff that happened..." my mom trailed off as my dad came back in with a doctor. He was an older man, with white hair and wearing a bow tie. I could sense his compassion through his kind eyes, and liked him immediately.
"Hi, Aleah. I'm Doctor Hudson," he smiled warmly.
I couldn't help but to smile back, despite my panic.
He sat on a roll-y stool and moved close to my bed. "How are you feeling, dear?"
"I don't understand why I've been sleeping for so long. I was wondering if you saw my boyfriend, Aaron? And why is my head pounding?"
He opened his mouth to talk, but I remembered another question. I whispered, my heart rate quickening, "Where's Luke?"
My dad quickly jumped in. "He's in jail, sweetie. No bond."
Dr. Hudson spoke then. "Well, I'll answer the easiest question first. You've have many visitors in and out, and if your boyfriend came by, I didn't get the pleasure of meeting him. I'll answer your next two questions as one big answer."
I nodded.
He continued, "I'm sure the detective will have questions for you, but what he told me I could tell you was that apparently you were choked and unable to breath to the point of passing out. A couple of joggers heard your screaming and found Luke on top of you, with his hand around your neck, and when the joggers ran up, they yelled at him, he turned, picking your head up by your neck, and then slammed your head back down to the side, onto a rock. If you hadn't already been passed out, the impact may have knocked you out. You have quite the laceration on the back of your head. After you were transported here by ambulance, you woke up, and panicked. We had to give you a sedative because you were thrashing around screaming, and we were concerned you were going to hurt yourself."
I was shaking, hearing what had happened to me, but I didn't even remember or know.
"Your vitals look good, Aleah. You'll probably be in some pain, specifically your head and your throat. We have you on a drip right now, helping ease the pain in your head. And we're expecting the bruising around your neck to fade considerably. Tomorrow morning we'd like to stop the drip and see if you are able to swallow some pain pills, and get you home in the next few days."
I nodded, feeling unsure.
The doctor looked in my eyes and my throat, and then left me alone with my parents.
My dad said, "I need to call Brad, and let him know you're awake now."
My mom asked if she could get anything for me, and I asked for some water. My throat hurt, but also felt dry. She nodded and left the room.
I took a shaky breath, regretting my decision to run. I carefully repositioned my head to the side. I was still so tired. I started to close my eyes, but they popped open, something catching my attention.
There, sitting on the small table next to the couch, was a vase filled with stargazer lilies.
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