Devil You Know(17)
I barely make it to the chair before his hands are under my arms, taking my weight.
“Sit, and let me see.”
Shit. I don’t want to show him my body. Is he insane?
“You’re doubled over in pain, and you’re going to get shy on me?” He scowls at my pitiful attempts to block him from reaching my shirt.
A brief struggle ensues between me pulling down, and him inching the fabric outside of my grasp up my body. I relent, ready to break into tears if I have to use my core muscles a second longer.
He gently tucks the cotton T-shirt under my bra, careful not to touch me anywhere disrespectful, and frowns. “That’s pretty bad, Jane.”
I look down, and suck a sharp breath in. The extent of the bruising still shocks me.
He urges me forward on the seat, and gently turns me so my side is facing him. “It’s all the way around the back. Did you know that?”
I shake my head, fighting the urge to wail in resignation. Why the fuck did I go back? “Can you take me to the doctor? I don’t know what to tell them. I’m scared to go on my own,” I sob.
“Fuck the doctor, I’m taking you to the E.R. I’d say you’ve got fractured ribs, Jane. The G.P. would probably send you there for an X-ray anyway.”
I nod. I don’t care anymore; I’ll go anywhere, see anybody to take away the ache that’s threatening to make me hurl.
His hand glides along my jaw, before the pad of his thumb dots my bottom lip in a gesture of adoration. “Come on, then. I’ll get the keys.”
• • • • •
I WATCH the nurse as she ticks a few boxes off on the sheet pinned to her clipboard. Her mint colored uniform matches the barren walls of the cubicle we’re in. I ponder whether hospitals get some sort of bulk-buy deal for the color considering they all seem to be the same.
“How did you sustain the injury again?”
I glance to Neighbor, sitting to my side, and he shakes his head at me, urging me to tell the truth this time. He could tell me to jump off a cliff and I would feel less scared than I do now.
“My husband.”
“Okay, then. Are you prepared to make a formal report?”
I hesitate, and the triage nurse draws in a deep breath as she eyes me with pity.
“You do realize, sweetie, that I have to report it either way? Things will go a lot smoother if you’re on board with us.”
I nod, and stare at the floor as I sit on the edge of the hospital bed. “I understand.”
“Okay. I’ll place a call to the authorities, and we’ll get the ball rolling. Do you know where your husband is now?”
I shake my head. “Work, I assume.”
“All right.” Her hand drops to my knee in a maternal fashion. “I’ll be right back.”
The curtain billows behind her, and Neighbor drops the breath he’d been holding.
“You’re doing the right thing.”
I move my gaze to his eyes, and drop it back to the floor just as quickly. “Then why does it feel like I just made the biggest mistake of my life?”
“What choice did you have?” he asks, gesturing to my ribs. “He didn’t leave you much option.”
“I’m terrified.” My hands tremble in their position on the side of the bed.
The sound of leather creaking accompanies his movement. He takes a position next to me, mirroring my stance, and looks to the floor also. “You won’t be doing it alone.”
“You don’t know what he can be like.”
“I can imagine.”
“It’s not your fight.” I look over at him as he sits, eyes glassed, his focus anywhere but here.
His dark eyes rise to meet mine, and a furrow pulls at his brow. “It should never have been yours, either.”
“I’m giving you the chance to walk away.” Moisture glistens at the base of my vision. “Take it.”
He simply shakes his head, and brings a hand to my face. I lean into the feather-light touch he applies to my cheek, and shut my eyes. Electricity swirls between us, but before I have time to analyze it the scrape of the curtain rings bring our attention to the nurse.
“The local P.D. will send someone down to take your statement. Now, understand that as scary as it seems right now, you’re doing the right thing.” God, is that going to be everyone’s answer? “You will be provided with plenty of support, and security.”
I nod at her reassurances. How many times has she seen women like me through these halls? How many came back in a worse condition after doing the ‘right thing’? How many never returned to this floor, but instead to the cold confines of the morgue?
She gives Neighbor a quick nod, and disappears with the signature billow of the curtain. Again, lost in our own private world, I rest my head on his shoulder. His presence soothes the hollowness that aches every time I think of what the future will bring.