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CHAPTER 4

AURORA

“Ms. Parks, I’m Dr. Sheppard.”

This is the second doctor I’ve met since being brought to a private bay in the emergency department. As promised, Jaxson is standing guard in front of the door, blocking entry to anyone who attempts to approach. My father asked if I wanted him to come into the room, but I waved him off. I don’t need him to witness my humiliation.

“Aurora,” I insist.

Dr. Sheppard smiles kindly at me. “I know this is difficult, but can you tell me where you’re having pain?”

I squirm. “Um… everywhere,” I admit. “Mostly in my vaginal area. My ribs are really sore, along with my wrists and ank?—”

“Listen here, shit for brains,” a voice shouts behind the closed door. “That’s my best friend lying in that bed. Move out of my way or I swear to G?—”

“Willow!” I scream.

The door bursts open, slamming into the wall with so much force it knocks a scenery picture to the ground. Jaxson runs in with Willow on his heels. Everyone in the room freezes.

“Aurora, what’s wrong?” Jaxson demands.

“W-W-Willow,” I sob.

I don’t know how I have any tears left to cry.

My best friend of fifteen years dashes to my side, kicks off her shoes, and gingerly climbs onto the bed with me, pulling me into her arms.

I take a deep breath and gather myself, knowing that things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better, and I pull away from her embrace. Everyone in the room is deathly quiet, still watching the scene unfold before them. Jaxson is a statue at the foot of the bed, watching our interaction.

Willow sticks out her tongue at him. “Told you I was her best friend.”

Jaxson’s lip curves upward. “Maybe, but I wasn’t informed of you, nor was I told you were coming.”

Willow shrugs. “Victor called me. He said that Aurora was found and needed me. So here I am.”

“Here you are,” he repeats. “Aurora, are you good with her being here?”

“Yes,” I answer. “I need her.”

Willow squeezes my shoulders. “You heard the woman.”

“Sir, I need you to leave,” Dr. Sheppard commands. “The longer Ms. Parks goes without treatment, the more likely infection can set in.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jaxson turns on his heel, picks up the picture that fell, places it back on the nail, and shuts the door quietly behind him. He resumes his position in front of the door, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Miss, I’m going to need you to get off of the exam table,” Dr. Sheppard demands.

Willow scrambles to hop off and put on her shoes. She comes back and grips my hand in hers. “Sorry,” she mutters.

“Now, where were we?” Dr. Sheppard taps on her keyboard. “Oh, yes. You said your ribs hurt?”

“Yes,” I respond.

Dr. Sheppard comes around to the side of the gurney and gestures to my shirt. “May I?”

I sit up and lift the fabric under my breasts, revealing dark bruises around my ribcage and stomach. Willow gasps and covers her mouth.

“April, please take Aurora for X-rays first,” Dr. Sheppard requests. “I’ll send the order now.”

April helps me slip out of Jaxson’s shirt and into a hospital gown quickly before pulling over a wheelchair. Once I’m seated, Willow opens the door for us.

Jaxson stands with his arms crossed, blocking our exit. “Where are you taking her?”

April huffs. “I’m not at lib?—”

“X-ray,” Willow interrupts.

Jaxson nods and falls into step with us.

For the next thirty minutes, I’m put in different positions and made to stand and lie down for pictures. The tech explains that they are looking for broken bones and internal bleeding.

After the X-rays are complete, we head to the ER with Jaxson in tow. His presence gives me some semblance of peace, even though I’m scared to death of what is about to happen.

“I’ll be out here if you need me,” he promises.

“Thank you,” I whisper as April wheels me inside.

Once we’re back in the room, Dr. Sheppard wastes no time jumping into action.

“April, do you have the rape kit ready?”

“Yes,” April replies. “Do you want a full blood workup as well?”

“Full blood panel and full STD testing panel as well,” Dr. Sheppard orders. “Also, give Aurora one milligram of morphine now and every four hours for pain.” Dr. Sheppard glances at me. “You don’t have any internal bleeding, which is good, but you do have a couple of broken ribs. Unfortunately, the only thing we can do for that is wrap them.”

April approaches me. “I know you’ve been through a lot, and the last thing you want is for me to poke you, but I need to take some blood.”

I could refuse, but I’d rather know if I’ve caught something. I hold out my left arm and let her draw the blood. April is surprisingly fast, and I barely feel the prick. The extra fluids that Hudson gave me rehydrated me enough that she didn’t have to stab me multiple times. Luckily, the pain medication can be inserted into the port through the IV, and I feel the effects quickly.

April rushes out the door to take the blood samples to the lab. Dr. Sheppard steps forward with her gloves and protective wear.

“I’m sorry we have to put you through another traumatic experience, Aurora, but we need to assess your injuries and take samples and pictures. My other nurse Carol, will be taking pictures for me,” Dr. Sheppard explains. “After we’re finished with the internal exam, we’ll get the rest of these cuts and scrapes cleaned up.”

I knew they would have to perform a thorough exam and take pictures, but it’s different knowing about it and actually having to live through it. It’s humiliating. I know they’re just doing their job, but I feel like I’m on display all over again. I bite my lip and squeeze Willow’s hand.

“I’ve got you,” she whispers.

The scraping of metal reaches my ears, and I look down to see stirrups sticking out of the end of the exam table.

“Scooch down for me, please. Place your feet here,” Dr. Sheppard instructs. “Wiggle your behind down a little further for me.” I scoot down until my ass hits the end of the table. “Okay, relax your knees, and let them just fall to the sides… That’s it. Okay, I’m going to touch the insides of your thighs first. Now, I’m going to begin the exam… Deep breaths.”

I hiss as she spreads me wider, tears cascading down my cheeks, and the flash of the camera reminds me that my shame is being recorded. I grip Willow’s hand like a vice. Right now, she’s the only thing holding me together.

I jerk back when Dr. Sheppard probes my anus. “Fuck,” I hiss.

“I’m sorry, Aurora.” Dr. Sheppard apologizes. “You have vaginal tearing and multiple tears in your anal cavity. They’re going to require stitches. I’m not going to lie, they won’t be comfortable, but we will get you numb before we start.”

Willow grabs my face, her eyes brimming with tears. “You are so brave,” she tells me. “Hold on a little longer.”

I don’t answer because if I open my mouth, I will start screaming, and I won’t be able to stop. Dr. Sheppard gets to work. The pinpricks of needles stab me in the most intimate places, and it takes everything I have not to kick the good ol’ doctor in the head.

After I’m good and numb, Dr. Sheppard gets to work stitching me back together. Through all of it, Willow never let go of my hand.

“All done,” Dr. Sheppard announces. “You can sit back now. Be careful.”

“Here.” Carol sets down her camera and steps up beside me, taking my other hand. “Let me help you.”

Both she and Willow navigate me back to the head of the bed. I lean against it with a sigh of relief.

“I’m going to have April come back in and clean out those wounds on your ankles and wrists.” Dr. Sheppard removes her gloves with a snap. “I’ll be back when she’s finished to check and see what else needs to be done. Carol will take some more pictures.”

“When can I take a shower?” I shiver.

After being poked and prodded, all I want to do is wash the filth off of me, scrub my skin raw and forget this ever happened.

Dr. Sheppard smiles sympathetically. “Once April cleans your wounds, she can help you with a shower.”

“No,” I state firmly. “Willow will help me.”

“It’s hospital pol?—”

Willow places her hands on her hips. “ I’ll help her. If I need assistance, I will pull the cord in the bathroom or yell for muscles outside the door to grab the nurse.”

I giggle for the first time in days. Willow is that friend who will always have my back. She’s up for anything and everything and will do what I need her to do and ask questions later. She’s exactly who I need in my corner right now.

Dr. Sheppard narrows her eyes. “Fine, I’ll be back to check on you soon.”

After she leaves, Jaxson pops his head in. “How ya holding up?”

“She’s doing great,” Willow answers for me. “The other nurse should be back soon to clean up her wrists and ankles.”

Jaxson scowls. “They haven’t cleaned those wounds yet?”

“We had more important areas to tend to,” Carol snaps.

“I understand that.” He aggressively runs his hands through his hair. “Fuck, I should’ve insisted Hudson do that on the plane.”

“Jaxson.” His eyes snap to mine. “Hudson asked me. I didn’t want him to touch me any more than he had to.”

A soft knock at the door interrupts what he’s about to say, and April pokes her head into the room. “Are you ready for me?”

“Yes,” I answer.

Jaxson heads for the hallway. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

“Jaxson, huh?” Willow bumps my shoulder. “I like him.”

If you had asked me a few months ago, I probably would have said I like him too. But now? No one is ever going to look at me and want this broken, used body ever again.

April lifts my ankles first and places a pile of towels under them, followed by a basin full of water. She picks up a scrub brush and gives me a sympathetic smile. “This might sting a bit.”

At first, the pressure is steady and bearable, but the more she digs into the wound, the more uncomfortable I get. My foot jerks uncontrollably when she hits a spot by my tendon.

“Shit!” I hiss.

“I’m sorry.” April drops the brush into the bucket. “I need to change out the water real quick, and we’ll get the other ankle.”

Forty-five minutes later and with a few death threats from Willow, April is finally done. Dr. Sheppard returns and surveys the damage.

“These could have used some stitches,” she complains. “Too late now. I’ll let you take your shower, then we’ll have April bandage you up. You might have some scarring from those injuries, but you can consult a plastic surgeon if you want to later about that. You can get cleaned up now. Call the nurse if you need any help.”

Everyone files out of the room, leaving me and Willow alone. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and slowly lower my feet to the ground.

Willow helps steady me and digs her phone out of her pocket. “I’m gonna text your dad and have him go buy you some clothes.”

“Thank you,” I choke. “I couldn’t have gotten through that without you.”

Willow hugs me. “We might not be sisters by blood, but we’re sisters just the same. I will always be there for you.”

“Same, girl. Same.”

“How ‘bout that shower?”

“Yes, please!”

Willow leads me to the bathroom. Up until now, I didn’t realize how badly I have to pee. She gives me some privacy as I take care of business. Burning pain radiates all around my vagina as I fight back screams. It takes a moment for the fire to subside and a little bit longer for me to find the strength to stand. Once I have my bearings, I hobble to the sink like a penguin so my thighs don’t rub together and wash my hands. The door swing opens, and Willow holds up a sack.

“Your dad is a saint,” she declares.

Yes, he is.

The shower has a seat in it and a detachable shower head for easy washing. Willow sets the temperature for me and helps me get into the shower. My energy is depleting, and I have no idea how I’m going to be able to wash myself.

“Do you want me to help you?” Willow asks.

“I… I…” I hang my head in defeat. “Please.”

Willow lifts my chin. “Aurora, you’ve been through a lot. You’re exhausted. It’s okay to need help.”

“Um… this is embarrassing, but when I was going to the bathroom,” I pause. “It really burned.”

“Probably the stitches,” she states matter-of-factly. “I’ll use body wash all over, and we’ll just let it flow over your sensitive areas.”

“Okay.”

Willow begins washing me, taking care not to scrub my open wounds. I ask her to turn the water up hotter. She doesn’t refute me, but she raises her eyebrows because the water is already hot. After she rinses off the soap suds, she begins to lather my hair.

“Aurora,” Willow’s voice trembles. “What’s on your neck?”

“My neck?” I reach behind my head and feel around. “Do I need to have the doctor come back and look at something? I don’t feel anything. Nothing hurts back there.”

“It’s a tattoo,” she mutters. “It looks like a UPC code and says Property of ?—”

My world spins out of control, and the room plunges into darkness.