Page 16 of Edge of Desperation

“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 willalwaysbe 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 saysProperty of?—”

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

CHAPTER 5

JAXSON

“Jaxson!”

Desperation vibrates off the walls as I plow through the room toward the bathroom where my name is being bellowed. Gripping the doorknob, I yank the door so hard that the frame cracks. I stop dead in my tracks and take in the scene. Willow is struggling to hold up a passed-out Aurora. I whip around and yank a sheet off the bed. I storm back into the shower, wrap her like a burrito, pick her up, and cradle her close to my chest. After I lay her gently on the bed, I flip on Willow.

“What the fuck happened?” I hit the call button for the nurse.

Willow’s face is streaked with tears. “I-I-I don’t know,” she gasps. “One minute I was washing her hair, and the next, she was out.”

I move away from Aurora and round the bed to stand in front of her friend. I grip her arms firmly but not hard. “Take a deep breath,” I encourage. “Was she tired? Were you talking about anything?”

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