Page 56 of Another Love, Another Time
“That’s what I’m talking about. You could let me go back and just look at her. I promise I won’t wake her up. I promise.” I begin to cry.
Aunt Jess tries to help, “The hospital can’t go against her wishes. I know everyone has had a hard night. Let her get a good night’s rest. The police want to question her first thing in the morning regarding the attack. I’m surprised they’re not here right now questioning you and Logan.”
“Who would like to go back first?” the nurse asks as the doctor finishes her conversation with our parents.
“Jessica, why don’t you go back first?” my mom suggests. “I’ll call Ashley to give her an update on River and see how close they are.”
Aunt Jess follows the nurse back to River’s room. I want nothing more than to walk through the door with Aunt Jess, but my mom asked me to give River some time to sleep. It’s the least I can do since I failed to protect her. My mom walks off to call River’s mom.
“Who would have done this to her?” My heart hurts for her.
I turn around and see two police officers talking to my dad and Uncle Chris. I didn’t do anything wrong in the eyes of the law, but I’m still intimidated. I’ll do whatever I need to in order to help find whoever did this to her.
Chapter 14
Auggie
It’s been two weeks since prom, two weeks since River was attacked, two weeks since I’ve spoken to River. This is the longest we have ever gone without talking. I’ve been stalking her Facebook page, but she hasn’t been online. She hasn’t posted. I stayed at the hospital, hoping and waiting for her to let me go see her. One of the hardest conversations I had was with her dad, knowing I wasn’t there to protect his little girl.
After her dad cooled down from the initial shock of seeing River lying in that hospital bed, which I still hadn’t been able to see, he asked to speak with me. He wanted to know my side of the story. I was truthful, but asked him not to tell River about Melissa. I asked him if he would speak with her and give me a chance to see her. Just once. If anyone could talk her into letting me see her, it was her dad.
Later that day, he came out and told me she agreed to see me. They were allowing more than one visitor in now. Uncle Kendall walked me back to her room. My hands started sweating as we got closer. Before we reached her door, he stopped me. “She looks really bad, Auggie. You have to stay strong. Okay, buddy?”
“Okay. I’ll try.” I shook my hands as if to cast away my stress. I knew I had to hold my panic in.
He opened the door, and I got my first glance of her. I held in my gasp and stood there, stock still.
Uncle Kendall whispered in my ear, “Remember, you have to stay strong.” And then, in his regular voice, he addressed her, “Hey, baby girl. I’m here if you need me, okay? Auggie’s in here.”
She nodded. Then, he walked out and shut the door to give us privacy. River and I stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Both of her eyes were still swollen shut. She had a neck brace on. The left side of her face looked swollen, and she had a busted lip. Her arms were lined with bruises.
I finally shook myself out of my haze and walked over to her. I moved to grab her hand. I needed to touch her and hug her, tell her how sorry I am. But she pulled back from my grasp. My heart ached. Her dad said she didn’t blame me, but why is she doing this? I needed to find out.
I started, “I’m so sorry, River. I should have been there with you. I’ll never forgive myself. Please tell me how I can fix this.”
She cut me off by holding up a hand. Her gaze was piercing when she said, “I just need the truth.”
“Okay,” I said slowly.
And then, she asked for the one thing for which I couldn’t give a truthful answer. “Where were you?” She didn’t need to give any more detail than that. I knew what she was implying.
I couldn’t tell her. It would hurt her even worse, so I lied for her own good. “I realized I had to go to the bathroom after you went in, so I decided—”
“Get out,” she hissed in a low, steady voice.
“What?” I was confused. I just got in; I needed to see her. I needed to show that I was sorry.
“You heard me,” she said a little be louder. “Get out!” she yelled it loud enough that her dad heard.
He stormed back in, and without another word, he dragged me out of her room.
I fought to stay in there, wriggling against his grip. “What did I say? Please, let me stay. Please. I need to see you. Please.” I started bawling. I’ve always been River’s go-to person. Why was she shutting me out?
When her dad wrestled me into the waiting room and I calmed down, he let me go. “Sorry, son. You know I love you like you’re my own kid, but I can’t go against her wishes.” He held his hand up. “All she’s said is she doesn’t blame you for her attack. She didn’t want you to see her like that. Maybe it was a little much for her. Just give her time. She’ll come around. She always does with you.” And then, he turned around and walked back toward her room.
She refused to see me for the remainder of the time she was in Hannibal. The doctors kept her another two days before they released her, and then she went home with her mom and dad.
I’ve tried to call her phone, and it goes straight to voicemail. My parents have asked me to give her time. They told me she wasn’t raped, that she fought and got away before he could rape her. I’m so proud of her for making it through, and so relieved. What she went through was traumatic.
