Page 92 of Isolation
“No, Raven,” I say slowly. “I have never forced myself on anyone else.”
Raven opens her mouth again, but I cut her off. “Before you ask, I’ll make this easy for you and give you the answers you are looking for. I don’t have any sexual trauma. No childhood abuse. No particular kinks. Nothing that interests me about forcing or dominating a woman. The only sexual preference I have is my unquenchable thirst foryou.”
“So, itisme.” Raven mutters.
She starts to say more words under her breath. I don’t quite hear the other near inaudible words but I strain my ear.
I think she is saying, “I started all of this. I am toxic. Why did it have to happen to us? Why did it have to be you who did that to me?” Her words are not laced with venom. They are laced with sadness about a realization that’s settling in.
“Rave—” I start, my voice hardly above a whisper.
Raven is looking down, and I feel as lost as she looks. I cup her face to turn her to me. She closes her eyes as if deflecting her reality, hoping that she is anywhere but here.
“Baby,” I breathe. “Open your eyes. Look at me.”
Raven opens her eyes to give me an empty stare. She slowly removes my hand.
She is freaking out.
“Tell me what you need right now,” I say in the calmest tone I can manage.
“I want to be alone,” she rasps out.
Inod. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
“N-no,” she stammers. “Please don’t be near me.”
I hesitate. This is killing me. And her. “Do you want me to send Mia?” I try again.
She shakes her head, as if impatient for me to leave instead of asking more questions. I give her a final nod and walk out of the door.
CHAPTER 11
The Incident-Six Weeks Ago
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Milo
I try Tessa’s psychiatrist for the tenth time and slam the phone down when no one picks up. He gave us this number in case we need to get in touch with him, but he barely ever picks up.
He is supposed to have someone on-call for emergencies, but the on-call person is useless too.
She suggested that we take Tessa to the hospital, before taking down a message for the doctor. I already have the doctor’s number. She may as well be a voicemail service. And Tessa doesn’t need hospitalization. Her side effects are long gone. We just want to know what caused it.
Everyone is so fucking useless.
I am sitting at the desk in my parents’ bedroom, pouring over Tessa’s history and physical reports to figure out which ingredient in her drug caused an interaction.
There are two doctors in the house. Dad is currently checked out, and Uncle Reese is unfamiliar with the drug Tessa is currently on since it's from a clinical trial. Until now, the medication has been working well.
We have seen Tessa have side-effects from drugs before, but we have never such extreme side-effects.
Tessa started having tremors at brunch earlier today and lost muscle control. In front of a roomful of people, she urinated on herself.
It was a jarring sight, especially for Raven’s parents.
Tessa has incredibly low self-esteem. She is easily swayed by other people’s opinions and often feels down about herself.
