Everything New Distracts The Old
Chapter 10: "Maybe It Seems So Strange"
CHARLIE’S POV
Memories flooded my brain. They were scattered, but as time dragged on everything became so clear. I pushed away the thoughts, though. I didn’t want to think about it. It all could just be my imagination, anyway. I shook my head, spotting someone in my peripheral.
“Oh,” I said, seeing the handsome man called “Uh Vic” sitting by my side. He was sleeping, but he didn’t look peaceful. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was sloping downward. His long hair drooped in his face. His face was contorted in a manner that carried sadness, anger, and worry. Although his apparent emotions were unpleasant, he wasn’t unpleasant himself, as far as looks went. He was definitely attractive, and I recognized him from something, but my brain was too clouded for me to figure it out.
“Hey,” he said awkwardly, probably noticing that I was staring at him. Way to go, Charlie. Way to be creepy.
“Er, hi,” I mumbled. Awkward, awkward, awkward. But, in all fairness, I was the one trapped in the hospital. I had an excuse to be here, he didn’t.Not that I wanted him to feel awkward. Not that I wanted him to leave. I just had no control of the situation.
“How do you feel?” he asked, smiling weakly. He had a cute smile, and I noticed his nose ring that seemed to suit his tan face perfectly. And for a moment there I almost got lost in his giant, brown, puppy-dog-like eyes. Shit.
“I’m okay,” I said, my said feelings starting to come to my attention. I then realized how painful it was to breathe, think, and move in general. My ribs were definitely cracked. My lungs felt tight. My head was an odd mixture of “in the clouds” and “full of stones”. My groin ached… I shook the thought out of my head. Impossible. I was just over thinking my injuries… that was all.
“Hi, Miss Daniels,” my doctor—Dr. Bedal—suddenly came in. “Excuse me, sir, but could you please step out for a moment?” she turned to Vic, who stood immediately.
“Yeah, of course,” he said, leaving the room. He turned away without looking back, but, for some irrational reason, I wished that he did. Stop that, Charlie, I scolded myself. I read somewhere that a victim could become attached to the first person that he or she encountered after a dramatic occurrence. In this case, I was the victim and Vic was the first person I saw after waking up. I was determined to prove that fact wrong, despite that I already felt comfort with Vic's company. Something really traumatic must have happened to me...
The doctor sat down in a chair next to me. She looked middle aged with light brown hair, nicely toned skin, and gentle green eyes. Her appearance was very comforting, but I was afraid that what would come out of her mouth would not be as soothing.
“Okay, I just wanted to go over your injuries with you,” she said, her voice like velvet. With a voice like that, how could anything bad be said?
I fidgeted in my bed, afraid. I knew what she was going to say, but I didn’t want to hear it. I nodded for her to continue, reluctantly, of course.
Her eyes furrowed in genuine concern. “I’m sorry to ask you this, honey, but are you sexually active?” she asked.
Here it comes. I shook my head, allowing tears to spill over. “N-not r-recently,” I stuttered. The facial expression of Dr. Bedal was enough to break my heart several consecutive times. It was full of unadulterated care and worry.
She sighed, clearly not wanting to say what I knew she was about to say. “We discovered heavy bruising and tearing—”
“I was raped,” I interrupted, my voice monotone. She nodded apologetically.
My chest tightened up. I knew what happened, but, then again, I didn’t. A million questions swarmed in my head. Who did this to me? Why? How did I end up in San Diego? I remembered being on a boat, but it was unfamiliar and completely foreign to me, and I couldn’t remember how I got on it. More importantly, though, and more horrifying: how did I get off it? However, I think I knew the answer to that question; the real question was how could somebody treat me like I was literal trash, throwing me off the side of a boat? I shivered involuntarily as memories—memories that I fiercely pushed out of my head—continued to threaten my brain.
“Miss Daniels?” Dr. Bedal’s kind voice brought me back to reality. I stared at her; her image was blurry due to the tears in my eyes. “Do you want to press charges so I can contact the police?”
I shook my head. No police. Police meant trials. Trials meant having to relive the pain. No, thank you. “I don’t know who did it. No, thanks,” I mumbled.
“Are you sure?” she pressed. “We don’t take matters like your attack lightly,” she said.
“I’m positive,” I said. “Thanks,” I mumbled again.
“Okay, sweetheart. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Here’s a card for a really good therapist if you need to talk about what happened,” she said, setting a card on the table next to the bed. She continued to talk sweetly to me for a few minutes about “the next step” and recovery and all of that fun stuff. She handed me release forms, which I took tentatively considering the fact that I lived far away from here and was in no condition to travel long distance.
She gave me a variety of medicines and instructions, and then she left. “Feel better, sweetie. Nice to meet you, but not under these circumstances,” she smiled sympathetically, and I smiled back as she left.
I sighed, staring down at the forms. I began to mindlessly fill them out, focusing on the detail of the small print in order to distract my mind.
“Hey,” I heard a voice say coolly across the room. My head shot up, and I spotted Vic in the doorway.
“Oh, you’re still here?” I said, immediately regretting the words that slipped from my mouth. I totally meant to think that, and now I sounded stuck up. Fantastic.
“Uh, sorry,” he mumbled awkwardly.
“No, sorry, I mean it’s really sweet of you to stick around. I didn't expect you to,” I said genuinely. I couldn’t figure out why he was here, though. What was I to him? Nothing important, I shrugged my shoulders, agreeing with the voice in my head.
“I just wanted to make sure you are okay, and all,” he said, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. I couldn’t help but stare at the white bandage on the right side of his head. It looked like a brutal hit, and I couldn’t imagine how painful it must have been to receive.
“Thank you,” I said, looking away from him and staring at the papers in my hands.
“I also stuck around because I just couldn't bring myself to leave you alone here,” he said quickly. “I’d like to help you,” he added.
“You have helped me,” I said, cursing at myself for sounding so ungrateful. Because, honestly, I needed his help. There was no way that I could get back to Santa Cruz by myself. There was no way that I would want to try and get back there by myself, especially after what happened to me. I couldn't be alone…
“I, uh, don't want to sound creepy or anything, but if you need somewhere to crash until you are healthy enough to go back home, you’re welcome to come back to my place,” he said, and it was evident in his voice that those words took a lot of courage. Aw.
I didn’t want to sound over enthusiastic, so I remained quiet for a moment. I also didn’t want to sound so desperate, but, in reality, I was. I really had no other option.
“Thanks a lot, Vic. You have no idea how much that means to me. If it’s not too much of a hassle, that would be amazing,” I said, surprised at my own confidence.
“Of course. It really is no problem at all,” he said, smiling. Shouldn’t I be worried? Considering what had just happened to me, wouldn’t it be logical of me to refrain from staying in strangers' houses?
Too bad I wasn’t very rational. Something about Vic’s demeanor made me feel safe. I had a very positive vibe from him, indicating that he wasn’t going to hurt me, but maybe I trusted people a little too much for my own good.
Memories flooded my brain. They were scattered, but as time dragged on everything became so clear. I pushed away the thoughts, though. I didn’t want to think about it. It all could just be my imagination, anyway. I shook my head, spotting someone in my peripheral.
“Oh,” I said, seeing the handsome man called “Uh Vic” sitting by my side. He was sleeping, but he didn’t look peaceful. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was sloping downward. His long hair drooped in his face. His face was contorted in a manner that carried sadness, anger, and worry. Although his apparent emotions were unpleasant, he wasn’t unpleasant himself, as far as looks went. He was definitely attractive, and I recognized him from something, but my brain was too clouded for me to figure it out.
“Hey,” he said awkwardly, probably noticing that I was staring at him. Way to go, Charlie. Way to be creepy.
“Er, hi,” I mumbled. Awkward, awkward, awkward. But, in all fairness, I was the one trapped in the hospital. I had an excuse to be here, he didn’t.Not that I wanted him to feel awkward. Not that I wanted him to leave. I just had no control of the situation.
“How do you feel?” he asked, smiling weakly. He had a cute smile, and I noticed his nose ring that seemed to suit his tan face perfectly. And for a moment there I almost got lost in his giant, brown, puppy-dog-like eyes. Shit.
“I’m okay,” I said, my said feelings starting to come to my attention. I then realized how painful it was to breathe, think, and move in general. My ribs were definitely cracked. My lungs felt tight. My head was an odd mixture of “in the clouds” and “full of stones”. My groin ached… I shook the thought out of my head. Impossible. I was just over thinking my injuries… that was all.
“Hi, Miss Daniels,” my doctor—Dr. Bedal—suddenly came in. “Excuse me, sir, but could you please step out for a moment?” she turned to Vic, who stood immediately.
“Yeah, of course,” he said, leaving the room. He turned away without looking back, but, for some irrational reason, I wished that he did. Stop that, Charlie, I scolded myself. I read somewhere that a victim could become attached to the first person that he or she encountered after a dramatic occurrence. In this case, I was the victim and Vic was the first person I saw after waking up. I was determined to prove that fact wrong, despite that I already felt comfort with Vic's company. Something really traumatic must have happened to me...
The doctor sat down in a chair next to me. She looked middle aged with light brown hair, nicely toned skin, and gentle green eyes. Her appearance was very comforting, but I was afraid that what would come out of her mouth would not be as soothing.
“Okay, I just wanted to go over your injuries with you,” she said, her voice like velvet. With a voice like that, how could anything bad be said?
I fidgeted in my bed, afraid. I knew what she was going to say, but I didn’t want to hear it. I nodded for her to continue, reluctantly, of course.
Her eyes furrowed in genuine concern. “I’m sorry to ask you this, honey, but are you sexually active?” she asked.
Here it comes. I shook my head, allowing tears to spill over. “N-not r-recently,” I stuttered. The facial expression of Dr. Bedal was enough to break my heart several consecutive times. It was full of unadulterated care and worry.
She sighed, clearly not wanting to say what I knew she was about to say. “We discovered heavy bruising and tearing—”
“I was raped,” I interrupted, my voice monotone. She nodded apologetically.
My chest tightened up. I knew what happened, but, then again, I didn’t. A million questions swarmed in my head. Who did this to me? Why? How did I end up in San Diego? I remembered being on a boat, but it was unfamiliar and completely foreign to me, and I couldn’t remember how I got on it. More importantly, though, and more horrifying: how did I get off it? However, I think I knew the answer to that question; the real question was how could somebody treat me like I was literal trash, throwing me off the side of a boat? I shivered involuntarily as memories—memories that I fiercely pushed out of my head—continued to threaten my brain.
“Miss Daniels?” Dr. Bedal’s kind voice brought me back to reality. I stared at her; her image was blurry due to the tears in my eyes. “Do you want to press charges so I can contact the police?”
I shook my head. No police. Police meant trials. Trials meant having to relive the pain. No, thank you. “I don’t know who did it. No, thanks,” I mumbled.
“Are you sure?” she pressed. “We don’t take matters like your attack lightly,” she said.
“I’m positive,” I said. “Thanks,” I mumbled again.
“Okay, sweetheart. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Here’s a card for a really good therapist if you need to talk about what happened,” she said, setting a card on the table next to the bed. She continued to talk sweetly to me for a few minutes about “the next step” and recovery and all of that fun stuff. She handed me release forms, which I took tentatively considering the fact that I lived far away from here and was in no condition to travel long distance.
She gave me a variety of medicines and instructions, and then she left. “Feel better, sweetie. Nice to meet you, but not under these circumstances,” she smiled sympathetically, and I smiled back as she left.
I sighed, staring down at the forms. I began to mindlessly fill them out, focusing on the detail of the small print in order to distract my mind.
“Hey,” I heard a voice say coolly across the room. My head shot up, and I spotted Vic in the doorway.
“Oh, you’re still here?” I said, immediately regretting the words that slipped from my mouth. I totally meant to think that, and now I sounded stuck up. Fantastic.
“Uh, sorry,” he mumbled awkwardly.
“No, sorry, I mean it’s really sweet of you to stick around. I didn't expect you to,” I said genuinely. I couldn’t figure out why he was here, though. What was I to him? Nothing important, I shrugged my shoulders, agreeing with the voice in my head.
“I just wanted to make sure you are okay, and all,” he said, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. I couldn’t help but stare at the white bandage on the right side of his head. It looked like a brutal hit, and I couldn’t imagine how painful it must have been to receive.
“Thank you,” I said, looking away from him and staring at the papers in my hands.
“I also stuck around because I just couldn't bring myself to leave you alone here,” he said quickly. “I’d like to help you,” he added.
“You have helped me,” I said, cursing at myself for sounding so ungrateful. Because, honestly, I needed his help. There was no way that I could get back to Santa Cruz by myself. There was no way that I would want to try and get back there by myself, especially after what happened to me. I couldn't be alone…
“I, uh, don't want to sound creepy or anything, but if you need somewhere to crash until you are healthy enough to go back home, you’re welcome to come back to my place,” he said, and it was evident in his voice that those words took a lot of courage. Aw.
I didn’t want to sound over enthusiastic, so I remained quiet for a moment. I also didn’t want to sound so desperate, but, in reality, I was. I really had no other option.
“Thanks a lot, Vic. You have no idea how much that means to me. If it’s not too much of a hassle, that would be amazing,” I said, surprised at my own confidence.
“Of course. It really is no problem at all,” he said, smiling. Shouldn’t I be worried? Considering what had just happened to me, wouldn’t it be logical of me to refrain from staying in strangers' houses?
Too bad I wasn’t very rational. Something about Vic’s demeanor made me feel safe. I had a very positive vibe from him, indicating that he wasn’t going to hurt me, but maybe I trusted people a little too much for my own good.
Notes
Yay, two updates today! Sorry, this is kind of short, but it's a quick look into our new character's head. What do you think of her? Her situation?
The thing about becoming attached to someone after a traumatic experience is an actual thing, in case you were wondering.
Anyway, I didn't know how to end this chapter, so I just kind of... ended it. lol
don't forget to let me know what you think, rate, subscribe :)
Thanks a lot to all of you <3
What a fucking beautiful story! Thankyou for making the ending so happy :')
2/27/14