Viola

Chapter 8

He sanitizes his hands and then begins by pressing on my stomach. I wince at the pressure of the bruises that I feel on my stomach. 

"Did that hurt?" he asks

I only nod biting my lip trying not to cry. Roni squeezes my hand moving her other hand to wipe a tear that I hadn't realized had fallen.  

"If it hurts you can squeeze as hard as you want kay?" She offers

I nod trying to smile slightly "t-thank y-you" I choke out. She smiles back a tear sliding down her cheek. 

"I'm going to check on your leg wound and your back now," Dr. Hexler says as he goes to touch my leg. 

I nod again trying to form a smile. He asks me to roll on my side. 

As I do I feel a shooting pain and I let out a choked sob in pain along with a whimper.

Roni quickly squats down trying to see what was wrong. I meet her eyes trying to calm down my tears but the pain in my ribs is making it hard to breathe. 

"Viola sweetie I'm right here" she coos, trying to calm me down. "Doc she's in too much pain you've gotta give her a minute," she says. 

"Viola I know it hurts but I need you to try to breathe just for little bit and then it'll all be over," he says apologetically, still trying to examine my back and leg. 

A few moments later I'm sobbing in pain. Roni is rubbing my back constantly kissing my forehead and hugging me to console me. 

"Hexler you need to hurry up, she's in a lot of pain." Roni rushes out, obviously upset.

I squeeze her hand trying to cope with the pain but also not wanting to hurt her hand.

"I'm trying Veronica. She's got a gash back here I'm dressing it so it doesn't get infected just try to keep her comfortable." He says. 

I feel bits of harsh stinging from my back as he wipes it with disinfectant.

Roni looks at me one more time. As I let out another choked whimper her eyes flash from sadness to determination. 

"Hexler stop," she demands. "Just a few more minutes Veronica I swear" he tries to reason with her. 

She stands up getting out of my view. I whimper as I cant feel her comforting warmth anymore. 

I hear Veronica talking to Hexler but my vision starts to get blurry as it gets particularly hard to breathe. I start to feel lightheaded.

Suddenly I feel Hexler stop disinfecting and beginning to lift me up slightly. Confused I try to talk only to end up letting out strangled sobs. Taking me by surprise, I suddenly understand what's happening when Roni climbs into bed beneath me putting me in between her legs with my head on her chest supporting me so that I'm not lying directly on my side. I feel some of the pain in my ribs relieve as they are taken off the bed. 

Roni grabs my hand soon hugging me to her whispering consoling words in my ear as I feel Hexler begin to patch up my back yet again. I nestle into Roni's embrace trying to show my gratitude for what she's doing.

Soon Hexler finishes what he's doing. He comes around the bed and into my view. 

Handing me a tissue he begins, "Viola you have some cuts on your back and feet. I patched them up but you'll need to have them redressed every other day." he says, looking down slightly before he continues. "I just need to ask you a few questions if that's okay," he says. 

I nod "s-sure" I whisper out, voice horse due to my dry throat from crying.

He pulls over a chair before beginning "Viola, who did this to you?" He asks.