His Fresh Start ✔ (Book Three)

Chapter 19

Aiden would be okay. He lost blood and was weak, but he didn't die. Alan saved him, and I'd be forever grateful. 

I took Lou and Ellie home and drove to my place. I could've returned to the hospital, but Alan said he'd rather talk to me somewhere private. After what he'd done, inviting him over was the logical thing.

With my fingers curled around the leather of the steering wheel and my eyes focused on the road, I went through the events of the night.

Telling Ellie about my past wasn't easy. She was young, and a part of me wanted to shelter her from the ugliness of the abuse, but I decided against it. She wouldn't be seventeen forever, and what Aiden was going through veered into the adult life problems territory. He would need her support, and she needed to know both of them had mine. 

Lou's reaction was logical. Like me, she blamed herself for not seeing the signs. Aiden didn't behave like a typical victim of abuse, but neither did I. How could I judge the boy for keeping quiet when I did the same thing? 

I parked in the driveway and made my way into the house, heading to the kitchen. Alan would be famished after his insane twelve-hour shift. I grabbed the leftover stew and turned the stove on. 

My doorbell rang after a short while. I padded to the front door and threw it open.

"Hey." A weary smile lifted the corners of Alan's mouth. "Hope I didn't make you wait for too long."

"I would've waited no matter how long it took. How's Aiden?"

Alan sighed. "If you're asking about his physical condition, stable. I'm not sure about the mental state he's in; that's why I texted Leo and asked him to talk to Aiden as soon as he wakes up."

"Good. So, is there a way to do what I asked you?"

"Food first," Alan said. 

I smiled for the first time in hours. We went to the kitchen, and Alan settled at the counter with the plate of steaming stew in front of him. He dug into his dinner as if he hadn't eaten all day. Come to think of it, he probably hadn't.

"This is why we're friends," he said with his mouth full.

"It's good to feel appreciated."

I waited for Alan to finish eating and made coffee for both of us.

"So," he dabbed at his mouth with a napkin, "we called Aiden's father, and he didn't pick up."

"You did?"

"What do you think?"

The imaginary stone block pressing on my shoulders became lighter. "Thank you. I don't even know what I can do for you. I'll feed you every day."

Alan laughed. "You already do, but who am I to say no? Just kidding, Fauber. You know, my surgeon self is afraid of lying and putting my career at risk, but my father self is saddened and enraged by seeing a kid Ava's age being abused by their parent. Aiden will be eighteen in no time. His injuries are reason enough to keep him in the hospital until he's legally an adult. But once he's out, he needs to press charges. You have to convince him."

Silence filled the kitchen. My eyes focused anywhere but on my friend. 

Alan crossed his arms. "You feel you can't persuade him to expose his father because you didn't expose the guy who abused you?"

"I forgot you know me well," I mumbled. 

"Well, it's not the same. Your situation was different. Your mother was involved, and the guy who did that to you isn't a nobody. Besides, unlike Aiden, you distanced yourself from those people."

"It doesn't mean keeping quiet isn't eating at me, though."

"It won't be easy for the boy," Alan said. "But the alternative is worse. It might happen again. The beating wasn't a one-time occurrence. Aiden's injuries—"

"I know," I said, burying my hands in my hair. " I'll talk to him."

***

My plans to talk to Aiden the following day crashed. He was too weak, and Alan and I agreed it was necessary to give him some time to feel better. 

When I entered his hospital room a couple of days later,  Aiden was asleep. Dark shadows settled under his eyes, and his face was as white as the paint on the walls. 

I sat in a chair by his bed and clasped my hands on my knees. Aiden stirred. His sleepy eyes opened, and confusion flashed in them. 

"Hey," I said. "How are you feeling?"

Aiden shrugged and looked away, probably to hide his vulnerability from me. 

"You don't have to tell me anything," I said. "I just wanted to let you know I'm here for you. We all are. Lou knows the truth, and so does Jim. You'll stay here, and you won't leave the hospital until you turn eighteen."

"Thank you," Aiden rasped. When he looked at me, wetness coated his cheeks. 
"What did I do for him to hate me so much?" he whispered. "If they didn't want to have a son, they should've got rid of me while they could. He can't stand me, and I don't know why."

"It's not about what you did or didn't do, Aiden. He's a bad person. Not you, he."

"I just want it to end. I want all of it to end. I want my fucking life to end. He should've just killed me."

Something even deeper than concern seized my insides. My eyes roamed Aiden's face. "Don't say that. He needs to pay for what he did to you, but you'll pull through. You have to."

"Easy for you to say." Aiden rolled onto his side and faced away from me.

"I've been in your shoes," I said. 

Aiden stiffened.

"That's the truth. My dad never hit me, but my mother's boyfriend did something even worse."

Aiden's position didn't change. He was still avoiding looking at me. Perhaps, that gave me the courage to tell him my story, not to seek pity, but to give him hope and convince him that even people like us could be happy. 

"That man is still free," Aiden said when I finished speaking.

I looked him in the eye. "Yeah."

"And you think he might be hurting others."

"I don't have proof, but that's a possibility."

"But if you press charges, the guy might ruin your dad's business."

"Accurate."

Aiden ran a palm across his face. "Man, that sucks."

"So does what your father did to you," I said.

"I'm pretty sure I'm the only one he hates." Aiden let out a sad laugh. "But you know what? I'm going to press charges. I'll get my money when I'm eighteen and start over with Ellie after I make sure he's in jail. I have to think about what I can do. Just… Do you think I could talk to someone other than Ellie's uncle?"

I nodded. "Of course."

"Good."

Aiden stared at the ceiling, probably making plans regarding his future, and I didn't have the heart to tell him I doubted there was any money waiting for him. How could there be if the kid didn't have health insurance? Abusers rarely cared about their victims' well-being.

"Thank you for being honest with me." Aiden's voice broke the quiet. "And for not treating me like a clueless kid."

I swallowed and nodded. "Anytime."