My tomorrow are all mine

Chapter 8

The car comes to a stop and she gets out to help me. She grabs her purse and my bag and then grabs my hand to help me out and then I lean on her and we walk into the brick house. It's in a subdivision of cookie cutter houses and I smell vanilla in the air and fresh laundry. It's getting dark a bit. We walk through the door and she takes me to a room just off the big kitchen. I sit down in a chair just inside the entrance and she looks at me.

" Honey you are in really rough shape, do you want to go to the hospital? I am pretty sure your rib is broken and your nose. I used to be a nurse so I can fix my nose but it is going to be messy and bloody." she explains

" Two days." I say in a raspy voice.

" What do you mean two days?" she says " He did this two days ago?" I shake my head yes. " Oh honey I am so sorry."

" I can't go to the ER he will find me.'' I take a breath. " You can't fix my rib but if you help me to the bathroom you can straighten my nose."

" If I straighten your nose you might pass out." she says

" What's one more time right?" i try to laugh

" Right," she says, trying to lighten the mood. " Okay let me get you into the shower."

I take a few steps to the shower and she tells me to wait a minute leaning on the sink. She comes back with a chair and puts it in the shower. Then gets me to sit down. I reach for her hand. I look at her face trying to say thank you and feel a tear escape.

" I hope he dies." She says " I have never hated a man so much in my life. Now I won't lie to you. This is going to hurt like hell. Just grab your shirt like this and don't pull my arm or move"

I grip my shirt and wrap my hands in it and close my eyes. She grips my nose and I hear a crack and it's like a door opened and all the blood in my head came flowing out. The pressure was gone but replaced by a pounding throb.

" You okay?" she asks " My god you're tough." I hold up three fingers. " It's this the third time?" she asks. I shake my head yes. Let me get you out of these clothes and we can wash your hair and rinse you off. Is that okay?" I shake my head again.

When the water hits my hair I close my eyes. It's like I am being baptized. I begin to cry deep sobs and I feel every movement. I cry all the sorrow I was not able to for so long. As she washes my hair for me. I get a little bit of humanity back. She runs water over my body and hands me a loofah with soap on it. I start scrubbing my chest and realize my arm is not moving well and it is numb.

" I think it's out?" I whisper to her pointing to my shoulder.

" Okay when we have you cleaned up ill reset that too and then you can sleep." She suggests and I agree with a nod. " Want me to help you?"

" Please, I don't really have the energy or strength right now." I admit

She goes slow and washes my back and arms. Working her way down my legs and then rinses me off. She takes the rest of the shampoo out of my hair and then dries me off. Wrapping a towel around me. She takes the chair out of the shower and has me sit back down so she can bandage up my face.

" Honey there are two spots that need stitches." she says " I can stitch them up for you but they will also hurt. How about I set your arm first. Then I'll get you dressed and in bed to sew up your cuts?" I just shake my head yes and she says leaves a minute again. She comes back quickly with some clothes and helps me put on the underwear and pants. They look at me. " This is not going to tickle."

" Five" I say, shaking my head.

" He did this five times before?" she asks and stares at me. " Honey, you really have a bad guy meter. Let's get this fixed first. Then we can fix that." She reaches for my arms and I let her. " Now relax and don't fight me. I will try to do this quickly." I shake my head again. I take a deep breath and in a few moves I hear it pop and she holds me up in the chair. I almost passed out. Then she hands me a glass of water and some pills. I don't even ask what they are. I just trust her and take the help she is offering me. She helps me into the shirt and it's silky. She has a black towel on the pillow and the sheets pulled back. She is so prepared. I really hope she knows how much she is appreciated. I lay back and she covered me. " I wish I could just let you rest but I need to close these for you."