When We Were Young

Bad days good endings

As I was changing my shirt I heard a knock on my door. "Who is it?" I asked as I was putting my jeans on. I kept my back turned to the door and just brushed the noise of someone knocking on the bathroom door across the hall. Oh boy, I couldn't be more wrong, before I could turn around I felt a hand on my mouth and my body being shoved to the floor. I tried to fight whomever was on me off but I couldn't seem to get my footing right.
I felt my cast hit my chest and a sickening crack rattle through my chest. Tears began flowing down my face as a hand tangled in my hair. I kept fighting before my head was picked up and smashed into the wood flooring of my bedroom, and like that lights out.

I woke up to intense pain in my head and chest and blinding lights filling the space as I opened my eyes. Looking around I could tell it wasn't my room, I couldn't smell anything, and breathing through my nose was tough, it felt like something was in my throat. "She's awake!" I heard Dalton scream as people rushed around me. "Oh, baby we thought we lost you!" Memes cried as she squeezed my hand. I began trying to sit up and I was pushed back down. "Hold on a second Miss let me get the tub out of your airway." That's when it all clicked for me, I was attacked in my room, I was knocked out and now I'm back in the hospital. "This is going to feel weird okay?" I slightly nodded. "Okay, it's out." I felt like a weight was lifted off my chest and I began coughing. "This is normal give her a minute." The doctor said as she helped me sit up. "I'm Doctor Hope and I hate to tell you this, but you were assaulted and found unresponsive. But you were found in time but this nice young boy." I looked over at Dalton sitting across the room, his once baby blues now accompanied by a nice purple bruise and busted lip "Thank you." Was all I could whisper before a whole new sense of pain shot through my body. "What happened, I never saw who attacked me." I started to cry. "Oh honey, everything will be okay, now your nose is broken but we got it to reset and you have a few broken ribs. But I promise we're going to do anything to help you heal." Doctor Hope said as she shined a light in my eyes. "No concussion so that's good." I looked around and felt a hand on mine. "I'm here, I got there in time, and Ryan won't hurt you anymore." Dalton said as he looked down at me. "What happened to your face?" I asked and he just leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Don't worry about it beautiful." I just nodded and the doctor pulled my grandparents into the hallway.
"What happened? All I remember was getting dressed and then I was attacked." Dalton's face contorted into anger and he squeezed my hand tightly before brushing my hair out of my face. "We think Ryan picked the lock to your room, we found him after you hadn't come down when called and blood had leaked out from your door. The doctor won't tell you but you were sexually assaulted, Alex I did what I had to." I knew what he meant, I can only imagine what Ryan looks like. "Is he dead?" I asked as Dalton crawled in next to me on the small hospital bed. "No, but he was squealing like a pig when the cops came, I let him get some hits on me to make it look like I lost." He leaned his head on mine and traced shapes onto my hand. "I barely touched him, but he's never coming back and neither is his brother, your grandpa said he'll do better to make sure you're safe." I tried to move to give him more space. "Don't move, you have a lot of bruising and some cuts they had to stitch, I don't want you in more pain." I just nodded and sighed heavily.

After what felt like weeks and constant talks with the police along with a gross disregard to my feelings, I was being discharged. "No I'm not taking that damn test!" I screamed as Doctor Hope was holding a pee cup. "Alex please it's been four weeks and I can't discharge you without a pregnancy test, we can't be too careful." She begged. "Alex please this is the last test." I finally relented and took the damn cup. "This is stupid you already took my blood today, test that!" I screamed from the bathroom.
"We did, it takes days to get a clear result, this one will be quick and you can go home." I heard the doctor from behind the door. "Fine, here's my pee you freak." I said while thrusting the cup at her as I walked out.
She left and I just sat by the window and looked out over everything.
"Alex, we brought you clothes, would you like to change?" I looked over at my grandparents holding out black sweatpants and a black veil brides shirt. "Thank you." I grabbed the clothes and headed back into the bathroom to strip out of the stupid blue gown I had been wearing.
I had been here so long I got my hard cast off and was given a brace for the rest of the summer, Dalton had come everyday after work and football. We had gotten closer, I learned his favorite color is purple and I told him mine is pink. How he likes country and some rock and I mainly listen to rock. I learned all I could in the three weeks I've been here to let my ribs heal and let the tears heal.
"Knock knock I have your results Alex." I was walking out of the bathroom in my new clothes as Doctor Hope came back with my file. "All tests are negative, let's get you to the front to get you out of here." I nearly screamed with joy as I walked out of the room I called home.

Once I got home I nearly collapsed as I walked in the door and saw the couch. "Um, do I have the same room?" I asked shyly and my grandparents shook their heads. "We moved you to your dads old room, on the other side of the house." I just smiled and asked to go outside, nodded and I ran out to the field, I ran until I saw Dalton carrying a bale of hay to the horses. "DALTON!" I screamed and he nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned around. "Oh my god Alex you're home! I thought you didn't come home till Friday?" He was running towards me and engulfed me into a hug. "I got out today, god I missed you." I nearly cried as he pushed my hair out of my face.
"I missed you too." He leaned down and I took the chance. Getting up on my tippy toes and connected my lips to his, they were soft but slightly cracked. Initially I didn't feel him applying the same pressure but after what felt like an eternity his lips locked in with mine.
As we pulled away he put his forehead against mine and just smiled. "I've been wanting to do that for a while." I couldn't say anything, he took that as a que and kissed me again.