and we hated

Fact no.32: I've never been more afraid

APRIL

"The bruises will heal in time", the nurse tells me. Dia is still on the hospital bed and I am looking at her through the glass window. Noah is behind me, hands around me. I am thankful he is here with me. His hands offer me support. They tighten around me every time I see Dia in front of that door again in front of my eyes. If he wouldn't hold me right now, I might collapse any moment. We texted Kai and Cami where we are. They said they'll stop by to bring us some food and clothes and to check on Dia.

She hasn't spoken since. Hasn't taken down the headphones Noah gave her. Hasn't agreed to us calling the police and reporting Leo. Whatever Leo did, it broke her.

I am going to kill him.

"But there is bad news too", the nurse continues. I might collapse again. This whole night was just bad news. Noah's grip tightens around me. "The wounds behind her left ear and the one of her ribcage will leave a mark. We tried our best, but the hit was too hard. She will remain with scars on those spots. We informed her before."

"What did she say?", I ask, looking at my best friend. Tears start rolling down my face again.

"She didn't answer. The patient hasn't told us anything since she arrived. Only not to report the case."

I look at the nurse surprised. She only nods. "We explained that reporting the wounds might help catch the aggressor. The patient refused."

I nod, asking myself what Leo did to silence her.

"Are you her relatives?", the nurse asks.

I am quick to nod.

"Does the hospital need to call her parents to inform them?", the woman asks.

Now I shake my head.

"They are not in the country", I reply. "We are on holiday here. There is no need to inform them, we'll do that."

If Dia agrees, which she probably won't.

"Alright. You're allowed to go to her now. We'll keep her until the evening for surveillance. The wounds are healed, but we need to be sure there aren't any side effects. She got a hit behind her ear which we have to monitor."

I nod, thanking the nurse. As she leaves, I ask Noah to wait outside a bit and then walk inside the room to Dia. She opens her eyes, and for once, doesn't look away. She has looked away when the doctors came.

"Are you alright?", I ask her.

She answers "Better" as she shakes her head.

I promised myself I won't ask her directly, yet I can't help it. Not when seeing her like this. "Why won't you report him?"

She sighs and fight the urge to cry. A single tear escapes her eye.

"I don't want to. A legal case will forever bound me to him. We will always somehow be connected. With me not telling, I am free. There is nothing connecting us."

"But he hurt you-", I counter. She shakes her head.

"April. I thank you for worrying for me, but I don't want to report him. I've been to enough court sessions so far. I don't want this. I just want to forget it all."

"He'll come after you", I say, trying to convince her otherwise. "He won't leave you in peace."

"Then I'll deal with it then. I just want to forget. Please", she whispers, her voice like a beg.

I nod, although I don't agree. She thanks me and as I want to leave the room, she grabs my hand and makes a sign I should come next to her. She makes enough space on the hospital bed and I come lie down. I can still see the bruises. And the pain in her eyes. The tears on her cheeks. I take her hand and curl our fingers. Then give her hand a squeeze. She thanks me with her eyes, not allowing herself to smile. She then closes her eyes.

And I try to do the same, but can't. I am afraid that Leo might walk any moment through the main door, and hurt her.

So I spend the time with my eyes wide open, facing the door.