"𝐭𝐨𝐦, 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮."

Visiting.

10:50 AM, 16.2.2009

"Mm, where am I?" I say to myself while sitting up on the bed.

I was surrounded by bright white lights and some monitors. Where was I? I don't remember anything.
The only sound I was hearing was the sound of beeping monitors.

I also felt..everything in me aching, every bone, every muscle. I notice my index fingers on each hand had a...pulse oximeter? What?

I finally realised I was in the hospital. The hospital.
Why was I here? What happened?
I just remember that I was at P.E, doing laps.

Suddenly, during my thoughts, a doctor came in.

"Oh, you're awake Chloe." He said with a small, slight smile.

I look at him confused.

"Um..why am I here..?" I ask quietly, looking around.

"Well, apparently you passed out during P.E while running." He said calmly, moving over to me.

"Oh." I look down at my hands.

"Look, Chloe. How do you feel right now?" He asked, sitting down next to me.

"I guess...okay." I lie, swallowing dry.

"Be honest." He said, reading me like a book.

I sigh. "Fine. Everything in my body is aching." I say honestly.

"Hmm..." He hummed, writing something on the paper.

"Now, Chloe, I need you to tell me the truth." He said before continuing.

What...truth?

"We found...atleast 21 small bruises and 12 small scars scattered over your body. And..that is a concerning amount. And we also took a look at your medical history, and it is way too different than your current state. You know, during my 30 years working here, I never saw such a body in this state for such a young girl." He said, looking at me with a concerned expression.

I look away, staring at my hands. They checked my body? Shit. I'm fucked. Oh God.

"um..." I hum, not knowing if I should tell.

"Chloe. I'm asking this for your safety. Do you train something, like a sport?" He asked.

I furrow my brows slightly.

"No, um, I don't." I glance at him for a second.

"Alright. Can you tell me the reason then for these bruises?" He said.

I hesitate, swallowing dry.

"Uhm..." I swallow dry, knowing it was true.

"Take your time." He replied.

"I, I can't tell." I look down at my hands.

"You can't tell?" He repeated, his eyes widening slightly.

"Yea. Um..."

"So, you are saying...someone did this to you?" He asked with a hint of concern.

"Uhm.." I wasn't sure how to respond to that.

He read me like a book, scribbling something in his book.

"Chloe. Hey. We can talk later now, hm?" He replied.

I didn't respond, looking down at my shaky hands.
He took a good look at me and stood up, leaving outside.