Where My Love Went - A Novella

Twenty-Three : Shower

Will

"You thought you were at some type of facility, what do you remember from that?" I ask Jo as I comb my fingers through her hair.

Jo looks up at me before she returns her gaze back out the window.

The doctor came in about twenty minutes ago and just talked to her about what's going on and what to expect while she's here. I asked Josh and Anna not to come for a little while, because Jo seemed tired.

She's cradled in my arms right now and it's a feeling I missed more than anything while she was gone.

"He used to bathe me." She says quietly. "I'd wear these goggles with duck tape covering them." My arms tighten around her protectively so she rests her temple against my collarbone.

"Did he ever..." I hesitate to ask, but she's curious now. "Did he ever touch you?"

"I... I don't know." Something that looks like panic flares in her eyes.

I comb her hair back. "It's okay. When we find out who did this—" I'm interrupted by a knock on the door. It opens and one of the nurses comes in.

She smiles. "How do we feel about showering?" Jo tenses in my arms and looks up at me with fear in her eyes. "Don't worry. I'll be right there making sure nothing happens to you."

That knowledge makes her panic.

I sit up. "Umm..."

"Can Will do it?" Jo blurts out.

The nurse's lips thin. "I'd rather there be a professional with you."

Jo pushes out of my grasp slightly. "He's the only one I trust to take care of me if I have another episode." She looks back at me for a second and then back to the nurse. "He knows what to do to pull me out of it. Please." She pleads, her voice cracking. "You can even wait out here, I don't care. I need him."

The nurse looks at Jo with sympathy in her eyes before she nods. "Okay." She looks at me as she sets towels, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner down on the table at the foot of the bed. "I'll be right out here though, if she seizes again."

I nod. "Thank you."

The nurse helps Jo out of the bed as I walk into the bathroom and turn on the shower, getting the water to the right temperature.

I text Josh, asking him to bring me a change of clothes as the nurse leads Jo into the bathroom at a slow pace. "She was a little dizzy when she stood up, so don't make the water too hot."

I nod. "Got it."

She pats Jo's arm. "There's an emergency button in the shower if you need it. I'll have lunch ready for ya when you're all done, okay?"

"Thank you." Jo smiles and the nurse leaves, shutting the door behind her.

I feel the temperature of the water and then turn and look at Jo. "You ready?" She nods and reaches for the back of her gown.

"I'll get it." I tell her. "Turn around." When her back is to me, she faces the mirror where our eyes meet. "Don't be nervous. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you." She nods again but I can tell she's anxious.