After a few weeks out of the hospital, and six attempts later I was finally released from the institute. I wasn't a danger to myself, or others they thought. I just stared at the walls in the tiny room, plain white. They didn't have any shelves, nothing. All I had was a bed. When Ari visited, we were only allowed to talk in the gardens. We sat there from when visiting started til it ended. I never told his mom he came, especially when he should have been enjoying his summer with his family. Aristotle changed over the summer. He wasn't the loud teenage boy with an attitude problem. He was a entirely different person, no matter what I needed he was right there. The gardens had a lot of bushes, some roses grew during the summer break. I had my own section, which I decided to place with tulips. There was a long white wooden bench in between the two rose bushes. It sat in the middle of the room, surrounding itself in all different types of plant life. The best spot to sun bathe, as the sunroof stood directly over the garden. Ari and I always sat on the bench. Soaking in the sun as we laughed about his siblings recent bickering. Ari was beyond amazing, he never missed a beat when it came to me. With every attempt, with every cry I had. No one stood next to me, except him.
"Ari, do you think the sun is in heaven too?" I calmly spoke looking up towards the sun. I had my eyes closed, breathing in the fresh air from a nearby opened window. Ari turned to me, I knew he was staring at me. I could feel the lingering eyes, the hairs standing up on my arms. I figured he would ask me, "why?" I wasn't even sure myself why I asked.
"Probably, I would assume they need light to see." He laughed, pushing my right shoulder softly. I looked up at him, and then laid my head along his shoulder.
"I'm glad you're here, Ari." I whispered, he sat silently not saying a single word. Our eyes danced together, his swam with fiery lust. I seen the kindness hiding behind it all. Ari was everything BUT what I thought he would be. Was it because I was an easy target? A victim that he saved, was he trying to make me want him? My eyes had to of shown him my worries, a soft sigh blew through his parted lips. He was only inches, no-- centimeters away from my face. I was sure my shakey breath was hitting his face as his was mine. My stomach dropped, and I turned my head from him.
"Em, I'm always going to be here. Why are you turning away?"
"I'm just being a girl." I smiled as I lied to him. "Have you heard anything from my lawyer?" I asked trying to change the subject. Ari looked away from me, his hand pushing his hair from his face. He looked everywhere but into my eyes. My stomach turned, I could feel my tears settling ready to fall.
"Well don't go silent now Aristotle!" I hollered, jerking up fastly. I stood in front of him, trying to force eye contact. Finally I caught his eyes, and locked in. He tried to look away,"Don't you even think about it. You will look me in my damn eyes like a man!"I screamed, I stood inches to him.
"They dropped the case. They said it was merely a "he said she said" case. Not even enough evidence to convict him." Ari stood in front of me, he grabbed my arm and moved me to the corner. He held my waist, brushing my stray tears that slipped. I could have sworn that I stopped breathing at that moment. Everything just stood still.
"Ari, they can't do that! I have to already remember what he tried to do to me, and now I have to see him too?"
"I know, I do. Believe me I understand--"
"How could you understand?" I sneered, pushing out of his grip on my waist.
"Em..." he sighed backing up against the wall. He looked at me as I stood in front on the opposite wall. I had streams of tears drenching my face. I felt numb, like all the work I went through to be stable so I could come home was, just-- well gone. My heart felt like it was going into a panic, my hands felt cold yet my body was hot. My eyes couldn't stay settled on Aristotle. I darted my attention everywhere else but him. I knew it wasn't his fault, but it wasn't going to change the pain. The flashbacks won't leave, and now? They won't leave any quicker. "Em, I might not understand. But, I have been here. I might not have been there when it happened. But I'm here now. I tried everything I could. Please stop crying, we won't let anything happen to you."
"Yeah, cause you did such a good time last time? I mean I do recall your mother saying to keep me safe. The first thing you guys did was leave with someone and left me alone. I had no one--"
"Are you serious?" Ari spoke harshly, I felt my body jerk to his voice. It was loud and deep, he stood more straight before he started to stalk off. "Goodnight Em." He said before he walked away from me. I don't know how long I sat in the garden, in the same spot me and him were last standing in. I smacked myself in the head, regretting what I said to Ari. Blaming him for what happened, and it wasn't their faults. It was mine. I was weak, and not to mention he is getting away with attacking me.
I shouldn't have hoped for justice. Because when it came to an assault, who would take a girl wearing a short dress seriously?
