The Winner

Everybody Hurts

It's been almost a week. A week of pure hell. The physical and emotional pain Julia has endured because of Jeremy Donovan will take years of healing.

We all hurt for her. We all feel guilty that we weren't there for her when she needed help.  We all feel awful that, because of this specific case, with this specific doctor, our hands are tied, and the only one paying the price is Julia.  No justice is being served. It's sickening, but we hope somehow, in some form, we are eventually able to report this.  Until we have more evidence,  Julia is stuck.

Jeremy is a smart kid. He knew what he was doing. He patiently waited months and months to build a connection with Julia, earn her trust.  And when the moment was right, he took advantage of her. Abused her. Raped her. Threatened her. And none of us can do a God damned thing about it. I could have all the money in the world and still not be able to fix this. No lawyer is gonna take on a case with absolutely no evidence and a high profile doctor.  It makes me sick to my stomach.

I can't imagine ever doing something like that to a woman. He took advantage of her mental health issues.  Took advantage of her emotional instability.  Took advantage of her when she was at her lowest, in the middle of an awful detox with equally awful withdrawal  symptoms. Took advantage of her being bound to a bed and helpless.

I've stayed up at night thinking about these things since the day we found out. Thinking about what Julia was feeling. The betrayal after trusting him.  The helpless feeling of not being able to fight her way out of it,  the physical pain that she had. It is almost a week, and she still isn't completely recovered.

I don't know if this was a planned thing.  I don't know if he suddenly saw her in restraints and decided - hey, why the hell not - but I do know, he's been making her life a living hell ever since.

Jeremy has only slipped up once, and because of me, it wasn't enough to get any evidence. The other night, he asked Casey if she could run some of Julia's labs down to another floor. Of course, she had to, but she knew I was awake, even if Donovan didn't. 

I was lying on the couch, propped up by pillows while I continued to heal. The room was dark. I heard Jeremy come into the room and stand there for a moment, making sure I was indeed asleep. Then he pulled the partition over to give him privacy. I think I almost had a heart attack on that couch.

Because Jules has been sleeping during the day, she stays up at night with Casey. So when she heard Jeremy come into the room and tell Casey to leave, she became on edge. We keep reminding her we are awake every night... but she still is fearful that no one will help her---

"It's late." I hear Julia say. Her voice cracks. She's petrified.

"Yeah, just thought I'd come check in on you before I call it a night." I hear Jeremy say lowly.

"Jeremy,  why is the partition closed?" She asks nervously.

He ignores her question.

"You've been doing great, kiddo. I'm proud of ya."

"I'm really tired." I hear Julia shuffling around. I can tell there is a lot of movement now.

 Is he trying to do  something? I'm supposed to wait until something actually happens, so we have evidence, but my heart is pounding out of my chest. I can't let him try anything. I just can't. Julia's already been through so much.

"Just for a minute. I'll be quick."

That's all I could handle when I  get off the couch and pretend to head to the bathroom, which, fortunately, is on Julia's side. I yank the partition open and see Jeremy sitting on the edge of the bed, and Julia so far off to the other side to get away, one more inch, and she will fall off the bed.