Submerge

C R Y

AN: Sorry lol I forgot about this story tbh

"They're going to do the test now," the nurse said softly, almost apologetically, as she began cleaning up the room. "It shouldn't take too long, but they'll bring him back as soon as it's over."

I nodded, unable to speak, feeling like I was caught in a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

When the doors closed behind Mason, the silence in the room became unbearable. It was like everything had stopped, like time itself had frozen.

It felt like hours passed before they finally wheeled him back into the room. 

He was still unconscious, his face pale against the white hospital sheets, and there was an eerie stillness to him that made my chest tighten with anxiety.

The doctor followed closely behind, speaking quietly to one of the nurses before turning to us. His face was grave, and I knew whatever he had to say wasn't going to be good.

"Could we step outside for a moment? I'd like to go over Mason's test results and the extent of his injuries with you in private."

I closed the door softly behind me as I joined my parents in the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest.

The doctor let out a small sigh, adjusting his glasses as he looked between us. 

"I'm afraid the results of the rape kit confirm what we suspected. There were signs of sexual assault. We found lacerations and tears indicative of significant force. There was also evidence of semen found in Mason's body, and we've turned that over to the police for investigation, given the extent of the injuries, Mason is also at risk for internal damage."

My mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she broke down in silent sobs.

"The physical trauma Mason has endured is severe," the doctor continued, "In addition to the sexual assault. His right leg is broken in two places, which is why he's unable to walk. We will need to perform surgery to repair the fractures. Additionally, there are significant bruising and lacerations all over his body, consistent with a severe beating. There are also signs of internal bruising, particularly around his ribs, suggesting blunt force trauma."

I swallowed hard, the weight of the words crushing down on me.

"He's also suffering from a concussion," the doctor added. "It's mild, but given the extent of his other injuries, we'll need to monitor him closely for any signs of worsening symptoms."

My mom's tears finally spilled over, and my dad pulled her close, his face tight with barely contained anger and pain.

My voice finally found me, shaking as I spoke. "What about... after the surgery? Will he... will he be okay?"

The doctor hesitated; his gaze heavy. "Physically, he'll recover. The surgery should repair the fractures in his leg, and the bruises and cuts will heal in time. But emotionally... that's going to take much longer. He's going to need extensive support—counseling, therapy. This kind of trauma doesn't go away easily."

it was my fault

If I hadn't gone after Marco, if I had just let it go, maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe Mason wouldn't have been hurt.

The guilt twisted inside me like a knife.

I barely registered the doctor saying something else about contacting the police for further investigation, or how they would schedule Mason's surgery for tomorrow morning.