State of Grace (Complete)

Stepping Up

Ch. 31

At the hospital, they have a female police officer come to take my statement while the doctor assesses me. A second female officer waits to take photos of my injuries and there is a nurse assisting.

"Young man, you are going to have to step out while we do a more thorough examination," the officer informs Ian, to me she says, "Is that okay?"

"Grace I'll be right in those chairs, I'll be right here when you need me, okay?"

"Ian..." I can feel panic seize me, my throat closing.

"Gracie, you're so strong, I know you can do this, okay?" he leans over and kisses my forehead.

"Okay," I agree meekly and he walks out from behind the curtained area and goes to a sitting area. The police officer that took my statement follows to question Ian while the doctor, nurse and officer with the camera continues with my examination.

"Grace, we need you to take off your shirt, please." I start to shake, but I comply. The officer and doctor take notes on bruising around my collarbone, then collect my shirt as evidence, since it is torn. "Now your bra please."

My breasts are sore from being squeezed so violently last night, and bruises in the shapes of finger prints are visible.

"Grace, I'm going to have to take some pictures now," the officer says gently.

I try to be brave and lay down with my eyes closed. I can hear the camera clicking and I fight the urge to vomit. The nurse can tell I'm uncomfortable, so she gives a bottle of water and a blanket while they talk to me.

"So the bruising around your neck?"

"I don't know how I got that, maybe from when he was holding me down when he was trying to undo my pants?" I offer.

"Grace, I'm going to need you to lay back down so we can examine your pelvic area. You're doing great, okay? Just a little bit more."

I bite my lip nervously and lay back again. The officer takes photos of the scratches on my lower stomach, where his nails dug in while trying to get my pants undone. Then I have to remove my pants, so they can do an internal exam.

"Are you sexually active, Grace?"

"No, I've never sex. What Chad did was farther than I've ever done."

They examine scratched sore skin, four distinct nail marks, and then a gloved hand examines me inside. I am terrified and in pain. The doctor and the officer confer and make some more notes. The nurse holds my hand and the officer readies her camera.

"It's okay Grace, this is the last set of pictures, okay?"

"Please stop saying it's okay, it's not okay." I can hear my voice raise, but it's not me.

"You're almost finished, just hold still for a second." the camera clicks a few more times, then the nurse hands me the pants that Ian brought for me and the blanket again. I cover myself as quickly as I can, but I'm shaking and its so hard.

"You did great Grace," the nurse pats my leg.

"What happened?" the officer asks.

"He got my pants open and was trying to stick his fingers inside me while opening his pants. He was going to..." I retch and start to sob. "I could feel his...he was hard...and was going to...." I can't finish a sentence, a thought, and I'm back in that car again, trapped.

"Why did he stop?" the officer questions

"Ian..." I begin, then it turns into me calling for him. I need him. "Ian! Ian!"