Safe (Rewritten)

It's Complicated

You're not the person

That I knew back then.

- A Day to Remember, "It's Complicated"

"This is the second time we've taken her to a hospital this month, Lewis. Maybe she needs full time help." Mom is saying when I come around to consciousness.

"She didn't do it this time, Terryn," Dad sighs. "She fainted."

"Then explain the rock to me," she hisses. "What the hell was she doing with a rock at one o'clock in the morning? Lewis, explain that to me."

"She opened the door and found a rock there. I don't know why, but it freaked her out." Madison's voice is farther away, probably by the door. "She dropped."

I hear Mom stand up. "It's been two years. Damn it, why is this happening now? It doesn't make sense for it to be starting now."

"What do you mean?" Madison asks.

Dad joins the conversation, "Two years ago, Paige came home after a party with some friends. She was covered in dirt and half of her clothes were torn apart. Paige never told us what happened. Instead, she stayed in her room for two weeks, only coming out to go to the bathroom. She didn't eat. She didn't speak. That's where the depression started."

Madison makes a sound. "Did she ever tell you about any-"

My eyes jump open, my accelerated heartbeat making the machine jump. They all turn to look at me, not bothering to hide their surprise.

Mom is the first to break the silence. She drops back into her seat beside the bed, her baby blue eyes wide with worry. "Baby, what were you doing up?"

I close my eyes and look away. My throat feels scratched and raw, like I've spent the last hour screaming at the top of my lungs. "Couldn't sleep."

She fixes me with her wide eyes. "I don't understand, then. What happened?"

What happened? My monster of an ex-boyfriend tossed a rock at our house, with a message about what he did to me two years ago. That's what happened. But it's not like I'm going to say that. That would just be stupid. The secret is mine and mine alone, and no one else needs to be dragged into it.

When I don't answer, she must assume that I don't remember. Mom sighs. She reaches out to smooth my hair, but when our eyes meet, she drops her hand and stands back up. Without another word, Mom leaves the room.

Madison and Dad look at the door, almost as if trying to force Mom to come back. After a moment of awkward silence, Dad gives me a sheepish smile and takes off after her, leaving me alone with Madison. Once it's just us, she shakes her head and sits down in Mom's seat.

"This is your life?" She cocks an eyebrow at me

I shrug, looking around the room. Unlike last time, I'm actually alone in the room, no green curtains hiding another person. It makes me comfortable and claustrophobic at the same time. Madison pulls out her phone and types something, the small sound the only thing in the room.

She blows out a breath, surprising me. "Okay, what the hell? You open the door, pick up a rock, and faint? And what did the rock even mean?" Madison scrutinizes me, her eyes narrowing slightly. It's like with Ella; I can tell she's expecting an answer and I can't find a way around it.

"It's just. . ." I swallow. My throat is really dry and now that I've realized that, I need water. However, Madison is still giving me that look. "I don't know."

"Was it him?" She lowers her voice. "The boy who dropped you off that day?"

"What?!" I exclaim, my neck snapping in her direction. Madison's eyebrows shoot up and we stare at one another in shock. "Eric? You think Eric had something to do with this?"