FREE

THREE

Time has passed. That much I know, right away. I can feel again. I'm breathing calmly and my head and stomach don't hurt anymore. I still feel sore but at least the burning torture was over.

I'm laying down on something soft, a bed? A very uncomfortable bed. Flexing my fingers, I grip at the sheet beneath me. There's a blinding light overhead; after blinking a couple times, my eyes flutter open, squinting at the brightness. I raise my hand as a shield, noticing my bare arms.

Where am I? I look around and see windows open with sunlight streaming in, some chairs, and a small vase of flowers on a table. This isn't just any bed, but a hospital bed, with white linen sheets.

Oh God! I'm in the hospital! He really did it! He really...

I couldn't bring myself to say the word. It burned in my throat; I am starting to feel sick. Was he close? Did he get caught? What happened after my mom—oh my gosh, my mom! She stopped him, where is she? Everything is coming back to me, every painful memory in horrific detail. There's a soft knock, my eyes dart towards the door as my mom peeks her head in. She smiles softly.

"Hey mija," she whispers, coming in and closing the door behind her.

She sits beside me and places her warm hands over mine. Her soft brown eyes are different, weary and cautious. I just gaze at her. She was there, she saw how he was hurting me, she saved me. As if we are reading each other's thoughts, our eyes both begin to tear up at the same time. A choked sob escapes my mouth as she embraces me tightly.

"I'm so sorry mom..." I mumble.

"Oh it's ok baby." She sniffs. "It's ok. I know, I know."

She lies on the bed beside me and holds me against her chest. She's so warm, I cradle into her safe loving arms and bury my face into her bosom. We remain like this for minutes, maybe an hour, before she pulls back and holds my face in her hands. We stop crying, our eyes brimmed in red.

"Everything is going to be fine," she says quietly, a small smile across her lips. "We're going to get through this."

"Mom, I'm... I'm so sorry."

"Honey you have nothing to be sorry for."

"I shouldn't have let him in," I whisper.

"Don't apologize. I don't blame you it wasn't your fault Kendra."

"Where..." I take a deep shaky breath. "Where is he now?"

Her eyebrows pull together and I watch her lips press tightly together. "He's in the hospital too. Not this one, he's at the county hospital. He was hurt pretty badly."

Good.

"Then when he recovers, he'll be arrested and taken to jail."

I look up at her, my eyes wide. "Jail?"

She nods. "He committed a very serious crime honey. He'll be charged as an adult. He's almost twenty."

What! He told me he was eighteen, a year older than me.

Knowing that he'll be going to jail eases my nerves slightly. At least I know I won't have to face him any time soon. I hope I never will.

"I don't know if this is a good time," my mom says quietly. I don't look at her, just stare at my fingers, tears gathering in my eyes as I examine the dark, purple bruises all over my arms.

"But your dad has been trying to get in touch with you."

The letter! I remain silent, listening to her.