SAVING TOMORROW: A SUPERHERO STORY

CHAPTER 4

"Prensisim, ne oldu?" (Princes what happened?") Asks my Mom. I shake my head, as I run to my room. I jump into my half made bed ignoring my parents frantic knock. But I don't close my eyes.

Hours later I come out, quietly, tentatively. My Mom is sitting in the living room watching her television programme eating sunflower seeds, when she sees me she immediately hits pause and calls me over.

"Where's Melisa?" I ask as I rub my nose. It has turned tomato red due to all the crying and nose blowing.

" She went to a concert with her friends," Mom rolls her eyes. I nod my head slowly sitting down next to her.

"Honey, whats going on? I'm worried about you? Are you eating enou-"

"MOM!" I massage my temples. "I'm fine, just a little tired, my English project is giving me a hard time that's all,"

She pulls me into a sweet perfumed hug, and I wish I could just relax but something just doesn't feel right.

We spend the rest of the night watching more televisions shows and eating mom's handmade sarma. Dad comes home around 10 at night and sends us all off to bed but not before calling Melisa to make sure she is okay.

I sigh as I flop back onto my bed, even though it's supposedly Autumn the air in here still feels humid. I push the sticky sheets off my body and close my eyes. However my mind can't stop going back to the little "episodes" I've had today. Finally I feel my body grow heavy and I drift off into a thankfully dreamless sleep.

"Asena, wake up" Is what I hear before my Dad begins to shaking me. I crack open an eye, it's 4:28 in the morning according to the clock next to my bed and my Dad looks the most anxious I've ever seen him, I hear Mom rushing around outside my door. Something is not right. I sit up quickly as my Dad throws one of his old police academy hoodies at me.

"What's going on?" I ask I get to my feet and pull it over my t shirt, I grab some leggings from the my bedside table as Dad literally throws boots at my head, I catch them just in time.

"Melisa was found outside the concert, she is in the hospital,"

I still for a minute. A million questions race through my head, but I know there is no time. We both run out the door, Dad grabs Mom by the arm and we walk out the door. My mind is in a thousand places as we make it downstairs to the car and stumble in. Mom is crying and asking rapid fire questions in Turkish so fast that I can barely understand with her blubbering.

"Enough!" My Dad slams his hands on the steering wheel. "You think I know the answers to your questions, woman?"

We rush into her room. It's boring and bland looking, but inside in the middle that break my heart. Melisa is laying on the bed sitting up against some pillows. Her face is empty, she looks so small so fragile.

"Oh dearie," Mom rushes over to her side to hug her. Melisa flinches back and hit her hands away.

"NO! Don't touch me, don't touch me, don't you dare, no, Don't you.. touch me," Melisa rambles on rocking back and forth. She looks petrified, but Dad looks even worse. He is wavering at the door.

"Melisa," I walk slowly over to her. Her head snaps up, and her eyes meet mine.

"I'm so sorry," She whispers before she breaks down in Mom's arms. She is sobbing, as if her life depended on it.

I take a deep breathe, trying to get a hold of myself.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," On and on she goes sobbing in her little hospital gown, my baby sister.

That's when a woman in a white coat comes in; she doesn't look happy at all.

"Hello, I'm doctor Suffress, I specialize in trauma cases," She shakes Dad's hand.

"What sort of trauma exactly?" He asks seriously there is a slight quiver at the end of his questions. I think he already knows the answer.

"Let's talk outside a little," We follow her to the hallway. The hospital is fairly crowded for the time of day.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but your daughter Melissa has been sexually assaulted." Dr.Suffress says softly. My ears start ringing and for a second my massive 6 foot father actually seems small.

"I- I see," He stutters.

"How did this happen?" I burst out, things like this don't happen to people like us. I'm reeling from shock and I barely catch her words.

"She was attending a concert, she says a man followed her out and well... "The doctor trials off. "We examined her and found small traces of it, vaginal tearing, scratches, bruising,-"

"Please-" Dad cuts her off "When you're saying this, I'm imagining it,"

"Well, it happened to HER," I cut in.

"I know-"

"Look, the good thing is that we tested her for any transmitted diseases and she is clean," Dr. Sufress tells us. I breathe a sigh of relief.

"I assume cops found her, I'd like to speak with them," Dad says gruffly. He is going into cop mode for sure now.

I zone out of whatever they are saying as I feel cold creeping over my body. I shiver, and wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep everything together.

Slowly, I walk over to the wall and slide down to sit against it. I hear my dad asking endless questions and my Mom crying. I close my eyes and lean my head back.

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THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR READING!!! I PROMISE IN THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS THINGS WILL PICK UP!