The Diary Of A Chubby Girl

Chapter 20 - Just Minor Bruising (Tamara)

January 21st,

It was the morning after. Still in the same bed but everything feels just a little bit different. Only now can I finally reflect on the chain of events that unfolded last night. I'll spare you a repetition of the horrific recount of Levi's actions and skip straight to the part that saved the night, or rather saved me.

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I sat there watching as Dr Carter furiously hit Levi without any sign of relenting and felt a sense of relief but also felt an uncertainty of 'what would happen from here'. 

With that thought, the metal door burst open one last time and out poured a crowd of hospital staff, mostly nurses and a few orderlies. They launched at Dr Carter and pulled him off a beaten but still smug Levi, who couldn't wipe that vain grin off his face. At once Dr Carter calmed down and you could see it painted all over his face, a deep regret yet an equally deep satisfaction.

A male nurse named James, who I had seen a few times before, walked up to him and said, "Noah you can't act like this, you're a professional. Lashing out in this way, whilst on duty." He shook his head and walked away.

Then another came and added, "Dr Carter, I can't fathom that you would beat a kid up like that for no reason. This could cause a whole lot of problems not just for your career but for public confidence in our hospital. Just think of the perception that people will have of our staff if they find out that we assault people on rooftops."

Why could nobody else see that Dr Carter was the hero, not the villain. Speaking of assaulting people on rooftops, nobody could see that I was sitting there enfolded in a blanket, tears streaming down my cheeks. Nobody could see that Levi was half naked, weren't they suspicious? Were they blind to the horrors of the situation. 

I had to say something but I didn't know what. How could I say that I voluntarily came up on the roof with my boyfriend and we started kissing, I allowed things to escalate to the point where I felt uncomfortable and then I tried to push him away and I passed out because I was too drunk and exhausted. They would snicker and laugh in my face, pass judgements about my character. None of it was true. So I felt it was better to remain silent.

I stayed silent as they all left, taking Levi with them, probably tending to his cuts and bruises, whilst Dr Carter stayed behind. The only one aware that I was lurking behind in the shadows, silent. He walked over to me and sat down, visibly upset by the whole situation. I don't know how to thank him or how to even speak to him after so much has happened. I do know that there will be negative repercussions for his actions and at some level I felt responsible or guilty.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and instantly there was an electricity. He felt it too and looked at me vacantly. I don't know what went through his head but he stood up and moved away without saying anything. Standing on the edge of the rooftop whilst angry and 'on edge'. Damn puns. It wasn't the smartest thing and for a doctor he should have known.

So I intervened, "I know you don't want to go back inside the hospital and face the consequences just yet, neither do I. But can you please move away from the edge and sit down. I'm scared for you." He still didn't reply but had sensed my obvious concern and so sat down on the floor next to me. I continued, "I just wanted to say thank you and sorry. Thank you for what you did and sorry that you had to do what you did. I don't want to say his name right now and so I should've listened to Alex when she told me that he was a monster. A leech. Scum. I don't know what else to say except I'm sorry and so, so grateful that you showed up."