HIM

chapter 38: Why didn't you tell me?

I went home trying not to think about Emma, I’m not angry with her. I just wish she would talk to me, and not push me away. I blocked her from my mind for the time remaining. I mainly focused on school work, well tried. I started trailing off to other subjects, like Emma, Rick, the police, everything.
The thoughts remained in my head through the week, next thing I know, it’s Friday morning. I woke up that morning wanting answers, but regretting what I asked for. “Hey, no more late night runs, okay?” My mom said, raising her eyebrows. I nodded. “Got it.” I said and left for school. I saw Emma waiting by her locker.
“Hey.” I said, sitting by her. “Hi.” She said quietly. “Are you okay, what’s wrong?” I said getting concerned. “Nothing, I’m fine.” She said, I nodded. “You’ve been becoming distant, I don’t want you to shut me out.”
“I’m not shutting you out.” I sighed realizing it would be best to just drop the conversation.

The bell rang, we went through our day, Emma hardly speaking.  At the end of the day I asked Emma if she wanted to hang out. She said she had to get home. And that she couldn't be late. I just headed home, focusing on school yet again. I started thinking of what the police said.
Her home life, she never talked about it. She only mentioned Lily.  she’s becoming more distant, she seemed like she wanted to tell me something but couldn’t
“Hey, I'm going out.” I said rushing to my car. I drove straight to Emma’s house. I knocked on the door lightly, no answer. Her mom’s car was gone. It was really silent, too silent. “Get off me!” I heard Emme yell. She sounded like she was crying. I burst through the door, heading straight to Emma’s room trying to get in. It was locked. “Get off me, please, don’t do this. Stop. STOP.” I kicked through the door. Pulling Emma’s dad off her.
She scrambled off the bed to get dressed, grabbing her phone. I don’t know what came over me but I didn’t stop hitting her dad until the police got there.
They took him away, and Emma to the hospital. I got in my car rushing there. “What happened, sir?” Detective Porter asked. I told her what happened. “Well, that confirms our suspicions.” she said before walking away.  “Am I in trouble?” I asked, grabbing her attention. “No, you did what you had to.” I nodded and she left. “Where is she, What happened?” Emma’s mother said running past the nurse, straight to the detectives. “I’m sorry ma’am, your husband isn’t the person you think he is.” Porter said.

A few hours later Emma was allowed to have visitors. The police had already gotten her statement, and the evidence they needed. Her mom went in first then came back out an hour later. “She’s asking for you… thank you, I feel awful for not knowing.” She said as she hugged me, “Your welcome. It isn’t your fault.” I said before walking through the door.
“Hey.” I said letting her know I’m here. “Hi,” She said quietly. “Are you okay?” I said, pulling up a chair. “Yea, thank you. Why did you show up even after I was a bitch to you and ignoring you why?”
“I had been thinking about what the police had said. I had a bad feeling. I wanted to ask you about it, see if you would tell me. But, why didn’t you tell me or anyone for that matter?” She looked down ashamed. “I didn’t think you or anyone would believe me. I didn’t want you to think I was making it up after what happened with Rick. Or that I was being over dramatic. And he said it would rip our family apart, and that it would be my fault.” she said with tears in her eyes.

“I would’ve. Em, you know that. I’m sorry, I just wasn’t expecting it to be true, I had my suspicions. But nobody wanted to believe it was true.”
After a moment of silence, both of us thinking of what the other would say, I finally spoke.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to but. How long has it been happening?”
“Since I was five, mainly when it was just the two of us at home. If I did anything to anger him, he would hit me until I was unconscious…... I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, believe me I did. But, I couldn’t”
“That explains why you didn’t want to go home, and the weird behavior. Why not?”
“I didn’t want you to look at me differently, or tell anyone.”  she said breaking down. I pulled her into a hug, “It’s okay.. You’re safe. You know I wouldn’t do that.” Once she calmed down, after a long silence, I finally spoke. “You are so incredibly strong, you know that.”
“Thanks.” she said while shaking her head.
“It’s true.” I said, grabbing her hand. “They want to keep me here overnight, for observation.” I nodded. Her mom knocked on the door, bringing in a bag of clothes. “I thought you might like some new clothes… I’m sorry, Em, I-I should’ve known.”
“It’s okay mom, and thanks for the clothes. I hate this place.” they both giggled a little. “Well I’ll let y’all talk.” she said nodding and noticing our hands. She left, leaving us with another awkward silence. “Well, I’ll let you have some time to yourself. I gotta get going anyway.” I said getting up, giving her a hug. “If you need anything, just call me.” I said letting go. “Bye.” She said quietly.
I walked out, heading home to shower. Once I got out I ate dinner quickly. I was getting ready for bed when I heard a knock on my door. “Yea.” I said, “Hey,” my mom said as she came in. “Hey.”

“Where did you go?” I looked at her. “Emma’s.” She looked confused. “Why, something about school?” She asked, sitting on my bed. “ No, actually. You know how Emma didn’t want to go home, so I took her here.” she nodded. “I- uh I found out why.”
“Why? What happened?” I looked at her. “You always told me to not ask questions you don’t really want the answer to.”

“What happened?” she asked again. “Emma’s dad, had been...sexually abusing,..” I paused. Trying not to break down. “He’s been sexually abusing, and raping her since she was five.” I said finally breaking down. My mom pulled me into a tight hug. “Mom, she hid it so well.”
“I know, I know.” She said I could tell she was crying too. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Emma”
I finally calmed down, and texted Emma. We talked for a while then soon, I fell asleep.