The Office

Twelve

--Scott--

I walked into the office and realized it was already seven. Mitch is supposed to be here. I set my stuff down at my desk and walked back out to the receptionist, "Excuse me?" She looked up at me from her computer.

"Yes, Mr. Hoying?"

"Is Mitch coming in today? Did he call?"

"No calls, I'm sorry. As far as I know, if he isn't here yet, he's late."

"Alright. Thank you." I pulled my phone out of my pocket when I got to my office again. I decided to call Mitch myself.

It rang and then I heard Mitch's voice, "Mitch here. Leave a message after the beep. Thanks so much." I sighed and sat down in my desk chair. Where is Mitch?

--Mitch--

I woke up to see Joel holding Andrew at the end of my hospital bed, "Why are you here?" I asked Joel.

"Andrew wanted to see you. I had no other choice."

"Well, thanks anyway. No, 'I'm your husband and I love you'? I get it."

"Mitch please. Just, I'm leaving Andrew in here and I've gotta go." He set Andrew down, who ran over to the chair next to me and sat down, then Joel opened the door and walked out.

-

"Daddy. Will you be okay?" Andrew sat on my lap as I sat back against the uncomfortable hospital bed.

"Andrew. I'm safer here than at home, okay? Your dad is the one who pushed me down those stairs. I saw you standing at the top of them as he turned around. I know you watched the whole thing happen and I'm so sorry sweetie." I wrapped my arms around him as he started to cry.

A doctor walked in the room with a clipboard and a nurse, "Mitch. How're you feeling?" She came over to the side of my bed and smiled at Andrew when he slowly waved at her.

"I feel fine. When do I have to go home?" She tilted her head and gave me a look of confusion.

"What do you mean, 'have to go home'? Do you not want to go home?"

"Not necessarily, no. I can't tell you."

"What can't you tell me, Mitch? It's alright."

"No. I can't tell you, it's not safe."

"For who? You? Your son?"

"Both of us. And my husband. He'll go to jail, I hope, and I can't do that. Not to him, necessarily, but to my son."

"Did he do this to you? And give you all the other injuries you have?" I didn't look up at her. I couldn't face her. Because she was right, and I had only told one other person about what Joel does to me. Besides Scott, of course. I feel like I could trust him. I'm not sure why. I hardly trust anyone besides my son, and Scott now.