Connecting

Chapter 43

trigger warning.
Heavy emotions & drama, trauma

---

Her body full of bruises and wounds, her hands still cuffed with that different kind of cuff that still hurts her. Her body is hurting but she feels numb, her tears are streaming down her face but she couldn't feel a thing from all the hurt she went through just for an hour, she's broken. She's still clothed, he didn't touch her, thank God. But he did hurt her, he beat her, he used weapons but didn't killed her. Although she hoped that she just died from all the pain she is feeling. She just laid there, on the floor, cuffed hands, in tears, clothes are broken but enough to be clothed.

That is how Chris saw her when he arrived, broken. She isn't responding, but she is there. He ran towards her and slightly tap her face, trying to get her attention, she just groaned, making him realize that she's badly hurt. Her wounds are very fresh, some are very deep that he needed to immediately perform a first-aid, to avoid losing too much blood. Chris moved fast, removing her cuff, treating her wounds slightly to avoid blood loss, grabbing a jacket for Melissa not to be cold, and bringing her to the car to the secret department to get her treated.

The secret department is close to her house so he thought that they will be there in no time but it is an hour where people usually go to their work so it is a bit traffic. Chris decided to call the director.

He didn't let the older man talk. "Melissa is hurt. She seems conscious but she is not responding. We're on our way."

"I'll prep the medical team to wait for you." David replied before he end the call, not asking what happened.

Once they arrived, the medical team immediately prepared her and brought her to the medbay, why they treated her wounds and bruises.

David approached Chris who is looking through the glass window, looking at Melissa. "I saw her. She's... she's broken. Her eyes. They... her eyes are not alive, they are not bright." Chris said.

"The doctor told me she undergoing shock. Shock from what happened," David responded to him, looking at the glass. "She is strong, Chris. She was hurt before, she was abused and she survived from it. She will survive this, too."

Chris broke. He suddenly hugged David and wept. "I promised her... I told her that I will protect her and... he won't be able to hurt her again. But this. This happened."

David just let him, he let him cry on his shoulder. "Promises... they can be broken. But they are not meant to be broken. You made a promise to her that she held into, it made her stronger. You came, Chris, you came back to her and brought her here, that is enough. It's not your fault." He tapped Chris on the shoulder. "The doctor is treating her, she's traumatized and we can't blame her for that. Melissa is strong."

The doctor came out after treating her wounds. "She is traumatized. Meaning, she will most likely experience horrible flashbacks of the events and horrible nightmares. It will be like she has depression, anxiety, and feels exhausted easily. I suggest to always talk to her, bring her to a therapist if she likes but don't force her. She looks like a person who has been forced a lot and forcing her to do such things she doesn't want to do will make her feel fear and think that you are like the person who did this to her. Just... talk to her." The doctor gave more instructions even about her wounds, which some are stitched and requires some special care. He also said that she is currently asleep and will wake up soon.

---

Melissa woke up in a white room, lights blinded her sight at first but immediately got used to it and adjusted. She felt her body ache, her hands and feet felt heavy.. no, her whole body feels heavy. Suddenly, flashback on what happened came into her mind, making her to suddenly sit on the bed, which made her dizzy.

Chris came, running towards her. "Hey, hey, I'm here. You're fine." She stiffened from his touch when he tried to held her hand but draw his hand back when he saw her reaction.

Melissa went back laying on the bed, not talking and unable to make any eye contact with Chris.

Chris doesn't know what to do or what approach he should make. He remembered that Melissa hasn't eaten lunch yet. "Do you want some lunch? I'll get you some." He said calmly and soothingly.

Melissa stared at the ceiling. "I'm not hungry." She muttered under her breath, barely audible. Chris just nodded and stayed with her while she just stared at the ceiling and finally get back to sleep.

---

"What happened? Where is she?" Chyler came to MedBay when she heard what happened to Melissa.

Chris, who just came from the room where Melissa is recovering her wounds, walked to them with a sad face and... disappointed to himself.

Chyler gave him a sympathetic look and mouthed a, "I hope you're fine..."

Chris closed his eyes but opened them almost immediately. "She... she tensed and stiffened when I was about to hold her hand."

Chyler and David didn't say a thing but placed their hand on his shoulder to show that they are both with him.

---

Chyler decided to bring dinner to Melissa because according to Chris, she hasn't eaten. She prayed that she won't be triggering some of the horrible things that happened to her. She slipped into the door and spotted Melissa awake on the bed, her head resting on the pillow.

Chyler placed the food tray with food and fruits in it and water on the table near her bed and sat on the chair. She tried her best not to hold her hand. "Hey, Mel, I brought food."

Melissa nodded mildly. There was a moment of silence but Chyler isn't here to just give up on her. Soon, Melissa's tears starter to fall from her eyes.

Chyler stood up so that Melissa can see her face. "Hey, I love you. We love you. Me, David, Chris, your family. We are here for you. You are strong, Melissa. I know you are."

Melissa opened her mouth but didn't know what to say so she closed it again. Now, looking at Chyler's sad but hopeful face, more tears came.

"It's okay, love, just... just let it out, okay? We will be here when you're ready to talk."

Melissa calmed down a bit and tried to sit down, she is still dizzy and nauseous from everything that happened and an effect of trauma. "I..." Melissa's tears started to fall again. "I... I.. can't."

Chyler was confused. "What do you mean?"

"I.. don't know. I can't," Melissa cried. "It... hurts. Everything."

Chyler couldn't handle not hugging her so she hugged her softly to avoid hurting her wounds and bruises. Fortunately, she didn't refuse.

She's fragile. She's vulnerable. She's broken.