Let Me Stay

“Thank fuck,” I murmur into Brendan’s neck.

Arabella and I are taken to the hospital in White Plains, where I guess we’ve been. Less than thirty miles from home. This whole ordeal has been crazy. As soon as I arrived, they had me rinse my mouth out with peroxide since there were so many cuts inside of my mouth from where I bit down while getting beat.

“Is my baby okay?” I ask the attending physician, Doctor Janes.

“The baby is doing great considering. We do need to get some fluids in you. You are severely dehydrated. Your face is pretty messed up as well, but you don’t need me to tell you that. I am going to have a nurse come in and clean up the blood so I can see what needs to be stitched up. You definitely have an orbital fracture. Since it’s not affecting your eyesight, I am going to prescribe two weeks of ice therapy, a decongestant that’s safe for the baby as well as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. I’d also recommend rest—lots of it. I’d also recommend not blowing your nose until your eye is fully healed. Your cheek fracture should heal up on its own within two to three weeks. That’s when the swelling should be gone too. You’ll need to follow up with your primary care physician, who will monitor your fractures, and with your obstetrician within a week. Any questions for me right now?” she asks, looking at us expectantly.

“No, I am good for now,” I tell her.

“Me too, thank you, doctor,” Brendan says.

“No problem. A nurse will be in shortly, and I’ll be back soon,” she says, leaving the room.

As soon as she’s gone, I burst into tears again. I hope that it’s not always going to be like this. Every time I think about Aaron’s hands on me, I lose it.

“It’s over, Brynn. You are safe now,” Brendan says, trying to reassure me of that fact.

Since I am perched on the edge of the bed, he steps between my thighs, wrapping his arms around me. I lean into his touch and relish in his warmth.

“I thought I was going to die. I thought I’d never see you again. I thought Arabella would die. It’s too much, Brendan. I want to go home, where I am safe. Where the baby is safe.”

“I think the worst is behind us now, Brynn. As soon as you are discharged, I’ll take you home and with God as my witness, I’ll never let anything happen to you again.”

“I love you,” I tell him, risking the kiss. I wince at the white-hot pain coursing through my entire face, but I don’t stop. Peroxide kills bad breath, right? Oh well, in sickness and health or something like that.

“I love you too, but maybe we should save the kisses for when you are feeling better, huh?”

“Fine, but that better be soon. I missed those kisses. I am exhausted. I barely slept. I was so afraid something would happen to Arabella if I fell asleep. I probably scarred her for life by making her sleep right next to me so I could feel if she moved. Fuck, this whole thing is my fault. I never thought I was putting a student in danger.”

“Brynn?” Arabella’s voice interrupts me. Brendan steps to the side so I can see her.

“Oh my God, Arabella!” I cry. “Are you okay?” The bruising on her face appears to be gone, but I am pretty sure she has covered it with makeup.

“Perfectly. I was dehydrated but nothing Gatorade won’t cure.”

“Oh good. I’ve been worried.”

“I, uh, just want you to know that I don’t think this was your fault at all. You can’t be held responsible for the actions of a madman. Thank you for protecting me like you did. Bart told me about your face. I am so sorry.”

“He did?”

“Yes. He hasn’t left my side since we got here.”

“He’s a good man,” I tell her.

“I gather that,” she says, blushing. Oh no. This can’t be good. “Anyway, they are discharging me. But thank you again and don’t beat yourself up about this. I am fine. We’re both fine. We survived. I’ll see you at school in a couple of weeks, but don’t worry I’ll call you Mrs. O’Neal again.”

“You don’t have to, well maybe in class,” I say laughing for the first time in days.

“We’re connected now, Brynn. I don’t have any real friends, but I consider you one.” She hugs me and shakes Brendan’s hand before leaving the room.

“She’s so grown up,” I murmur. Even though I am six years older than her, it seems like nothing now.

“What you’ve been through together changed her. It changed both of you. We just have to make sure it’s a good change.”

“You’re right. That’s all we can do.”

There is a light knock on the open door. I look up to see Joel.