RPOV
It has been a week since I caught Ty staring at me. After my dad left my room, I pulled out a blade and made two fresh cuts. I was tired of it. I could care less about the whole turning 18 thing. I was slowly slipping away and I couldn't bear to live like this anymore. How could I have lived like this for so long? Well with the way my life is I wasn't really living. A single tear slid down my face and I stood up. I packed up a few things in an old bag and I lifted the window. I exited and closed it behind me.
I walked down the fire escape and froze in my place when I heard my name being called. "Raven! How are you doing sweetie?" I looked up to see Mrs. Blue smiling warmly at me. I stood up straight and smiled as much as I could. "Hi Mrs. Blue."
"Well don't just stand there, come inside." And so I did. I couldn't resist her commands.
"Oh my, it has been so long since I've seen you," she said while pulling me into a hug. "Look at how big you have gotten. And you are as pretty as can be. Come let's sit on the couch and catch up a bit."
I liked talking to her. She was so sweet and she was one of the reasons why I'm still here right now. For the moment.
Then Ty walked into the door. "Raven?" he asked.
"Hi," I whispered softly.
"So Raven how are your parents?" Mrs. Blue asked. Then I remembered why I was on the fire escape. Sure Mrs. Blue had talked to me for a little, but it was over. "They are fine. I'm so sorry, but I can't stay," I said rushed. I stood up and squeezed her. "Thank you for everything that you have done for me."
"Don't thank me. Now will I see you soon?" I froze. Tears were glistening my eyes.
I shook my head. "No I just wanted to say my last goodbye before- may I please use the bathroom?"
"Sure you know where it is?" I nodded my head and walked past Ty into the bathroom. I went into the medicine cabinet and took out a pill bottle. I took off the cap and spilled the contents into my hand. I placed the handful of pills into my pocket and put the bottle back. I exited the bathroom to find her and Ty still in the room.
"Raven I know you have had a rough childhood, but you shouldn't result to anything before talking and opening up. You just need to hang in there."
"Now that's just it. I've held onto my life, but for what? You are probably the only one who will even feel remorse for me if I go away. My father and mother won't even care. They are the reason that I need to do this. I tried, but I'm sorry it wasn't long enough." I adjusted my bag and ran out of the door. And I never would look back.
TPOV
I looked at my mom horrified after Raven left. Raven was going to kill herself and it seemed like there was no way to change her mind. She apparently had been thinking this over for quite some time. I grabbed my jacket and walked to the door and my mom didn't bother stopping me. She may not mean something to the rest of the world, but she still means something to me.
RPOV
I sighed as I laid my back against the cool brick wall of a building. I carefully took out the pills. I breathed out a sigh. I had to do this. I held the pills up to my mouth when I heard footsteps getting closer to me. Then I saw Ty sprinting for me. I knew now was my chance, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Ty bumped into me, knocking the pills out of my hand. I was knocked over and the next thing I knew I was knocked out.
TPOV
I was having a million thoughts run through my head as I crouched down next to Raven. I knocked her over and she passed out. I looked at the pills scattered around her, happy that she didn't swallow any. I pulled out my phone and called 911. The operator told me paramedics should arrive soon.
When they got here one of them asked me, "Do you want to go with her?" Without any hesitation I nodded my head. They put her on a stretcher and I climbed in. She had a three inch cut on her forehead. She also had a fresh bruise that was previously covered with her hair. I grasped her hand and squeezed lightly. I really didn't want to lose her. I stroked her hand and whispered, "I love you."
Later...
I was tapping my foot on the floor of the waiting room of the hospital. Raven was still unconscious. When the doctors put on her hospital gown, they saw bruises all over her. They ushered us out and told us they would be doing a full examination on her. Rocky was with CeCe while my mom was with me in the hospital. I put my head in my hands as my mom stroked my back. "Ty, she will be okay," she reassured me. "You really do care about her?" I nodded my head.
"I don't know what I would do without her."
Then I heard the footsteps of the doctor reach me. I brought my head up and pulled out of my mother's embrace and stood up. "Is she okay?" I asked.
"She is now. She should be waking up soon. We need to make sure that what she attempted to do today cannot happen again." The doctor looked down and cleared his throat. "But I do have some bad news, so I suggest that you take a seat." I hesitantly sat down and stared at him.
"We ran the full on examination on her body and found bruises on her body. They were persistent on the lower part of her body. As standard procedure we used the rape kit. We examined closely and took the results to confirm that she had been raped. DNA we took from her confirmed the rapist is someone in her family." I heard my mother gasp next to me. I felt like someone knocked the wind from me.
She was being raped. She broke down and shut me out of my life. She was hurting and for years I tried to think of what it could have been. If it was someone in her family, then it must have been her dad. Then why didn't her mom stop him? Then it all made sense to me. The hurting, the hating parents, the bruises. "Police have gone to the house and arrested her parents. She is going to need to stay with a relative or close family friend for the time being."
"I would be more than happy to take her in," my mom said.
"Great. Well I am glad to say that you are welcome to see Ms. Martinez." We both stood up and walked to Raven's room. When we walked in we saw that she was awake. Her skin looked even paler than usual. Her bang covered the bruised part of her face. The hospital gown replaced her usually baggy clothes and looked thinner. Her eyes had dark circles under them. She still looked as beautiful as before.
"Hi Raven," my mom said softly. Her eyes turned to us.
"Hi...," she said before looking down at her lap.
"How are you feeling?"
Raven breathed out heavily and hesitated on her answer. "I'm just tired... and I'm guessing that the doctor told you everything?"
"Yes. Now I have to make a call to my husband. I'll be back."
I sat down in the seat next to her. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
"You? What did you do?"
"You don't realize how much I need you and me almost lost you. I should have pulled you back in when you shut down."
"Ty it's not your fault. You didn't know and for a long time, I wanted to keep it that way."
"So what happens now?" she asked.
I lay back in my chair. "You get out of the hospital, stay with my family and go to school."
"Stay with your family? No I can't do that."
"You can and you will. Besides my mom will not take no for an answer. I won't let you slip away like that again. Okay?"
She nodded. Then for the first time in a long time, I saw her smile.