Nightmares

The hospital parking lot was empty. I found the closet parking space to the door that I could and stumbled inside. The bright lights in the foyer made me squint as my eyes tried to adjust. The nurse sat behind the desk looked up suddenly sensing my presence. She gasped as she caught sight of me.

"Doctor Bailey!" She called down the hall. Turning back to me she said "Can I take your name please sweetheart"

"Bella, Bella Swan" My voice was croaky and dry.

"What happened to you Bella?" Her voice was full of concern but her question threw me. If I told her the truth would she even believe me? Charlie was the Police Chief and everybody loved him no would ever think that a man like that would do something like this. Even if she did believe me what would that mean? What could anybody do about? "Bella can you hear me?"

"Sorry, um what did you ask again?" My throat ached as I spoke and I was starting to feel dizzy.

"You were about to tell me who did this to you." She said firmly.

"Uh no one I um fell down the stairs. It was my own fault I was carrying some laundry down to put in the washing machine when I lost my balance. I'm fine really I just came to pick up some medication for the pain." The lies rolled off my tongue fluently. My own voice shocked me. It was calm and collected as I lied flawlessly. The nurse seemed sceptical but led me to the Doctor's office without asking any more questions.

"I will call your father and let him you know that you're here." The nurse stated casually. I felt my heart starting to go into over drive with terror at the mention of him.

"No! I mean um I don't want to wake him up he has an early start tomorrow. Honestly I'm fine there's no need." The nurse didn't seem satisfied with my answer but registering the panic in my voice, to my relief and went back to her paper work as if I had never interrupted in the first place.

Dr. Bailey was an elderly man in his late fifties with sliver hair that was cut into a sharp finish. He had kind blue eyes as he smiled at me. I let out a breath that I hadn't even realised I'd been holding. His office was full of old books and photo frames of beaming smiley faces.

"Bella, it's lovely to meet you at last." His voice was soft and welcoming; he reminded me of my Doctor back in Phoenix who had passed away a few years back. "I knew your mother Renee. I was terribly sorry to hear about her sudden passing. I'm very sorry for your loss"

"Thank you. How did you know my mother?"

"She used to fall down the stairs quite often to. Would you like to hop onto the couch here and I can examine your abdomen more closely. I'm assuming that's where he hit you from the way you are standing." My jaw dropped in astonishment. How was he being so casual about all this? Sensing my shock Dr. Bailey met my gaze straight on "Bella, don't worry I understand your situation and I have seen it many times before. Your father used to do the same to your mother and she also used to come and see me on a regular basis. She asked me to keep Charlie's abuse a secret. This is a small town Bella and Charlie as you most likely know is a much respected citizen. I am assuming you would also like to keep this between us?" I wanted to scream at him for being so calm but something in his eyes made me bite my tongue. Wasn't this exactly what I needed? Someone who could help me without exposing my secret?

"That is exactly what I would like to do. Thank you Dr Bailey."

Over the next six months Charlie's drinking became more frequent and so did my visits to the hospital. At first people at school had questioned the ever appearing bruises soon they had simply stopped asking. By November I had, had four broken ribs, a broken arm, five of my toes broken and concussion more times than I could even count. I became an expert on how to do my concealer perfectly so that it hid a black eye without showing the layers of make up used. I could stitch up a wound like I could tie my shoe laces and I could spot a drunk from a mile away.

I sat alone every lunch with my book and iPod. I never went out with other people from class and dinner was always on the table for seven. If anyone from Phoenix had seen me now I doubted that they would recognise me. In a year the Izzie that used to be had become a faded memory, and the Bella that lived in forks was an everlasting nightmare.