Ashley had a concussion and would need to be hospitalized for a couple of weeks. After I had a chance to calm down I told momma what happened to Ashley with her father, I was hoping they would arrest him.
"Nothing happened" were the exact words she said to me. She said that in a town as small as ours it was key that everyone tried to mind their business as much as possible. It would be wise, she said, if we tried to forget the incident all together. She called grandma to let her know what had happened. Grandma contacted her bank to get the money to cover the bills. How could they act like that, like everything was normal while Ashley lie motionless? No one seemed to be the least bit angry. Sure everyone was a little annoyed with inconvenience, but nothing more. I sat in that waiting room with my head in my lap, thinking.
"You know, it's never been this bad before. He's never taken it this far."
"How long?"
"Since my mother died"
"Your mother is dead, but I thought…"
"Despite what you think, some people in Macomb are capable of keeping secrets. I know we live in our own corner of the world but we are still subject to state law, a law which says that a child under the age of eighteen can't live on her own."
"Why doesn't Ashley just come and live with you then….so she won't have to…"
"Oh he won't let her go. She's the spitting image of her mother, his favorite wife. It's fine for her most of time until he comes home drunk. He slaps her around a bit and she comes to my place to let things cool off for a couple of days. She always has to go back, before he comes looking for her."
"I'm sorry I…"
"You've known her for what? Almost half of your life and hers and you didn't know none of this? Screams a lot about yall's friendship don't it?"
"You know, I keep feeling like I'm not gonna get another chance with her"
"Yea, I get that"
///
I wasn't allowed to spend the night with her, but Kyla stayed and she said she'd call if anything changed. I tossed and turned that night, thinking about what life would be like if Ashley didn't wake up. No matter where I was or what I was doing, she was never too far away. She'd always be there with her pickup truck ready to break me away from it all. I couldn't begin to count the number of times we'd slept together in the back of that truck, her arms wrapped protectively around me. A quiet soul by nature, her eyes said so much. I needed her and I always would. I'd never been one for the Lord but I prayed that night. I prayed hard for Him to let Ashley live through the night and even harder that should that night have been her last, it'd be my last too.
The next morning came for me with its usual noise.
"Paula I aint never seen somebody as trifling as you in all of my sixty two mother fu…"
I pulled the pillow down over my ears. I wasn't ready to deal with them yet.
"Spennncer...c'mon get out of bed, for the love of GOD Almighty mother stop flinging them damn grits at me!!!"
I got out of bed reluctantly and headed for the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face and rubbed toothpaste on my tongue. I wasn't in the mood to impress anyone. I grabbed my backpack, my ipod and slid my feet Into my flip flops and marched down the stairs.
I walked through the kitchen without saying anything to either of them. It was when I got outside that it really hit me. There was no one waiting for me there, no truck. I would have gone back in to ask for a ride to school but I simply wasn't in the mood to hear the arguing. The school was a little over a mile from our house, nothing that I couldn't handle.
/////////
I'd walked for at least fifteen minutes when I heard the roar of an engine behind me, my heart hope it would be Ashley . I turned around to see Aiden's bright yellow mustang staring me in the face. I quickened my pace. As if I could out run him in that car, soon he had pulled right alongside me. I stared straight ahead ignoring him as best I could.
" Oh come on Spencer, get in the car."
I walked right on like I hadn't heard him. If he thought I was going to rid with him after what he did to Ashley he had another thing coming.
"Don't be foolish Spence, it'll be another twenty minutes before you get to school and them flip flops gotta have your feet aching."
Just as I was about to give him the cursing out of his life Kyla pulled up behind me.
" Spencer, hop in"
I threw my stuff in the back before climbing into the passenger side. She popped a sloppy u-turn and we were off. I was silently thanking her for the rescue. I knew if Aiden could hit Ashley the way he did, he would waste no time bullying me into what he wanted. Kyla drove me to the hospital to see Ashley. There was still no change in her condition. She had tubes coming out of everywhere and it pained me to see her like that. I sat next to her and I held her hand. I kissed her fore head , I was there for her the best way I knew how. The whole time Kyla left me to my peace. She didn't once cut her eyes at me or pressure me about Ashley and my relationship.
I didn't think about school or cafeteria duty or what my grandmother would say when she heard that I was cutting class again. I just sat there in that chair, with Ashley's hand in mine. The hours seemed to fly by, soon nurses came over to change out this and that. They asked if I wanted o leave, saying that it might be too much for me to see, No, everything that had to do with Ashley I wanted to know. I wanted to be well versed in her condition, knowing what was what. I didn't know how at the tie but I knew that when they let Ashley out of there I wanted to be able to take care of her.
I eventually fell asleep, and was awakened by a tap on my shoulder.
"I can take you back home whenever you get ready"
"Thanks Ky, but I'm good here."
"You have to go hoe sometime you know."
"Do i?"
"Nothing's going to change today Spence."
"I know, but this is where I need to be" So she left me there and I drifted back off into sleep. It dawned on me then, I think, Ashley was where I was needed. Whenever I was near her I felt like I had a purpose, and I decided at that moment that I would always be where I belonged with her.
