February 20 1993
Dear friend,
I'm at the motel that my Mom, Dad and I have been staying at whilst visiting my brother and Sam. My parents are out at the moment, they're doing something with my brother; I don't know what though. And Sam has class until late today, although after Valentine's Day, we got to spend more time together. She's been trying to hide her bulimia from me though, and I had to tell her that I knew.
'Sam?' I said quietly, kneeling on the floor next to her bed where she was sleeping. Katie said it was okay if I stayed with Sam, so did my parents, and I'm glad they did because the motel is boring, as I didn't bring anything to read, which was stupid of me. It took Sam a moment to wake up. Opening her eyes, she looked blearily at me, and then rubbed them.
Her pretty brown eyes were then on me.
'You stayed,' Sam said happily, as she sat up in bed and stretched. She was wearing a tank top and shorts.
'Yeah,' I said, standing up, and then sitting down on Sam's bed. 'Did you sleep well?'
Sam nodded her head. 'Yes, I did. Did you stay all night?' she asked slipping out of bed, and going over to her closet.
'Yeah.'
'Did you sleep?' Sam asked, looking over her shoulder at me as she pulled off her shorts, and tugged her underwear on. I didn't look away.
'Yeah, but I woke up a bit earlier, so I thought I'd give you some more room,' I said to her as the tank top hit the floor and Sam turned to me.
'Want to get breakfast? We can get pancakes,' she said, and put her bra on, and then jeans and a shirts. Then she pulled on a warm-looking coat. I nodded, and stood up. I was used to wearing the same clothes after I stayed somewhere late now, and I didn't mind. Anyway, I figured I could always go back to the motel and change after Sam and I ate, as she had a class.
We walked across campus until we were in town, and went into this little diner. 'I like coming her in the mornings,' said Sam as we entered, my hands stuffed into my pockets because of the cold. Sitting in a booth away from the door, a young waitress came over to take our order. Sam ordered us pancakes; she had syrup, and I didn't.
The stacks of pancakes were brought over by the waitress, and we started to eat. 'When do you go home, Charlie?' asked Sam, a piece of pancake on the end of her fork.
'Two days,' I answered her after I'd swallowed. 'Why?'
She shrugged. 'Just wondering how much longer I've got to hang out with you,' said Sam, and she ate some more.
I nodded. 'Sam…' I started, and she turned her head to the side, and almost glared at me in frustration, knowing what was coming.
'Don't start about that again, Charlie,' she said to me. Before, I would have accepted that from her, or anyone, as I'd think that would make them happy. But this time I was going to tell Sam what I wanted, and what would make me happy.
'No, Sam. They did that bad stuff to you, and you have to tell the police. You have to report them. If you don't, they might-' I had to stop for a moment because I was close to crying. I looked away from Sam, to the side, and closed my eyes.
The tears still escaped though, but I carried on, trying to keep my voice soft and level. 'Please, Sam. I'd feel so irresponsible if I went back home and nothing happened to them. You've got to tell the police. I'll come with you.'
'Charlie-' said Sam, but for the first time I spoke over her.
'And I know, Sam, about the bulimia,' I said, and Sam's face went pale. 'You can get help. You had stopped, right? You don't need to start again. I'll talk to my parents, and see if I can stay. Or-' I had to hesitate.
'Or you can defer college for a little while, until you're better. You can come home, and I can help even better from there. I'm allowed to borrow my Dad's car for longer now, and you'll have your truck too. We can go visit places, just us two.'
Sam dropped her head, and she was crying. I got up, and looked around the diner, not wanting anybody to interrupt us, but they didn't in the end. Sitting next to Sam, I put my arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close to me. Pressing her face into my chest, she silently cried as I felt her internalised sobs vibrate through me.
Breathing deeply, I left some money on the table, and stood up. I walked Sam out of the diner, holding her body close to mine the whole time, and back to her dorm room. I had to fumble around her pockets to find the key, but once we were inside, I sat her on the bed, and knelt on the floor, clasping her hands in mine and looked up at her.
'Sam?' I asked tentatively, for she'd not spoken a word since we'd left the diner. Tears streaked her cheeks, and she barely lifted her head to look at me. Her brown eyes were still so pretty. I released her hands, and held her face between my own, my thumbs wiping her tears. I know that if somebody had been watching, or even to you, it will sound cliché, and I guess it is, but I didn't care, because I didn't want Sam to be sad anymore.
'It's going to be okay, Sam. You're really doing great. You got into college, you're passing your classes, right?'
Sam nodded, and sniffled.
'Everything will be fine, Sam. Just… Please, let me, and others, your Mom and Dad, the police, Katie, even Patrick, let us help you.'
Sam lifted her head up even more.
'I love you, Charlie,' she said to me, her tears subsiding a bit now.
'I love you, too,' I told her, and I meant it.
'Can you help me call the police?' she asked me.
I nodded, and we used the dorm room's phone.
I did the first bit of talking, until they asked to talk to Sam. They were asking her basic information and other stuff like that. Eventually, she got off the phone to them.
'I have an appointment for February 23,' said Sam.
'Okay,' I said. 'I'll ask my parents if we can stay an extra day, so I can come with you. If you want me to.'
'Of course I want you to be there,' said Sam, and she hugged me tightly. 'You're the best,' she whispered to me, and then we kissed.
After that, Sam and I spent a little bit of time together, but she had class, so I came back to the motel. I'm still writing with the pen Sam got me. It's really nice.
Love always,
Charlie.
A/N: Thank you for the kind reviews! They really are helpful to me, so please, don't stop reviewing! Remember, upload day is Thursday! I'll try to meet this deadline every week, however I'm pretty swamped, so if I miss it please don't kill me ._.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story then please call somebody, or report it.
UK Rape Crisis Hotline: 0808 802 9999 | 12 noon - 2:30pm. 7pm - 9:30pm.
USA Rape, Abuse and Incest Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
UK B-eat helpline for eating disorders: Over 18: 0845 634 1414 | Under 25: 0845 634 7650 | Text for Under 25: 07786 20 18 20
USA Eating Disorder Referral and Information Centre: 1-858-481-1515