Roman hadn't slept in days. She hadn't talked to her parents or even came out of her room. She refused to eat even though her stomach felt like it was eating its self. Anytime Maura or Jane came in to offer her food she would decline, they tried to force feed her but Roman would enter a state of pure rage and start clawing and screaming at her parents so they did what they're daughter wanted and left her be, it had been three days sense she had last seen Charlie. She just sat down in the middle of her bed, staring straight ahead. Every time her eyes would start to close she would see his face and jump awake. The never ending nightmare… Roman clenched her teeth and held back tears. She stared straight ahead as her vision was becoming blurry. Finally deciding to get up, Roman shakily scooted to the side of her bed. The floor felt like ice on her bare feet. She sucked in a sharp breath and forced her body up. Instantly she started to loose balance and fell back on to the bed. Her legs were in great pain, Roman breath heavy and gritted her teeth. After an hour of tedious work, Roman slowly and softly scooted her feet across the hard wood floor of the main hall way. She was in a daze. She was light headed and her eyes felt heavy. Roman made her way in to the kitchen. Through her blurry vision she could see Jane and Maura's fuzzy figures. Jane saw Roman out of the corner of her eye and jolted up putting a smile on her face.
"Hey honey!" Jane said. Her smile faded when she saw Roman losing her balance. Jane lunged forward out of her chair and caught Roman as she was falling over. Roman felt warm strong arms envelope her and she tried to say an 'I'm sorry' but all that came out was a shallow breath. Jane stared down at her daughter and then slowly moved her gaze to Maura. Maura seemed to already know what to do. She went to the fridge and grabbed a large pitcher of water. After seeing this, Jane picked Roman up bridal style and sat her upon the kitchen counter. Maura walked over with a large glass up water in hand. Jane softly but swiftly tilted Roman's head back.
"Come on sweetie you have to drink." Said Maura as she opened up Roman's mouth and slowly poured the ice cold liquid down her throat. The liquid poured down in to Roman's gullet and sent shivers through her body. She soon felt like she was drowning. Roman's eyes shot open wide and she pushed Maura and the cup of water away. The cup fell to the floor as Roman puked up some of the water and went in to a violent coughing fit. Jane held Roman steady as she coughed. Maura got up and refilled the cup. As Maura walked toward her Roman was suddenly frightened. She started to back up further on to the counter shaking her head.
"Roman…you have to drink…" said Maura once again. Roman seemed to shrink back at Maura's words. Maura then sat the cup on the counter next to Roman.
"Its ok…its ok…you drink it." Said Maura. Roman stared at Maura is a way that broke Jane's heart. She was staring at Maura with fear and caution. Like if she didn't stay on guard Maura would strike. She quickly grabbed the cup and scooted back further on to the counter. She sipped at the water at first then chugged it down. Not thinking of manners or anything for that matter, Roman let the water run down her chin soaking her shirt. She through the cup to the floor and breathed heavy. Jane's eyes darted back and forth between Roman and Maura. Roman seemed to be brought back to reality in that moment. She stared at Maura with an expression of complete guilt.
"…oh my g…Maura I'm…." Roman squeaked as tears started to well up in her eyes. Maura slowly moved forward, not wanting to frighten the girl anymore then she already has. As Maura came closer she had a chance to truly examine her daughter. Roman truly looked exhausted, her skin was pale white, her eyes glazed over and blood shot. A full black ring around her left eye and a large purple bruise where that monster beat her. Her cheek bones where fully visible. She looked so Mel nourished. Maura felt tears rolling down her face as she reached for her daughter's hand. Roman pulled her hand away sharply, drawling in a breath. She looked in to Jane's and Maura's eyes then swiftly and in one quick motion, jumped off the counter and ran back down the hall struggling not to trip. Roman burst through her door and turned on her heel, slamming the door. She breathed heavy and was shaking violently. Suddenly she heard footsteps coming toward her room. Romans eyes grew wide and she pressed her body up against the door with all her might trying to keep her mother's from entering her only safe space.
"Roman? Baby please let us in we just want to make sure you're ok!" Roman heard Jane's muffled voice from behind her door. When Jane was met with no answer she became even more worried and twice as afraid. She banged on the door hard.
"ROMAN OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR THIS INSTANT!"
"Jane! That's enough! You're going to scare her more!"
"What the hell do you think we should do Maura!? Wait for her until she starves to death!? No! She needs to come out and get some food in her stomach! She needs to get better!"
"Yes but this is not the way!"
"Like hell it isn't!"
Roman listened to her parents yell at each other about her wellbeing and her scars began to burn and itch. She clawed at them fiercely, scratching at the pale skin of her arm.
"Jane just let's leave her be for right now ok! We will come back around lunch time!" things were silent for a long while. Roman continued to scratch as the burning had only increased.
"Fine…" and with that both of them were gone. It was only then that Roman looked down at her arm and saw that her fingers were caked with blood and the skin of her scars were now under her fingernails. Blood ran down her arm dripping on to the floor.
"Shit!" Roman struggled to get up as she could only use one hand. Once she was up she ran to her bathroom and ran some hot water in the sink and mixed it with soap. Once the sick was full she dunked her entire arm in the soapy mixture. She cringed and hissed as the water turned from a kind of grey to a murky light red. As the silence of the house enveloped Roman, she couldn't help but cry.
"what am I going to do…."
