Chp 25 alone

1999: 0500am: Las Vegas: county hospital

"The patient is a female, age 9. Brown hair and blue eyes, small, very malnourished. The patient is covered in welts, first and second-degree burns, sharp knife-like incisions and bruise, (in particular four Male size shoe prints are clearly defined on her back, chest and face) of a long-term particular sadistic nature of systematic abuse. Her right upper arm is broken in three places as is her right lower leg in two. Police stated to EMT that she was pushed down several flights of stairs by her step father, who was taken to Vegas General due to his injuries. The girl has suffered a double concussion. Several teeth appear to have be pulled. A MRI found a projectile lodge near her heart. Nonmetallic and unknown. It is impossible at present to determine an entry wound. I appear to be very old, encased in scar tissue. At present, it possesses not threat to the patient's life. Police inform me that a former step father is petitioning for custody, I hope to god they vet him before placing this fragile child in his care." Medical Records log of doctor Yesim Hussain, Emergency room doctor. Las Vegas County Hospital. 2009.

1995: Montesano, Washington state.

Mommy is mad at me, I told daddy about the clients' mommy has over during the day. I don't like being locked in the closet, in the dark, alone. Their fighting, mommies breaking things again. I want to protect daddy but I can't. he leaves. The bald man comes over, they go into mommies' room and yell and scream. I hold my doll and pray they ignore me in the closet. I close my eyes and mind and dream of a fun, happy place of unicorns and fairies, like the stories daddy reads to me. Mommy never reads to me. I try to be good, but I always fail. I fall asleep in the closet.

The door is ripped off the hinges, the bald man screams at me to run, he throws marbles at me. they hurt. Hurt a lot. I run outside for the woods, I like the woods. The trees talk to me. I almost make the trees when a pain shoots thru my leg. I tumble into the mud. Getting up, I see him on the porch with a huge rubber band in his hand, pulling it back. He smiles at me, another marble hits my side, I can't breathe. I try to crawl, I try to hide. Mommy is very mad at the bald man. I'm valuable, I'm needed mommy tell him, I know she loves me. She cleans me up, shoots a strange liquid in me, I sleep for long time. My side in bandaged. By the time Daddy comes home the hole is healed. I don't feel anything wrong.

2008: Montesano Washington state.

It's my junior year and Dad's in San Diego on a custom cabinet install, we need the money. Storming Norman checks in with me every day, this week it's been easy. Since I have the flu and am bed ridden. If I don't get better tomorrow I'm going to the Clinic in town.

I sit in the free clinic, runny nose, deep hacking cough, everyone moves away from me. I try to wear the mask, to not spread the germs, but I coughing up flem every few minutes. this is beginning of week two. The nurse process me, listen to my lungs and call the doctor, they take a x-ray of my chest. I don't have the flu anymore, I have a pneumonia. They sent me to the hospital for another x-ray, I beg off. But they make me anyway. The doctors huddle as the nurse pumps IV fluids and antibiotics.

"Miss Steele, you have a nonmetallic object near your heart. It's dangerous, we wish we could operate, but the procedure cost a lot of money, very high risk and given your current health and financial state, attempt it would be fatal. Come back when you have insurance or cash. I wish we could do more. It shouldn't be a problem, unless you become very stressed, like in child birth, or a car accident. Even a hard blow to the chest could sent it tearing thru the heart. Good luck" the doctor tells me, like it's a hang nail. The bill is over four thousand dollars. All Dad's nest egg is gone on my pneumonia. The projectile in my heart, I remember #3 slingshooting marbles at me several times.

I have to ignore it one day I will get it fixed. I hope.

Present: Memphis:

I stare out into the river, Chris is softly snoring in the bed. I want more, I want a future. I want kids. But the marble in my heart is preventing it. I quietly check with several doctors, the procedure is very high risk, very likely I wouldn't survive. Child birth would also kill me. rock and hard place, I'm stuck. Only Welch knows about the marble. I look at my sleeping man. What would my death do to him, would he survive, prosper, love again? Or would the monster rush to fill the void. What would be the best way to guard his heart and soul from my death. I have to think about this, hard and long. How would my family react? They just found me, love me, connect with me. how would my death affect them?

I let the twilight sent me back to bed, the sniffle that exiled me here are over. Exile, what if I disappeared, not die. He would search his whole life for me. hold on to his humanity, be the man he thinks I need. Till he could grow enough to survive the loss. My sister would search, but never mourn me, never be crippled by my death like father caused them. I will have to plan this correctly. Take the risk alone. I must preserve my lover, and soulmate, my family. I can never burden them with this. Never let me destroy his fragile humanity.

I will think about it and plan, I cuddle into his arms, he holds me tight. Today the Grey arrive, at least his parents and grandparents. Mia, Luke, Elliot and Devon arrive tomorrow. I let Christian hand, play me to peace and orgasms. I stare at the ring on my finger. I must take the risk, the reward will be fantastic.