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Chapter Fifty-Nine

I apologized profusely to Emmett for puking in his car.

"Hey, now. I don't judge." He held his nose, anyway. "You're looking at guy who once used a bucket for...well, you know."

Not exactly something one can forget.

I saved, and held, my breath as Emmett pulled over to the nearest gas station and threw the passenger floor mat into the dumpster.

"I didn't like those things, anyway," he said seriously before driving to the police station.

He unbuckled his seat belt and I sat completely still, not making a move to get out of the car.

"How am I supposed to do this?" I mumbled.

"Easy. You go in there and press charges against the lady who just tried to strangle you to death," Emmett explained as if this were that simple. "And then we're taking your ass to the hospital. I don't care what you say. I have strict orders from Edward."

My chest hurt at the mention of his name.

Emmett stared out the window and asked, "Do you know what Edward said when he called me tonight?" I shook my head. "He told me to get my ass over to your house immediately and to break down the goddamn door if I had to. Don't tell him I said this, but I think he was about to have a panic attack or something."

Squeezing my eyes shut, I focused on taking deep breaths before I had my own panic attack.

"I didn't have to break down the door. It was unlocked, but yeah." Emmett cleared his throat. "Edward said if anything happened, for me to call the police because you might have been too scared or shaken up. This is just one more thing you have to do."

Emmett poked my shoulder and I opened my eyes.

"Now get your little ass out of the car so we can press some charges and take you to the hospital. Maybe even grab some food on the way back cause this shit has worked up my appetite."

The station was almost empty, which wasn't surprising.

Emmett asked if I wanted him to be in the room as I gave my statement, but I told him I could do it on my own. He smiled at my confidence and then told me to hurry because he was hungry.

"Where's my mom?" I asked and accepted the water from the officer.

"In a holding cell."

Officer Samuel asked me to explain in great detail what happened.

My focus was on the pattern of the tiled floor as I began recalling what happened.

I explained the words that were exchanged before the attack.

I recalled the sharpness of her fingernails in my skin as she strangled me.

I described the look in her eyes as she pushed her way into the bathroom.

But I wasn't crying, no. I had a strange calmness over me.

And then I began telling him about past occurrences.

That one spring break.

The few months after that when she purposely wrecked our car after I told her I was going back to school.

When asked if I wanted to press charges, I said yes.

When asked if I thought Renee was a threat to herself or others, I said yes.

Everything began to happen so fast.

There was talk of a psychiatric evaluation.

The officer said she'd be sent to the hospital's psych ward and held for observation until the evaluation on Monday.

I barely had time to blink let alone agree with what was happening.

But it was too late.

I gave my statement; I made me claims about her sanity.

Ten minutes after the officer left, I was still sitting in the room.

"Come on," Emmett's voice startled me. "We need to leave. There's nothing more you can do. We'll go to the hospital and then I'll take you to Edward's, okay?"

Although I said it wasn't necessary, falling backward in the tub had caused the doctor to send me for a CAT Scan.

Despite a pinched nerve in my neck from the fall, I was okay.

Despite the bruises and fingerprints on my neck, I was fine.

The doctor asked if I wanted a prescription for pain medication. I refused.

Emmett paid the hospital bill and told me, "Don't even think about it. He owes me, anyway."

I thanked him and crossed my arms over my chest.

Emmett drove my to Edward's and when we walked inside, he told me to try to get some sleep and that he'd be out in the living room.

I gave him a hug, silently thanking him for everything.

I showered for longer than necessary.

I scrubbed my skin harder than needed.

I grabbed Edward's shirt, not a clean one, but the one that was on the floor.

It smelled like him.

I needed him.

I fell asleep in his bed and waited.

A/N: I seriously appreciate those of you who read, review, and rec. Sesame bars for everyone! *throws recycled confetti*

Liv helped with the police shit. She knows stuff about stuff ;) She's my enabler.