The next morning, Tess entered Dana's hospital room to find the young woman
already awake. Monica was sleeping in the hard chair next to the bed.
Tess crossed the room and extended her hand, "Hello, Dana. My name is
Tess. I'm from the Contact Rape Crisis Center here in Springfield." She
spoke softly, not wanting to scare Dana or wake Monica.
Dana's eyes met Tess's for a moment, and then she looked over at Monica. "She's been here all night. She didn't fall asleep until about two hours ago."
Tess looked at the young human curiously. The older angel knew that Dana was trying to change the subject, and so she followed along. "Is she a friend of yours?"
Dana nodded and spoke quietly, "She's my roommate, and we're stand partners in the philharmonic."
"Oh, so you're in an orchestra?" Tess asked, trying to get Dana to talk, no matter what it was about.
"I play violin in the Springfield Philharmonic," the young woman said.
Next to the bed, Monica stirred slightly and opened her eyes. She immediately looked toward Dana, "Good morning," She said softly.
Dana smiled weakly, "Good morning," she said before turning to Tess, "Monica, this is Tess. She's from the Crisis Center."
Monica smiled knowingly at Tess, and extended her hand to her mentor and dear friend. "Hello, baby," Tess said. "It's good to meet you."
As soon as Tess spoke, there was a muffled sound from Dana. The two angels whirled around to find look of pure terror displayed across Dana's pretty features. Her eyes were unfocused, as if she was looking right through the angels, and not seeing them. "Dana?" Monica said, gently grasping her friend's small hand. "What's wrong?"
The young woman didn't respond. Her mind was in another place, and she wasn't even aware of the presence of the two angels.
[Flashback]
"Hey baby, what's happening?"
Dana wheeled around and found the man who had harassed her and Monica standing between the buildings, like he had been waiting for her. "What do you want from me?" She asked coldly, trying not to let her fear show.
"What do I want?" He asked tauntingly, "I think you can figure that out."
***
Her terror increased as he got on top of her, straddling her hips. He pulled her jacket off and pushed her T-shirt up over her head, using it to both cover her eyes and restrain her arms. Dana then realized what was coming next, and she struggled fiercely, fighting as hard as she could until the blows he rained down on her stopped her fight. As soon as she stilled, she felt the point of something sharp being pressed into her cheek through her shirt. A disembodied, whispered voice came through to her ear, "If you struggle again or cry out, I will slit your throat and leave you here to die. Behave yourself and you might live through this." As much as it terrified the young woman, she knew that she was going to have to wait out the attack if she wanted to live to tell about it.
[End Flashback]
Dana fought and flailed, trying to fight off an attacker that wasn't there. She cried out and did everything she was too afraid to do that night. Monica tried to do everything she could to get Dana to come back to the present time, but with no luck. Tess had run to get Dr. Graves, in the event Dana's flashback got too out of hand. But, the older angel knew that the best thing for Dana would be for her to just live it out.
Monica held Dana's cold, trembling hand, willing her friend to come out of the world of terror in which she was trapped. Tears rolled down the angel's face as she frantically tried to think of a way to help Dana. "Dana, listen to me," She said, trying to keep her voice steady, "You're safe here. Nothing's gonna happen to you, okay? You're safe, Dana. You're safe."
Somewhere, deep in Dana's mind, the young woman could hear someone calling to her. The voice sounded comforting, and it kept telling her she was safe. Slowly, the cobwebs cleared, and her blue eyes focused on Monica's tearstained face. Dana's lower lip started to tremble, and she choked out one word, "Monica."
Monica put her arms around Dana's trembling frame as the young woman gave into the sobs. "Shhh, it's alright Dana." She said. "Just let it out. You're safe here." Dana clung to Monica like a lifeline as the sobs wracked her small frame. Tears rolled down Monica's cheeks as she held her friend. She was glad that Dana was expressing any type of emotion, but the young angel still wished there was more she could do.
Tess entered the room with Dr. Graves, but seeing that Monica had the situation under control, they left just as quietly as they had come. They stepped outside Dana's hospital room, and Tess asked, "When are you going to discharge her?"
Doctor Graves looked quickly at Dana's chart before replying, "Well, all of her initial blood work has come back, and she's physically stable enough to go home. I need to give her some instructions on maintenance testing for STD's and to give her a prescription for the prophylactic antibiotics. I don't think she'll be here any longer than this afternoon."
Tess nodded. "I'll try to talk to her again before you send her home, but I think it's going to take a while for her to open up about this."
"I'll give her your number, and suggest she get counseling. Monica seems to be able to get through to her though, so that's a good thing," Dr. Graves replied.
"Yes, it's a very good thing," Tess added.
***
A few hours later, Doctor Graves returned to Dana's room. She smiled at Monica, who was still sitting in the chair next to the young woman's bed, and pulled up another chair for herself. Monica excused herself, and left the room. "How are you feeling, Dana?" The young doctor asked.
"A little achy, but otherwise alright," Dana replied softly. "When can I go home?"
"That's actually what I'm here to talk to you about. I have some instructions to give you, and then you're free to go." Dr Graves handed Dana a sheet of paper. "This is just an outline of what I'm going to tell you. You need to be retested for sexually transmitted diseases in three months to make sure nothing pops up. And you also need to make an appointment to be tested for HIV at six months, and then annually for the next five years."
"Fun Fun," Dana said sarcastically.
Doctor Graves looked apologetic, "It's a hassle, but better safe than sorry. I'm also going to give you a prescription for Previn. it's the morning after pill. It's your option whether or not you choose to take it, but I want you to have it available. You need to take it within seventy- two hours after intercourse though, so keep that in mind."
Dana nodded. "I'll think about it."
"Ok. There's one more thing." Doctor Graves pulled a piece of paper out of her lab coat and handed it to the young woman. "This is Tess's number at the crisis center. I really think you should think about talking to her."
Dana took the paper absently and gave a slight nod. She didn't even want to think about the road ahead of her. ***
Later that afternoon, Monica pulled Tess's caddy into the driveway of Dana's house. The Irish angel had been sure to take the long way home from the hospital, lest she pass the convenience store where Dana was attacked. She cut the ignition and helped Dana out of the car and into the house, where the young human immediately turned and locked the door behind them, dead bolting it.
"Are you hungry?" Monica asked, heading to the kitchen to put the prescriptions away. After Doctor Graves had spoken with Dana, she had written her a prescription for a tranquilizer and a painkiller, in addition to the Previn.
"Not really. I just want to take a shower and go to bed." Dana replied quietly. She dropped her coat over a chair in the kitchen and slowly started up the stairs.
Monica put the prescriptions on the counter and walked to the living room, glad to see that Tess was sitting on the couch. "Tess, I am so glad to see you."
"How's she doing, baby?" The older angel asked as Monica sat next to her on the sofa.
Monica shrugged, "I don't know. She just seems so numb. The only time she showed any type of emotion was at the hospital this morning. After that, she's just retreated inside herself. I don't know how to get through to her."
"Don't get discouraged Angel Girl," Tess told her, "Dana's got a long road to travel now. And she needs to be reminded that she doesn't have to travel it alone. Right now, all you need to do is what you've been doing all along. be her friend."
"I just wish there was more I could do," Monica sighed. "I mean, I'm an angel. shouldn't I be able to do something else to help her?"
Tess put her arm around her friend, "I know, baby. But this is something that Dana is going to have to, at least partially, on her own. Only she can make sense of her feelings and try to begin healing from this. Now, you will be needed to help her along the way, but it's ultimately up to her."
***
Once Dana got upstairs, she headed directly for the shower. She felt numb all over, and what was worse, she felt dirty. She turned the hot water on full blast, watching as the steam started to billow out of the shower and fill the bathroom. She shed her clothes quickly, desperate to rid herself of the dirty feeling she felt crawling over her skin. As she stepped into the steaming water, her skin immediately began to turn red as the scalding water poured over it. Dana didn't even seem to be aware of the temperature of the water as she reached for the soap and a washcloth and began furiously scouring her skin.
Memories of the attack raced through her mind yet again, and tears started to trickle down her face as she tried to make herself feel clean again, even though she feared she never would. Before long, the young human was reduced to sobs. She threw the bar of soap violently against the wall and slumped to the floor of the shower, pulling her knees up to her chest as the hoarse cries tore through her once again. The water continued to rain down upon her, matting her hair to her head, and mixing with the tears coursing down her reddened face as the steam clouded around her.
Monica stood outside the bathroom door, tears falling from her own eyes. She had heard Dana throw the soap against the wall, and then heard her friend's sobs. She closed her dark eyes briefly and then looked heavenward. "Father," she began shakily, "Please tell me what to do for her. I don't know how to help her through this."
Dana's eyes met Tess's for a moment, and then she looked over at Monica. "She's been here all night. She didn't fall asleep until about two hours ago."
Tess looked at the young human curiously. The older angel knew that Dana was trying to change the subject, and so she followed along. "Is she a friend of yours?"
Dana nodded and spoke quietly, "She's my roommate, and we're stand partners in the philharmonic."
"Oh, so you're in an orchestra?" Tess asked, trying to get Dana to talk, no matter what it was about.
"I play violin in the Springfield Philharmonic," the young woman said.
Next to the bed, Monica stirred slightly and opened her eyes. She immediately looked toward Dana, "Good morning," She said softly.
Dana smiled weakly, "Good morning," she said before turning to Tess, "Monica, this is Tess. She's from the Crisis Center."
Monica smiled knowingly at Tess, and extended her hand to her mentor and dear friend. "Hello, baby," Tess said. "It's good to meet you."
As soon as Tess spoke, there was a muffled sound from Dana. The two angels whirled around to find look of pure terror displayed across Dana's pretty features. Her eyes were unfocused, as if she was looking right through the angels, and not seeing them. "Dana?" Monica said, gently grasping her friend's small hand. "What's wrong?"
The young woman didn't respond. Her mind was in another place, and she wasn't even aware of the presence of the two angels.
[Flashback]
"Hey baby, what's happening?"
Dana wheeled around and found the man who had harassed her and Monica standing between the buildings, like he had been waiting for her. "What do you want from me?" She asked coldly, trying not to let her fear show.
"What do I want?" He asked tauntingly, "I think you can figure that out."
***
Her terror increased as he got on top of her, straddling her hips. He pulled her jacket off and pushed her T-shirt up over her head, using it to both cover her eyes and restrain her arms. Dana then realized what was coming next, and she struggled fiercely, fighting as hard as she could until the blows he rained down on her stopped her fight. As soon as she stilled, she felt the point of something sharp being pressed into her cheek through her shirt. A disembodied, whispered voice came through to her ear, "If you struggle again or cry out, I will slit your throat and leave you here to die. Behave yourself and you might live through this." As much as it terrified the young woman, she knew that she was going to have to wait out the attack if she wanted to live to tell about it.
[End Flashback]
Dana fought and flailed, trying to fight off an attacker that wasn't there. She cried out and did everything she was too afraid to do that night. Monica tried to do everything she could to get Dana to come back to the present time, but with no luck. Tess had run to get Dr. Graves, in the event Dana's flashback got too out of hand. But, the older angel knew that the best thing for Dana would be for her to just live it out.
Monica held Dana's cold, trembling hand, willing her friend to come out of the world of terror in which she was trapped. Tears rolled down the angel's face as she frantically tried to think of a way to help Dana. "Dana, listen to me," She said, trying to keep her voice steady, "You're safe here. Nothing's gonna happen to you, okay? You're safe, Dana. You're safe."
Somewhere, deep in Dana's mind, the young woman could hear someone calling to her. The voice sounded comforting, and it kept telling her she was safe. Slowly, the cobwebs cleared, and her blue eyes focused on Monica's tearstained face. Dana's lower lip started to tremble, and she choked out one word, "Monica."
Monica put her arms around Dana's trembling frame as the young woman gave into the sobs. "Shhh, it's alright Dana." She said. "Just let it out. You're safe here." Dana clung to Monica like a lifeline as the sobs wracked her small frame. Tears rolled down Monica's cheeks as she held her friend. She was glad that Dana was expressing any type of emotion, but the young angel still wished there was more she could do.
Tess entered the room with Dr. Graves, but seeing that Monica had the situation under control, they left just as quietly as they had come. They stepped outside Dana's hospital room, and Tess asked, "When are you going to discharge her?"
Doctor Graves looked quickly at Dana's chart before replying, "Well, all of her initial blood work has come back, and she's physically stable enough to go home. I need to give her some instructions on maintenance testing for STD's and to give her a prescription for the prophylactic antibiotics. I don't think she'll be here any longer than this afternoon."
Tess nodded. "I'll try to talk to her again before you send her home, but I think it's going to take a while for her to open up about this."
"I'll give her your number, and suggest she get counseling. Monica seems to be able to get through to her though, so that's a good thing," Dr. Graves replied.
"Yes, it's a very good thing," Tess added.
***
A few hours later, Doctor Graves returned to Dana's room. She smiled at Monica, who was still sitting in the chair next to the young woman's bed, and pulled up another chair for herself. Monica excused herself, and left the room. "How are you feeling, Dana?" The young doctor asked.
"A little achy, but otherwise alright," Dana replied softly. "When can I go home?"
"That's actually what I'm here to talk to you about. I have some instructions to give you, and then you're free to go." Dr Graves handed Dana a sheet of paper. "This is just an outline of what I'm going to tell you. You need to be retested for sexually transmitted diseases in three months to make sure nothing pops up. And you also need to make an appointment to be tested for HIV at six months, and then annually for the next five years."
"Fun Fun," Dana said sarcastically.
Doctor Graves looked apologetic, "It's a hassle, but better safe than sorry. I'm also going to give you a prescription for Previn. it's the morning after pill. It's your option whether or not you choose to take it, but I want you to have it available. You need to take it within seventy- two hours after intercourse though, so keep that in mind."
Dana nodded. "I'll think about it."
"Ok. There's one more thing." Doctor Graves pulled a piece of paper out of her lab coat and handed it to the young woman. "This is Tess's number at the crisis center. I really think you should think about talking to her."
Dana took the paper absently and gave a slight nod. She didn't even want to think about the road ahead of her. ***
Later that afternoon, Monica pulled Tess's caddy into the driveway of Dana's house. The Irish angel had been sure to take the long way home from the hospital, lest she pass the convenience store where Dana was attacked. She cut the ignition and helped Dana out of the car and into the house, where the young human immediately turned and locked the door behind them, dead bolting it.
"Are you hungry?" Monica asked, heading to the kitchen to put the prescriptions away. After Doctor Graves had spoken with Dana, she had written her a prescription for a tranquilizer and a painkiller, in addition to the Previn.
"Not really. I just want to take a shower and go to bed." Dana replied quietly. She dropped her coat over a chair in the kitchen and slowly started up the stairs.
Monica put the prescriptions on the counter and walked to the living room, glad to see that Tess was sitting on the couch. "Tess, I am so glad to see you."
"How's she doing, baby?" The older angel asked as Monica sat next to her on the sofa.
Monica shrugged, "I don't know. She just seems so numb. The only time she showed any type of emotion was at the hospital this morning. After that, she's just retreated inside herself. I don't know how to get through to her."
"Don't get discouraged Angel Girl," Tess told her, "Dana's got a long road to travel now. And she needs to be reminded that she doesn't have to travel it alone. Right now, all you need to do is what you've been doing all along. be her friend."
"I just wish there was more I could do," Monica sighed. "I mean, I'm an angel. shouldn't I be able to do something else to help her?"
Tess put her arm around her friend, "I know, baby. But this is something that Dana is going to have to, at least partially, on her own. Only she can make sense of her feelings and try to begin healing from this. Now, you will be needed to help her along the way, but it's ultimately up to her."
***
Once Dana got upstairs, she headed directly for the shower. She felt numb all over, and what was worse, she felt dirty. She turned the hot water on full blast, watching as the steam started to billow out of the shower and fill the bathroom. She shed her clothes quickly, desperate to rid herself of the dirty feeling she felt crawling over her skin. As she stepped into the steaming water, her skin immediately began to turn red as the scalding water poured over it. Dana didn't even seem to be aware of the temperature of the water as she reached for the soap and a washcloth and began furiously scouring her skin.
Memories of the attack raced through her mind yet again, and tears started to trickle down her face as she tried to make herself feel clean again, even though she feared she never would. Before long, the young human was reduced to sobs. She threw the bar of soap violently against the wall and slumped to the floor of the shower, pulling her knees up to her chest as the hoarse cries tore through her once again. The water continued to rain down upon her, matting her hair to her head, and mixing with the tears coursing down her reddened face as the steam clouded around her.
Monica stood outside the bathroom door, tears falling from her own eyes. She had heard Dana throw the soap against the wall, and then heard her friend's sobs. She closed her dark eyes briefly and then looked heavenward. "Father," she began shakily, "Please tell me what to do for her. I don't know how to help her through this."