No, no she, Justin tell me you're lying please tell me this isn't true! You never lie to me. Harper I... I'm so sorry 'Harper starts crying over the phone' wh... what h... happened? I don't know. HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW SHE'S YOUR SISTER?! Harper I'm sorry- No Justin I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell. No its OK, honestly I feel like yelling too! Justin did you say something about Alex not wanting you to call me.
Yeah, she didn't want me to call you, Why? Alex didn't want to ruin your summer 'Justin sighs' but I ended up doing that anyways. No Justin you didn't ruin anything, look I'm not sure when I'm coming back but I'll try to work something out.
What are you going to tell your parents? Probably nothing If Alex didn't want me to know, I can imagine she doesn't want my parents knowing. I'll try to come back soon though. Thank you Harper, Alex is going to need you- No thank you Justin for telling me even if Alex didn't want you to.
All right I have to go, I'll call you back soon bye Justin- Bye Harper. OK let's go find Alex some food. Uh excuse me, I was wondering if I could get some food? We only give food to patients sir. Oh, no, the food is not for me, it's for my sister; I came to find something to eat for her. All right what's your sisters name? Alex Russo- Oh, I'll... uh get you a tray. Thanks- here you go. Thank you so much- you're welcome! 'Justin opens the door slowly' Alex, hey its Justin. I got you some food. Alex does not respond, she just continues to stare into nothing.
Suddenly Justin hears Knocking on the door, who is it? 'Justin asks from the room' I'll go check it's probably a nurse. 'Justin opens the door to find his family on the other side; hey come on in. Alex oh, baby! 'Theresa quickly goes over and hugs her daughter' Ouch! Oh, honey I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you. It... its OK mom the hug felt nice.
'The nurse that took care of Alex enters the room' Hi, how are you feeling? Horrible 'Alex says in an almost nonexistent voice' well then might not like this, but I need to ask you some questions. Hey Max, why don't we go wait outside 'Justin says to his brother' But I want to stay with Alex- Alex will be OK come on. 'The door closes behind Justin and Max as they exit the room.'
'What kind of questions will you be asking? 'Theresa asks the nurse' Just standard questions that we have to ask anyone that's been uh... you don't have to answer any questions if you don't want to OK Alex. 'The Nurse is trying her hardest to keep her cool but seeing a young beautiful girl like Alex in this place breaks her heart. I'll answer... whatever... you want.
OK if ever get uncomfortable or don't want to answer any more questions you don't have to. OK first question "Have you had any past sexual experience before this event?" No... I've never- its OK we can leave it there. All right second question "Where you able to see who did this to you, could you identify the person?" No it... it was too dark I... couldn't see his face, he was tall, and strong, I... he 'Alex starts shaking and panicking' Hey its all right sweetie we can leave the questions there okay.
'Alex nods her head still with a blank expression on her face' There is one more thing. We would like to run some tests on you just to make sure that you are OK and that you didn't get anything dangerous from this encounter; however these tests are optional and require consent from you I just want you to know that you are not being forced into anything. I... I- it's okay Alex you don't have to make your choice right now; I'll give you some time "The Nurse leaves Alex's room with a look on her face like she's about to burst into tears."
'I'm going to go check on the boys, Jerry says to his wife.' 'In truth though Jerry can't take seeing Alex like this he has to leave the room; he doesn't want to leave his daughter of course not, but he just can't do it. Dad What... 'Jerry sits down and just cries' Hey dad it's going to be OK. 'Justin tries his best to comfort his father but he just doesn't know what to do anymore.
Alex baby can you look at me please. 'Alex is so broken she doesn't even realize where she is at; Alex is so still and unresponsive she's almost catatonic just starring into nothing. 'Theresa starts to get worried when Alex doesn't go to sleep, its like she is subconsciously keeping herself awake; the nurse soon enters Alex's room and says to Theresa that Alex needs to sleep; for both her mind and body to start healing.
The nurse gives Theresa some sleeping pills which she then gives to Alex and knocks her out for the night. Wait before you leave thank you for all you have done for my daughter I don't know how to thank you. Oh, I'm just doing my job, it's so sad though a young beautiful girl like her having to go through something like this I can't even begin to imagine, I really hope that she can be okay one day, I'll let her have her rest.
After an hour or so the boys all quietly entered the room and saw Alex sound asleep with her mother sitting in the chair next to her watching over her daughter. "She can finally get some rest, Theresa says aloud, she deserves a little quiet" I'll stay here with her 'Justin says breaking the silence' no baby I'll stay here with her you boys should go home and get some rest- Mom its OK you and dad have the Sub Shop to run.
Justin's right Theresa he can stay with Alex, I don't want to leave her either but we should get home; and if anything goes wrong Justin will call us. Dad's right, besides Max is already asleep in the chair and I think he probably wants to sleep in his own bed.
Look I will call if anything happens all right- thank you Justin. Hey Max wake up time to go buddy- What? 'Max does not have much recollection of what's happening being groggy from sleep. We're coming back tomorrow right? 'Max asks worried about his big sister' of course Max. 'With that, Max, Jerry, And Theresa, leave Alex's room, and the hospital. Looks like it just me and you little sister, instead of going to sleep however, Justin decides to stay up and watch Alex.
"The Next Day..."
Alex's POV: 'I woke up and realized that I was in the hospital, I must have gotten here last night and don't remember. I looked up at the clock, it was early in the day around 10 A.M. I had just woken up. I looked over to my left and saw Justin asleep in the chair next to my bed, I was still in agonizing pain. And my right arm is broken, of course it had to be my right, I started to hear yawning to my left, I looked over to see Justin stretching in his seat.
Good morning! 'I hear Justin say' I know its dumb to ask, but how are you feeling? I didn't feel like talking; my throat was hurting really bad and talking would probably make it worse. Justin and I looked at each other for a few seconds... but I could see in his eyes, in his face, he looked sad, angry, but the main look was guilt.
'That look in his eyes was haunting, and the room was dead silent, too silent like we were the only ones that existed in the world. I looked away and back down to my legs covered by a blanket, all of the memories and pain come flooding back, I started crying, tears started to stream down my face; I didn't want to cry but I couldn't stop.
Alex I... "Justin didn't know what to say, there he was just looking at me crying and I hated it, I hated him see me cry like a scared little girl lost in a store, but that's what I am, I'm scared, I'm terrified." I feel weak and vulnerable, I feel... Broken, and I don't think I can ever put myself back together again, I just want to give up, I just want the pain to go away and never come back.
Hey uh... Mom and Dad should be here soon Max too, if you want, I can call them and have them bring you some real food?! Even just a sandwich from the shop. Honestly, I didn't care, I just wanted it to be over, I don't care how, I shook my head no as my hair flopped around with it. Suddenly we hear a knock on the door, Justin tells whoever is out there to come in, its Mom, Dad, and Max, great more people to give me the look.
Out of nowhere I suddenly had to pee so bad, I felt like I was going to pop like a water balloon, guess I had to talk now. Bath...room, Mom was the only other girl; and the only other person who could help me get there'.
"Boys out now!" they all listened to mom, all of them exiting the room quickly, 'Come on honey slowly' the pain was unbearable just trying to get up, my knife wound was bad; and almost the most painful thing on my body, I managed to swing my feet of the bed, with mom still supporting me the whole time. As my feet touched the ground it felt good to be out of that bed, my legs were super weak; as soon as I tried to take a step I almost collapsed, luckily mom was there holding me up.
I know I shouldn't feel like this but I hate that mom has to help me walk, I hate needing help, feeling so weak; but I also can't do it by myself, almost collapsing with each step I managed to finally make it to the bathroom. Mom was still with me in the bathroom she helped me sit down on the toilet, she turned around while I was peeing, probably to not embarrass me but it was "Way too late for that!" but embarrassment was the least of my worries right now.
Mom helped me get up I told her that I could lean on the sink and walls, she agreed and turned around to let me finish up; she wanted to make me feel as comfortable as possible but it was a little too late for that. I looked up at myself in the mirror, I know it's a cliché thing to say but I really didn't recognize the person staring back at me, there are no words to describe how I looked; there was skin peeled off of my left cheek, my lip was kind of hurt but it was not even close to the rest of my body.
I was done I didn't want to look anymore, with that done Mom helped me back to bed, I just wanted to close my eyes and be done, just drift away, like a bad dream you can never wake up from, that's how I feel. The pain I just can't take it, it's not just the pain of my body; but also my mind, my mind is racing, drifting, I should have died in that alley, that's the only thing in my head that is clear; clear as day.