-1Disclaimer: The following update contains sensitive issues that might not be suitable for all readers.
Author's Note: Drug and alcohol induced rape is a growing problem amongst young adults. Most of these assaults go unreported as the victim usually feels it is their fault for putting themselves in a position to have this happen to them. Please, if you or someone you know, has had this happen do not feel responsible, have the courage to stand up and say you were attacked. Do not let these men get away with violating innocent and unwilling victims. For more information on this subject or to get help call the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Helpline at 1(800) 656-4973.
Temped water poured from shower head, coating the two girls huddled in the back of the shower. One naked, her pale body a mess of small bruises, legs drawn up to her chest, head buried in the small valley between her knees; the other, dressed in the camisole and shorts she had worn to bed, arms wrapped around the first girl. Neither could remember how long they had sat there, letting the water wash over them, long enough for the hot water to run to cold.
"We should take her to a hospital," a strained voice said from the other side of the dark green and blue plaid shower curtain.
"No," Meredith whimpered, raising her head. Strings of honey colored hair hang over her frightened green eyes. Claw like fingers grasp Izzie's arm, the nails digging into the soft skin of her inner wrist. "Please, Izzie, don't make me go."
Fighting the urge to cry, Izzie gathers Meredith close, holding the other girl close. "I promise, you don't have to go anywhere you don't want to go." As she rests her head against Meredith's, their hair intertwines, the various shades of blonde mixing as the water continues to run.
"She needs to get checked out," Alex insists from the other side of the curtain. There was a desperation in his voice. "She needs to…"
Letting Meredith go, Izzie shifts her position in the tub, sticking her damp head out the curtain. Her dark eyes contain a mixture of anger and fright. "What she needs is for us to honor her wishes!"
"What if she has something," Alex says low, his face grim. "What if he didn't use…we have to be realistic here….he could have given her something." It takes a moment for his words to sink in. Izzie frowns, glancing over her shoulder to where Meredith stared wide eyed at her.
"Maybe…" Izzie stops herself when Meredith starts sobbing, shaking her head. "Mere, why? Why?"
"Because." Meredith hiccupped, wrapping her arms around her slender legs. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have gone to that party. I shouldn't have dra…drank…as much as I did. And…how do I know I didn't…didn't…maybe I wanted to. Maybe I'm the one who…God. I can't remember…why can't I remember? It's like, I remember going to the party. I remember this cute guy with blonde hair and gray eyes offering me a drink…I remember Cristina dancing and making out with some guy…but…that's it….I don't remember anything else. And…if I can't remember…maybe I wanted to."
"You didn't ask for this," Izzie insisted, brushing back a chunk of hair that was plastered to Meredith's forehead. "You went to that party to have a good time, not get…" She gulps, not even able to say the words aloud. "You didn't ask for this," she repeated.
"We don't know that," Meredith cried, burying her face in her hands once more. Her slender body wracks with sobs. "How could I be so stupid?"
"You're not stupid," Izzie whispered, her own lips trembling. The strength she was trying to uphold for Meredith's sake was starting to crumble. It was as though someone had tied her hands behind back, set her in a chair, and was forcing her to watch her friend suffer.
"I am. I am…I shouldn't have gone. I was having a good time at the dance. I don't even know why I went…except I was worried about Cristina," Meredith sobbed, rocking her body to and fro, eyes squeezed shut.
Cristina. Izzie's jaw tightens at the thought of their still missing friend. She was trying to not be angry with the other girl. Yet, she couldn't help the rage coursing through her veins. If Cristina had wanted to risk herself, fine, that was on her, but to risk Meredith, that was another story. "You didn't do anything wrong," Izzie insisted again, crawling around Meredith to twist the knobs controlling the water off. The stream had turned from temped to freezing rather quickly. Standing up, teeth chattering, she finagles her way out of the shower in a way that shields Meredith's nude body from Alex's concerned stare. She accepts the thick, navy blue towel he hands her. Instead of wrapping it around her own dripping body she pulls the shower curtain back just enough to slip the towel inside.
"She needs to go to the doctor," Alex murmurs in her ear, draping another towel around her shoulders. "She should have gone right away. We should have taken her straight to the hospital."
Turning her head slightly, Izzie looks back at him. Conflict warred across her face. She was torn. Torn between the logic of what Alex was saying and the need to protect Meredith from any more violations. "She doesn't want to go," Izzie whispers back.
The curtain yanks open, a towel clad Meredith peers back at them from beneath a tangle, wet mass of golden hair. The haunted look in her green eyes was enough to break the coldest heart into a million pieces. "Please don't make me go," she begs in a small voice. Izzie steps away from Alex, helping Meredith's trembling body from the shower. "Please, Izzie. I hurt…I hurt every where…and…they'll just…please don't make me go! Please! Promise me you won't make me go!"
Worrying her lip between her teeth, Izzie stares at Alex then looks at her bruised and terrified friend. "I promise," she says slowly.