Excerpt 3, Journal of Dr Edward Masen
Six days ago, my life was perfect. Six days…six fekking days.
Now all I can do is pour everything out here. I have to stay positive, stay in the right frame of mind.
So instead of telling you everything that I really want to say, I am writing it all down here, along with some of the media coverage. When you wake up and you are ready, I'll show it all to you so that you know.
You deserve to have someone tell you the truth.
-I-I-I-I-I-
Attack on Two American Women in Waterloo
April 26, 2009
A young woman was left fighting for her life in hospital after being attacked in a second floor flat in London.
The 27 year old woman was rushed to the hospital, suffering from serious head injuries. Her roommate was treated at the scene.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "We were called by the ambulance service to a flat in Waterloo at about 5:30 pm to reports of a girl in her mid twenties with head injuries.
"Two friends, aged 29 and 31, arrived at the flat and found her lying in the entry way unconscious. They heard her flat mate upstairs fighting with the attacker.
The girl was taken to St Guy's hospital where she remains in stable but serious condition.
Police believe the injuries were caused by a blow or several blows to the head as she fell down the steps.
DI Eric Yorkie said: "This is a very serious incident which has left a young woman with significant injuries.
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King Questioned Over Assault Allegation
April 27, 2009
The Hon. Royce King, son of Viscount Rochester was questioned today after an allegation of assault on an American woman in Waterloo.
King walked into a London police station at lunchtime on Monday to be interviewed about an assertion brought by Rosalie Hale that he attacked her and her flat mate, Isabella Swan.
King looked relaxed as he drew up in a cab followed by the press.
Earlier today, a member of Viscount Rochester's office "categorically" denied any allegation of assault.
Miss Hale told the Daily Mirror that King had slapped and punched her flat mate as she attempted to stop him approaching Ms. Hale. During the alleged assault, Miss Swan fell down a flight of steps, requiring hospitalisation.
This assault happened less than twenty four hours after King was forcibly removed from the property at the request of Miss Hale.
She told the newspaper: "It was absolutely terrifying and totally shocking."
Miss Swan is in critical but stable condition at St. Guy's Hospital.
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King Rejects Assault Claim
April 28, 2009
The Hon. Royce King, son of the Viscount Rochester will strongly deny "unfounded" allegations that he assaulted two American women in their flat on April 22 and will sue once his innocence is proven, an agent from his father's office said yesterday.
The 31 year old business man was questioned by London police over the alleged assault and has been released on bail until next month.
A representative from the Viscount's office added: "Mr. King is completely innocent. We will defend this vigorously."
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Police Drop Assault Investigation Against Royce King
April 30, 2009
Metropolitan police have dropped investigations against The Hon. Royce King over allegations that the 31 year-old assaulted two women, it emerged Tuesday.
The son of the Viscount Rochester spent more than nine hours at a police station earlier in the week, where he was questioned over the claims.
King, who has allegedly had problems with alcohol, was questioned earlier in the week after voluntarily attending a Lambeth Borough police station.
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Business News: King Assigned to Tokyo Position
May 1, 2009
The Hon. Royce King, son of Viscount Rochester, has accepted the position of Managing Director for the family's holding company in the region. He will assume the position immediately.
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Not even a week ago, you were in my flat, ranting about your dissertation. You paced back and forth, hands circling in the air, betraying exactly how agitated you were. You were rambling on about the difference between love and lust. The idealism in your defense was inspiring. You really did believe that true love could conquer all.
Eight hours later I found you lying in the vestibule of your building covered in blood. How did things flip so quickly?
You've been in a hospital bed for six days. The initial MRI showed a large cerebral contusion with significant swelling. After a few major rows with the ER doctors and the neurologist on call, they decided to keep you under until the swelling goes down. Initially the idiot in the ER wanted to drain the blood, but the neurologist crushed that recommendation forthwith. Fortunately, the MRI and X-rays didn't reveal any fractures or tears, which further buttressed the decision. The neurologist and I spoke at length, and agreed that it was safest to keep you under, as the barbiturates will help the swelling go down faster.
This is safer for you. I know this. I understand this. But it doesn't make waiting for you to wake up any easier.
You look so tiny, so bloody helpless in that bed, and there is not a damn thing I can do but wait. I joked with you once that I'm not patient. It's true. I need you to wake up, to know that you'll be okay, that you are coming back to me.
Rose has come by a few times with flowers and such. She even brought you a silly threadbare stuffed dog that has seen better days. She didn't explain, simply stated that it was important to you, and tucked it under your arm.
I hated her for that. I hated her for being the cause of this mess. I hated her for knowing more about you than I did. I hated her for causing so much pain. I hated that it was you in that bed, not her.
My anger is irrational. I know that. But I can't help it. I can't help anything right now, and I feel absolutely and utterly helpless. I've spent the last few weeks preparing myself for the eventuality of you leaving, but I thought that leaving meant going back to the states, not this.
Anything but this.
So much has happened, and I can't tell you, because I don't want to upset you. On a whim, we came to your flat instead of meeting you at the pub. Emmett was just too damn excited to see Rose. We heard the shouting before the door was even open. He took off up the stairs as soon as we were inside. I don't remember anything but seeing you lying there. I think that image will be burned in my mind for the rest of my life.
According to Emmett, it's a small miracle he didn't kill the git. He was too emotional, not thinking, and left King the opening for one cheap shot. It was long enough for him to get past Emmett.
I could have stopped him, but that would have meant leaving you. I had already called for an ambulance, and you weren't responsive. Had you been, he wouldn't have walked away.
Our showing up when we did wasn't enough to make a case against King. Emmett didn't see him touch Rose, and it's her word against his on what happened with you. Of course, King's family threatened legal action against Rose, saber rattling about slander and inferring that someone of their stature would never descend to that level of depravity. There were rumors that they were going to go after Emmett for assault as well, but as of yet, no charges have been filed.
I know your first concern will be about Rose, although she doesn't deserve it. She's okay physically. A few bruises on her arms. Mentally, well, I've left that to Emmett. I just can't go there right now.
We had quite the row after I knew you were okay. I still can't believe how selfishly she acted, and what damage she's wrought. I know that she is absolutely beside herself with worry and guilt, but I don't care.
She hasn't been staying at your flat, if it's any comfort. Emmett refuses to let her stay there alone, and apparently raised one hell of a stink at their company about getting her new housing. I don't think I'd cross that man when he's angry. Almost makes me feel sorry should Emmett ever have a crack at King.
Jasper and Alice have been here every day. You've made quite an impression on both of them. Alice brings you fresh flowers, and Jasper spends an hour reading to you. Today was a few chapters of Alice in Wonderland. I thought it an odd choice, but he insisted that it would be 'a good workout for your subconscious.' I could have argued it with him, but I let it slide. I'd rather debate science versus the arts with you, not my brother in law.
I'm rambling, I know. There are so many things that I want to say to you, but I don't for fear of upsetting you. So I read to you, I tell you stories about my childhood, about my cases. I've brought the speakers in for my iPod and play music for you. I even tell you raunchy jokes. Anything to let you know that I am here. I won't leave you.
When you wake up there are so many things that we need to do. I want to take you back to the zoo. I want to go back to Whitby; we'll stay with Carlisle and Esme, but I want you to meet my parents. I want to take you to my favorite museums, and make you keep trying curry until you fall in love with it. I want to spend Sundays in bed with the newspaper and the telly remote. I want you to take me to the states, introduce me to your world so that I can understand more about you.
I want nothing and everything, so long as it gives me more time with you.
That's really what it comes down to, isn't it? Time. It feels like we are continuously robbed of it. One thing after another conspires to test us, keep us apart. I would have thought by now we would have proven that we were strong enough, more than worthy. Alice keeps reminding me that everything happens for a reason, but I am having a horrible time finding a good justification for any of this.
The worst part of it all, my mind keeps slipping back to Maggie. Not as competition for you, but more as a reminder. Life is too short, and we have already lost so much. I need you to be okay so that I can make up for that lost time. I should have learned from Maggie. I thought I did. But apparently there were things that I should have paid attention to but didn't.
I think the worst part of it is that even though I am a doctor, I am absolutely useless to you right now. There isn't a bloody thing that I can do but sit and wait. All that knowledge running around in my head means nothing. I can't change a thing.
Please come back to me. I need you. I've never said that to anyone before, and it scares the bollocks out of me to say it. I don't know how to be me anymore, just us.
You promised me that you weren't going anywhere. I am holding you to that. You have to come back to me. You promised.