"They say bad things happen for a reason
but no wise words are gonna stop the bleedin'."

- Breakeven, by: The Script

Hourglass

Chapter: 7

-Bella POV-

Inside the hospital my nerves are erratic, and I feel like I'm on the verge of a panic attack. The smell of alcohol and disinfectant causes my heart rate to quicken. I feel it thumping so hard in my chest that I swear I can almost hear it.

I'm overwhelmed and devastated with tonight's circumstances, exhausted from my emotions and a lack of sleep, and terrified that Rosalie won't pull through. My biggest fear is not being able to save her.

Then there's the anger. The bitterness that I just can't shake seems to help even out my anxiety. I wipe my cold, sweaty palms roughly against my ruined sweatpants and graciously accept the scrubs Emmett is handing me.

"Thank you," I say softly as I quickly step inside the restroom and click the lock shut.

A soft sob escapes my lips, and I walk over to the sink to splash water on my face.

"She's gonna be okay…she has to be okay," I whisper to myself as I slowly shed my clothes and wash myself with a paper towel and hand soap. Once I've finished washing myself and have dressed in the blue scrubs, I rinse my mouth out with cool water and spit it back into the sink.

I look up at my reflection and barely recognize the person staring back at me. Gone is the happy, snarky, blushing girl who I once was. She's been replaced by this edgy, angry, defeated zombie.

"God, please let Rosalie be okay," I pray. I've never really been much of a prayer. I believe in God and Heaven, but I rarely attend church. Rosalie and I went to youth group together when we were kids, but we stopped once we got into high school.

I'm startled out of my thoughts when a sharp knock sounds on the door.

"Are you okay in there?" I hear Emmett's voice call from the other side.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'll be out in just a minute," I call back, and run my fingers through my hair as I absentmindedly throw it into a ponytail. I'm hoping it'll help me feel fresher, considering it's matted with tears and possibly vomit, but it doesn't. I can't be bothered with it now. Rosalie is my main priority.

My skin feels itchy and damp from washing it with hand soap, and I just want to jump out of my own skin.

Emmett's probably freaking out by now, so I decide to make my way back out and see if he's heard anything about Rose's condition.

I toss my soiled clothes in the trash and open the door to the restroom. When the lock clicks, signaling that I've unlocked the door, I jump, and then immediately chastise myself for being so skittish.

You're not the one who was attacked, Bella.

I step out and look up and down the hallway for Emmett, but he isn't there. I walk toward the ER entrance and see him just inside the doors talking to someone.

They're speaking in hushed voices, so I can't hear the conversation. I clear my throat and approach them slowly so they don't think I'm eavesdropping.

I stop walking when I'm a few feet away from them and they both look up at me.

"Edward this is…shit, I haven't gotten your name yet." Emmett realizes suddenly; the funny thing about it is I never realized I hadn't given it to him.

"Isabella, but I go by Bella, Bella Swan," I amend.

"Swan? You're Charlie's little girl?" The doctor from before walks up behind us, entering our conversation.

I turn toward him, immediately wanting answers, but I nod my head confirming that I am—in fact—Charlie Swan's daughter.

"Yes, that's correct."

"I'm Dr. Cullen. It's a pleasure to meet you, Bella. Your father speaks very highly of you," he says as he holds a hand out for me to shake.

I shake it and smile politely, waiting for him to talk about Rose.

"Excuse me for being forward, Doctor, but my friend. How is she?" I can't help but ask.

"We're still working on her; we've managed to set her nose and stop her internal bleeding, but she needed a blood transfusion and had several broken bones." His eyes flicker over to the other two and then back to me. "Bella, can I talk to you alone for a second?"

I nod my head dumbly, in shock of all the damage that Royce has inflicted on her body. I knew she was in bad shape, I mean, I saw her…I saw the blood and the bruising and…everything, but to have it confirmed is absolutely devastating.

Doctor Cullen and I walk about fifteen feet away and by the look on his face, I can tell what he's about to tell me is not going to be good news. I prepare for the worst as he takes a deep breath and scrubs his hand over his face tiredly.

"Bella, normally I wouldn't be sharing this information with anyone other than my patients family, but I can tell that you and Rosalie are close. Bella…" He sighs and pushes forward. "Bella, when we examined Rosalie, there was evidence of a sexual assault." His gaze is firm and he looks angry as he tells me.

My mind goes blank and all of the blood drains from my face. I drop to my knees and throw my arms over my head as my body sags to the floor. I can barely breathe with the grief that is pressing down on me. It feels like my chest is going to explode with the emotions I'm trying to hold inside of me.

I rock back and forth as tears flow freely down my face and a strangled sob escapes my lips.

"Oh God," I cry as I slap my hand against the floor.

He raped her…

He fucking raped her…

Royce raped and beat Rosalie nearly to death tonight…

"What is going on?" Emmett bellows as he and his friend run up to us.

Carlisle is kneeling down beside me, trying to get me to breathe, but not getting too close. I'm flailing around tugging at my clothes and my hair, I push the heels of my palms against my eyes and then cover my nose and mouth as I cry my fucking heart out.

Oh my God, Rosalie. What has he done to you?

I close my eyes and bring my knees up to my chest as I wrap my arms around them. I lay my head face down onto my knees and cry, unable to speak or even breathe properly.

My sobs turn to hiccups and my emotions get the best of me as I try to gasp for air. I know I'm going to be sick again.

I start frantically looking around for a trash can to get sick in, but I can't find one. I quickly jump to my feet and run out the sliding doors to the parking lot.

When I find a patch of secluded grass I drop to my knees and dry heave. I have nothing left in my stomach, because I threw it all up earlier. So I'm left with powerful heaves that wrack my body and cause me to choke.

After I'm sure I'm not going to get sick, I sit back on my knees and look up at the sky. My eyes are overflowing with tears and I silently wonder how much a person can cry before they shrivel up and die.

This is without a doubt the worst night of my entire life.

A/N: Angst...angst...and more angst. Sorry folks, that's pretty much what this story is all about. It's heavy, but every cloud has a silver lining, right?

Thank you PTB for betaing.
Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight, The Script owns Breakeven, & I own this angsty mess.

xxoo,
Missy