It wasn't long before the ambulance arrived. Its blue flashing lights were blinding and I had to squint so I could see who was coming.

A man and a woman jumped out of the vehicle as the lights stopped, and once again, the one streetlight was the only thing making anything else visible for miles. I was slightly scared by these new people- I shook and hid more as they got closer- but Jess just comforted me more.

She turned around slowly and looked at the paramedics who were just shutting the doors of the ambulance. "Jeff?" She shouted to one of them, who then turned to face her.
"Jess? What happened? Are you alright?" He exclaimed as he ran over towards us, the woman following closely behind.
"I'm fine!" She replied, "I just found her here on the way back from the ED, she won't tell me her name and she seems pretty shaken up. She's got a laceration to her head, but I haven't had a chance to look at it."
He looked at me and then back at Jess. "Do you think...?" He whispered, so that I could not hear.
Jess also looked back at me and then at the paramedic. "I don't know, but I don't think she's going to be telling us anytime soon..."

They nodded slightly at each other as the two paramedics knelt down next to me. "My name's Dixie and this is Jeff. Can you tell me your name please?" The female paramedic asked. I stayed silent, still not wanting anyone to know who I was. "Okay then," she continued after my silence, "how old are you?"

I said nothing.

"Come on princess, it would really help us if we knew who you are and what happened!" The male, Jeff, added.
"Are you in any pain anywhere?" Jess questioned calmly. I shook my head shakily.
"Do you think you can stand up?" Dixie asked; I nodded slowly. She moved around to the side of me and took hold of my arm, making me flinch in fear.
"It's alright!" Jess whispered, and I relaxed slightly.

Jess took hold of my arms and helped me as I tried to stand up. I let out a quiet cry in pain as my body lifted off the floor. "Not much further." Jess reassured me as tears started silently rolling down my cheeks again.

She kept hold of me as I wobbled shakily towards the ambulance and into the back. Jeff and Dixie followed, then split as Dixie got into the driver's seat and Jeff climbed into the back with Jess and I.

I sat on the bed gingerly, keeping my head down and my mouth shut. Jeff shut the doors and grabbed some medical equipment. I flinched every time he tried to examine me or attach some sort of monitor, wary of these new people, and eventually he just gave up.

The route to the ED was short but bumpy and I felt sick as I was thrown about by potholes and rubble in and on the road.

We soon arrived and, once again, Jess took hold of my arms and assisted me as I walked slowly out of the ambulance and into a wheelchair waiting just outside.

Jess walked beside me as Jeff wheeled me into the busy ED. I was still keeping my head down, and my body covered, although I knew someone would eventually find out.

A tall man in green scrubs noticed us and jogged over. "What've we got, Jeff?" He asked in a deep, manly voice.
"Unknown female, about 12 years of age." Jeff replied. "Found alone at the side of a road with a laceration to her forehead, seems pretty shaken up, but by what is unknown."
"Okay, cubicles please."

Jeff wheeled me to a bed and watched as Jess helped me up and onto it. He smiled then walked away, taking the wheelchair with him.

"Hi my name is Dr Trueman; I'm a consultant here at the ED. Can you tell me what happened?" The dark-haired man asked.

As before, I didn't say or do anything. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Jess shake her head lightly and mouth something, which I was unable to make out.

A nurse walked over and pulled the curtains shut around the cubicle, as Adam sat down on the end of the bed. "Can I take a look at your head?" He asked in a quiet, calm voice. I lifted my head a little, as if to say 'yes'.

I flinched as he placed his fingers around the wound, "it's alright, shh, it okay..." He whispered. I clenched my eyes tight shut and allowed him to continue. I felt my hands shaking and, as before, Jess took hold of them. I held them tight, knowing that she wasn't going to do anything to hurt me.

Adam finished checking it and sat back. "Can you tell me how you got this?" He asked in a quiet, gentle voice. I thought about replying, making something up so that they wouldn't keep asking, but I kept quiet as I didn't want to lie.

"Okay," he continued, as he sensed that I wasn't going to answer, "well the wound isn't deep so it just needs cleaning and dressing." He looked over at Jess. "Are you staying?"
She smiled, "Yeah, I'll go and get changed, then I'll come and dress it."
"Someone needs to stay with her for now," Adam added, "so I'll wait here until you come back." They smiled at each other and Jess walked out of the cubicle.

I was still keeping my head down and avoiding making eye contact with anyone. Jess's jacket remained over my shoulders, and I used this to cover my arms and upper body, in order to avoid them asking more questions.

Adam was still sat on the end of the bed, looking me up and down, trying to work out what might have happened to me. "I will have to check you over once your head has been sorted, so is there anything you want to tell me now before I do?" He asked. I stayed silent, and he also knew that he would get no response.

Jess returned 10 minutes later with the equipment that she needed. Adam stood up as she walked in, smiling at her then looking back at me for a moment before returning to Jess. "I'll need to do a full examination once the wound has been dressed, so I'll be out here. Will you come and find me once you're done?" He asked Jess.
"Sure!" She smiled as Adam left the cubicle, closing the curtains behind him.