Forsaken Love

Chapter 11

You did this. Ben’s words repeated in Jim’s mind. He sat up in his bed and glanced at the clock. 11:53, it read. Jim sighed. He intended to sleep nearly 3 hours ago. But the dreams haunted his slumber, the memories his wake. He did not see darkness when he closed his eyes. Instead, he watched Ben slap Evelyn over and over again, and Evelyn clash into the desk, falling unconscious. He saw a pool of blood. And when awake, he recognized these images not as dreams, but as reality. 

Some nights he’d wake up screaming her name, waking up the entire household. His father would come barging into his room. “You need to go see her,” he would suggest. 

Even if he thought his father was right, he managed to convince himself otherwise. He did not know why. But every time his father suggested he see her, it gradually seemed more like a command. And eventually, Jim took on a different point of view. If he visited her and realized that she would be alright, then maybe his worries and fears would cease, and his nightmares disappear. He realized now that he did not have a choice. It was the right thing to do. 

Jim arrived while Evelyn slept, so he claimed a seat on the chair in the corner. He found a stack of books on the windowsill. Blood no longer covered her face, and most of the bruises had disappeared. A cloth covered most of the little scars that Evelyn still had. Though she seemed in decent shape, Jim wanted to watch over Evelyn. But his eyes kept glancing between her and the news playing on the television, powered on by the will of the other patient in the room. Jim tried to fight the distraction at first. But then a few particular words from the newscaster caught his undivided attention.

“We have good news on the topic of Evelyn Collins, the young high school girl from Three Rivers that was assaulted last week during her Homecoming Dance,” the newsperson stated. “Her attacker, Ben Speyers, has finally been officially charged with the assault and committed into a juvenile detention center until further notice.”

Jim smiled and jumped out of his seat. Hopefully that news will help me sleep better. Jim’s cheering and clapping in celebration of this good news alerted Evelyn. Her eyes opened quickly. Her mouth spoke slowly. “Jim?”

He froze, a bit too suddenly as he almost lost his balance. Catching himself, Jim rushed to the bedside for a hug while cheerfully replying. “Evelyn! You’re awake!” 

Evelyn offered no resistance, nor any other reaction as she lay still while Jim hugged her. “You seem more excited than I expected. What happened?”

Jim broke off the hug. “They just arrested Ben.” 

Evelyn sat up, her back against the pillow. Jim expected a smile, but did not receive one. “Good,” she simply replied. 

Jim gently held her hand. “How are you feeling? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You probably saved my life Jim. I think you’ve done enough.” 

You did this, Ben’s words echoed again. I may have saved you Evelyn, but I may have also been the one that put you in further danger. “I was worried about you.”

“I’ll be fine. If you want to help, you can stop worrying. If you are worrying, then I will be worrying that you aren’t holding up well.”

Jim smiled. “That’s fair. I’m glad to see you feeling better Evelyn. When did they say you can go home?”

“Next week.” 

“In that case,” he stood up and started walking toward the door. “I have to make some preparations.” 

“Preparations?” Evelyn looked at him, but Jim had already walked out the door. 

When they released Evelyn from the hospital days later, Jim tagged along with her parents to pick her up. He wanted to be one of the first to welcome her home. But he also wanted to see her reaction to his surprise for the drive home. He smiled as Mr. Collins escorted her out of the hospital and into the car. Evelyn took a seat in the back next to Jim.

“We’re all very excited to see you come home,” Jim started. 

“So am I. Believe it or not, it’s really boring and uncomfortable in a hospital.”

Jim chuckled. “I can imagine. But didn’t you have all those books your parents dropped off for you, and all the homework I picked up for you?”

Evelyn smiled. “I finished those books after three days. They were all short and easy to read, and I had all day for a week to read them. The homework only took around an hour a day to complete. But thanks for bringing all of it to me. I didn’t fall behind in school now thanks to you.”

Jim grinned. “Glad to have helped.” 

They passed by the town’s central park. The fountain in the center square trickled water down its stone foundation, the fountain surrounded by oak trees. Attached to two of these trees, flying above the fountain, hung a multi-colored banner, a combination of Evelyn’s favorites: Red on Black, with white text reading “Welcome Home Evelyn Collins!”

“No Way!” Evelyn poked her head out the window. As they passed by, the backside of the banner revealed a mirror image of the front. Evelyn turned to face Jim. “Did you do that? Was that part of the preparations you were telling me about?” 

Jim nodded. “It was my idea, but I needed some help to execute that part of the plan.”

“I love it.”

“Everyone chipped in to help in some way,” Mrs Collins spoke. “Us, Jim’s parents, all of your friends, we all gathered to make sure your return was as memorable as possible.”

A wide smile spread across Evelyn’s face. “You may consider your goal met.”

Jim nodded in acceptance, and silence occupied the car ride all the way home for Evelyn to savor the moment. Even Jim’s mind kept silent, bearing no thoughts, or at least not concentrating on a single thought long enough to be considered a full thought. 

When they arrived home, they found the neighborhood empty. The cars remained in their respective driveways, but it lacked the usual giggles of playing children and the swishing of hoops. Jim imagined that, to an outsider, it may appear as if no one has lived in these homes for years. Jim just wondered if Evelyn even noticed. She made no hint that she did. 

Mr. Collins drove past his driveway.

“Where are we going?” Evelyn questioned. “We just passed home.” 

“We just need to make one quick stop first,” her father answered. “Your mother and I wanted to show you something that we thought you might enjoy. It won’t take long.” He parked in front of the Community and Arts Center.

Evelyn looked dazedly at the building. “But I’ve already seen everything here. Multiple times. The newest art exhibit has been open for months.”  

While Evelyn questioned the destination, her father and Jim exited the car. Moments later, Jim opened Evelyn’s door, offering his hand. “Come, see for yourself.” Evelyn grabbed his hand and Jim pulled her out of the vehicle. The four all met up in front of the vehicle and as a group marched up the stairs leading to the entrance of the Center. Finial marble busts rested on the posts at the end of each of the brick banisters, representing the first mayor of the town. 

The four walked into an empty lobby. They found the ticket booth unoccupied and all the lights switched off, an unusual sight for an early afternoon weekday. “That’s strange. They said someone would be here to meet us,” Mrs. Collins said.

Jim saw Evelyn look at him and smile, even withhold a light chuckle. 

They walked through the doors leading to the large display room beyond the lobby, to pitch black darkness. And the moment they shut the doors behind them, the lights flickered on to reveal what looked like the whole town waiting for them. “Surprise!” they all said. 

Evelyn jumped, pressing a hand to her chest. Her reaction seemed genuine, though Jim knew she had suspected something.  He did realize, however, that she may not have expected something quite so overwhelming. “Wow!” Evelyn replied. “I don’t know what to say!” 

“Don’t say anything yet,” Jim told her. “This isn’t what we wanted to show you. Come.” Jim grabbed her hand again and led her past the crowd. Evelyn nodded to her friends along the way. At the other end of the room, a single older man stood waiting. Behind him hung posters presenting numerous pictures. Each picture illustrated different images of people, the figures crafted with glass in a cylindrical shape. 

“I am Patrick Campbell,” the man introduced himself. “I am an artist, and I made all of these glass candle holders you see in the pictures behind me. These are all people who have experienced the same suffering as you, Evelyn Collins.

“I travel around the country chasing stories such as your own, meeting individuals who have been harassed, r***d, or who have experienced any other kind of assault, s****l or physical. My goal is to raise awareness to the nation of this growing problem and to hopefully ignite a movement against it.”

“Wow,” was all Evelyn could say. After a short pause she continued. “So all of these women have been r***d?”

“Not all of them. But most of them have been, yes.”

“They are so beautiful. You made all these?” 

Patrick nodded, while already reaching into his bag. “Including this one.” He handed another candle holder to Evelyn. It displayed similar glasswork art as the others, except this time had an illustration of Evelyn. 

Evelyn said nothing. Tears fell down her face rapidly. She grabbed the candle holder and hugged the artist, then she turned around and hugged Jim. Eventually, she managed to let out a muffled “thank you” to them both.