Trauma
1535 Words
Soraya tried to chase after him who was getting further and further away. She didn't know why her legs were moving like that. She felt very scared, but more than that, Soraya wanted to know what she was doing here.
"Mr Stanley, wait!" She call Robert Stanley.
Hearing someone call out to him, Robert Stanley stopped walking. He looked back, as if he already knew who was calling and chasing him.
"Chamberlain? What's wrong?" He asked expressionlessly.
"Th-that, what are you doing here, Sir?" She asked nervously. Soraya didn't know why she asked that in a situation like this.
"Me? Just like you, I want to see what happens!"
"I-Is that so? A-alright, sorry to bother you, sir! I-"
"I've finished your painting! Come to my house this Saturday, I'll show you!"
"W-what? M-my painting?"
"Yes!" His answer short.
Soraya did not know what to say, she was very surprised because suddenly Robert invited her to come to his house. Soraya is not sure to accept Stanley's invitation because the current situation does not allow her to accept his invitation.
"How is it? Why did he suddenly invite me over? I shouldn't have called him earlier. What should I do?" She thought. Soraya lowered her head. She could not lift her face and look this man in the eye.
"Are you okay? Want me to take you to the doctor? Looks like you're sick!"
"N-no, I-" Soraya felt very dizzy. Her eyes blurred. She had endured the pain all over her body since last night and it seemed she couldn't take it anymore.
Soraya nearly collapsed, her body shaking. Robert quickly grabbed her shoulders, so she wouldn't fall.
"Follow me to the hospital!" He said as he grabbed Soraya's hand and forced her to come along.
Soraya didn't want to go, but she was too sick to refuse. David, James and Kimberly don't seem to know that she left the crowd to chase Robert Stanley. Soraya had no choice, but to let Robert take her to the place where his car was parked.
Robert opened the car door and let Soraya in. Hesitantly Soraya got into the car while holding back her fear and confusion. When Robert got in and started his car engine, that's when Soraya realized that she might be in danger.
Robert Stanley drove his car away from the dorm and university area. In his very clean car, Soraya felt awkward and wanted to cry.
Robert didn't say a word to break the silence, his eyes focused on the street. Beside him, Soraya tried to steal glances. It is undeniable that Soraya really likes Robert and admires him more than anything. But right now, she was stuck in the middle of a condition that made her couldn't help but have great suspicion and concern for this figure.
"Sir, may I ask you something?" Soraya asked. As before, it was Soraya who had to start the conversation first.
"Yes?"
"Do you know the rumors that have been circulating the past few weeks? Rumors about you!"
"Yes I know!"
"Re-really?"
"Yes!" His answer was short without overreaction. He was very calm and it just felt very strange.
"Aren't you angry?"
"Angry for what?"
"A website was created to write articles about you and all the rumors going around. Almost everyone on campus is talking about this and they start talking bad things about you!"
"Oh, I see?"
"I believe in you, Sir!"
"Hmm?"
"I believe that you are not what the article says! I believe that you-"
"Why do you believe?"
"I-it's because of me-"
"Because of what?" Ask Robert. His tone grew colder and that made Soraya feel even more scared.
"N-no, I just thought that you are not that kind of person. You are a good person that's why I don't believe it."
"Is that true?"
"Yes of course!"
"You have no good reason to believe it, do you?"
"The first time I saw your painting was two years ago when I came to London to see a painting exhibition. I saw a painting that made me feel very warm. A painting that made me think that the person who painted it was a very loving and hearted person at that time, my teacher said that painting is the soul of the painter. We can read the feelings of a painter from his paintings. Since then, I have decided to follow your footsteps as a painter while hoping that one day I can meet you!" Soraya's eyes filled with tears. She recalled the memory of the first time she felt so in love with a painting.
Hearing Soraya's confession, Robert did not show any reaction. He just kept quiet and kept his car through the highway.
"Come Saturday, I'll make dinner for you!" said Robert. His tone changed to a little warmer.
"Yes, I will come!"
***
"Were you attacked by someone? You can tell me, Miss! It's okay, I'll keep it a secret if you don't want to tell anyone!" Doctor said.
Soraya still insisted on not telling her what really happened. She was afraid that the doctor would call the police if he found out that part of his patient was a r**e victim.
"I had a fight with a friend! But I'm fine, Doctor!"
"All right, Miss Chamberlain! I'm going to write you a prescription and you have to take the medicine and take it regularly until you feel better. But I hope, you are willing to be hospitalized for a few days!"
"Thank you, Doctor! But I'm fine, excuse me!" She said as she left the examination room with the doctor.
At the front of the room, Robert Stanley stood and waited quietly. The doctor approached him, thinking their language was as closely related as that of lovers or relatives.
"Miss Chamberlain has several wounds and bruises on her body as a result of the violence. I hope you can persuade her to receive treatment at the hospital!"
"Do-doctor-" Soraya panicked as the doctor seemed to be trying to persuade Robert Stanley to persuade her.
"Okay, I'll try to persuade her later! Thank you, Doctor!"
"You're welcome!"
Soraya and Robert stepped away through the hospital corridor. Soraya felt very uneasy, she was afraid that Robert would tell her friends about this.
When they got back to the car, Soraya was still stuck in a dilemma. She knew that she should have received medical treatment for her injuries. Especially dealing with the trauma and panic attacks she has experienced since the incident.
In the car, Soraya couldn't stop thinking about what happened to her last night and where did Josh go when she was unconscious?
Soraya was crying, even though she was trying to hold back her tears from spilling out at an inopportune time like this. But she couldn't hold back the pain, she was broken and she desperately needed someone to understand her. By now, her close friend had disappeared and Soraya thought she had no chance to think about herself.
Seeing Soraya crying without a word, Robert immediately pulled over and stopped the car. He didn't know what to do to make this girl stop crying.
"Just tell me if you want to! There's no need to hide it if it makes you suffer!" He said. Soraya was touched, she lifted her face and looked at the face of Robert Stanley who was sitting beside her.
"I was r***d by a man yesterday and now, I don't know what to do!" The words just came out of her mouth. The sentence of despair.
"Who did it?" Asked Robert coldly. Soraya cried and she felt very angry every time that face appeared in her head.
"Joshua Peterson, he's my roommate's boyriend! What should I do? I'm so scared, I can't tell anyone about this. People will, they will definitely stay away from me. I don't want my parents to know, I- " Her tears were getting heavier. Soraya sobbed. All the anger, pain and disappointment that she had been hiding all this time just came out.
She didn't know why she had to tell this matter to Robert, someone who should be the one who didn't need to know about the problem.
Robert took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He pulled out a piece of tissue in the box and pleased the tears that rolled down Soraya's cheeks.
"What do you want me to do?" He asked. Soraya stopped crying and looked into his eyes.
"I just want you to listen to me, that's all! I'm sorry if this bothers you so much. I really don't know who to tell. I don't want to burden other people with my problems!"
"I see! You can tell me anything, I won't tell anyone if you really want to keep it a secret. But, remember one thing! You can't live with this fear and trauma forever. If you want me to do something for you, just tell me!"
Even though his words sounded cold, for some reason, Soraya felt warmth fill her soul. It was the exact same feeling she had when she first saw Robert Stanley's painting.
"Thank you, I'm grateful you're here!"
"Yes, it is okay!"
***
- Writer
