Twisted Choice

Marked

'You look happy, Glad to see Mr. Handsome has managed to put a smile on your face after everything.' She states whilst doing my obs.

'How are you feeling?' She asks, back to business as usual.

'I'm okay, eager to see how I'm healing as I really want to get out of here.'

'My company not as good as James' aye?' She giggles, knowing that's not at all what I meant.

'Right then, let's get these bandages off and see how we're healing.' As she unwraps the bandages, I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. This is the first time I'll be seeing the cuts as before I didn't want to see, however now I'm ready. Jessica has brought a mirror to ensure I can get the best view possible. She knows how important this is to me. The first bandage is finally off. She checks my stitches, cleaning the wound with warm cotton wool as she goes. Its not as painful as I thought it was going to be, its actually quite nice to have the pressure of the bandages off of them. The second leg is now free of all its bandages, and Jessica cleans the stitches before moving on to my shoulder. This is apparently the worst of the three. She removes the dressings, but as she does, I can tell something isn't sitting right with her.

'What is it? Is everything okay?' Silence follows. What could be so bad that it silences Jessica? She's the chattiest nurse here.

She tries to recompose herself, but it's too late, im already terrified of what she's going to tell me. What was under that dressing an infection? I know it's a stab wound, so why is Jessica so taken aback?

She cleans the wound quickly and quietly, never meeting my gaze, trying desperately to avoid the impending questions she knows I'm going to ask.

'There all done, you don't need anymore dressing now they seem to of healed really well. If any of the wounds start to weep at any point, just come back to us, and we will check for infection and potentially redress them. Remember, keep the stitches clean, try not to use soaps, and they should have completely dissolved within the month.' She rambles on, looking anywhere other than at me.

She turns to leave, but I quickly grasp her wrist, forcing her to acknowledge me now.

She meets my pleading eyes, hers begging me not to ask.

'Lucy I...'

'The mirror Jessica, I want to see.' I cut her off, gesturing to the mirror, still sat on the side. I think Jessica must have forgotten about it, as her eyes widen in realisation that she's supposed to be showing me my wounds.

'Please. Jessica, I want to see,' I repeat my voice calm and steady.

She finally accepts defeat and lets out a deep breath I didn't realise she had been holding. I release her wrist as she moves toward the mirror, bringing it toward me with a nervous look across her face. She'd be no good at poker, that's for sure.

'Lift your legs one at a time, and I will show you the stitches in your thighs.' I do as she asks, seeing the cuts in my thighs makes me mad. They're just straight stab wounds as if he had just punctured my leg in and out, not to cause damage but to cause pain.

'Now my shoulder,' I exclaim, determined to see what she saw. Her eyes have been locked on mine this entire time, assessing my every facial expression as I see the work of my attacker. Jessica sighs but does as requested, moving the mirror in line with the one on the wall so I can see clearly.

I don't see what she sees is just a cut, sort of in the shape of an X big and red, but nothing that I can see to make me gasp or become fearful. It doesn't look infected. It actually looks to be healing really well. I examine the mark for what seems like forever. Well, I have no idea. Jessica must have seen something!?.

'What's wrong with it?' I ask, turning to Jessica, her eyes searching mine.

'You don't know, do you?' She says finally.

'Know what?' I ask, becoming irritated now.

'You've been marked.'

'Marked? Marked for what?' I ask genuinely confused.

Jessica hesitates, realising I have no idea what she's talking about.

'Im not the right person to be telling you any of this. You're better off asking the police. This is what they're here for, to protect you, to answer any questions you have about your attack. Im just your nurse, here to get you fit healthy and get you back on your feet." She states matter of fact.

'Please, Jessica. I know you know, I trust you more than anyone else in this place, ans I trust you a hell of alot more than those coppers, they haven't even a clue where to start looking for my attacker let alone actually catching them.' I say practically begging her for some answers now.

She stares at me for a moment, seemingly deciding what to do next. whether to answer me or avoid me. But she can't avoid me, she shouldn't have gasped, it she didn't want to be the one to deliver the news.

She releases a sigh and sits down in the chair closest to the bed, gesturing for me to sit too. I do, I'm ready for the information I am about to receive, or am I?

'It's a mark, one left by a certain group. I don't know who they are, exactly, but I know they deal in some nasty stuff, stuff you don't want to be anywhere near.' She starts to explain her voice low.

'What kind of stuff? Drugs? Worse?' her eyes were fixed on mine, trying desperately to tell me without having to speak the words. Her expression, dripping with sympathy and fear. Fear for me, for what lies in store for me once I leave the safety of this hospital. In that expression, I knew I knew what they dealt in.

'S*x, they deal in s*x', I repeat matter of fact, this is what he did to me! I hated this man, I am more determined than ever. I'm going to find him and make him pay.

'But I don't understand, why not just take me that night, traffic me off or whatever it is they do?' I ask more annoyed than I intend to sound, especially with Jessica none of this is her fault.

'I don't really know. All i know is we had a girl in here already a few months back, terrified out of her wits, wouldn't speak to anyone. When she finally spoke, she begged us to remove the mark and said if we didn't, she would never be free, that she would have escaped for nothing.' Jessica explained brows furrowed deep in thought as she staired at the floor.

'What happened to her?' I ask quietly, realising so much of me didn't want to know the truth.

'She killed herself, we told her we couldn't remove the mark straight away, that she would have to come back and visit a cosmetic surgeon, as the scarring was so deep.' She says sorrow, filling her eyes with unshed tears.

'I am so sorry, Jessica'. I say, reaching out to hold her hand.

'Can you do the same for me? Get this mark removed?' I question, trying not to sound too desperate.

'Of course, but Lucy, your wounds haven't even healed yet. There's no way we can touch them until we know there's no risk of infection. And we can fast track you on the cosmetic surgeons list, but it's still going to take weeks.' She rambles fear for me engulfing her like a flame.

'It's okay, I will just keep it covered whilst I wait, I'll not go anywhere alone. I'll stay safe, I promise.' I try to comfort her, but it's just as much for me as for her.