It Was Horrible
1223 Words
The next morning, when Júlia woke up, she was greeted with a tight hug from her friend Jade. The gesture immediately made her feel more welcomed and a little safer. After freshening up and putting on some of Jade’s clothes since she no longer had any of her own, Júlia went downstairs while Jade was still getting ready.
In the living room, she found Heitor, who approached her as soon as he saw her.
“How are you?”
“I can’t even explain how I feel, but… I know I’m not well,” she replied.
Heitor stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her, offering the comfort he knew she needed. Júlia sighed and leaned deeper into his embrace, appreciating his intoxicating scent. Her skin tingled, and a small shiver ran through her body.
Heitor noticed her reaction but said nothing. He simply continued holding her, quietly appreciating her presence.
“Thank you for everything, Heitor.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Júlia. You’re family. I feel obliged to take care of you.”
“And I feel obliged to thank you. You have no idea how important your support, and Jade’s, has been to me.”
Her voice trembled as tears threatened to surface again. Noticing this, Heitor gently pulled her back, cupped her face in his hands, and spoke softly.
“Júlia, don’t cry anymore. You’re safe here. Everything will be fine. I’ll try to resolve everything, starting with that scoundrel. This morning we’re going to the police station, okay? You need to file a complaint against that bastard.”
“Alright,” she said, staring deeply into his eyes.
Being near him made her momentarily forget everything else. Her hands trembled slightly, her palms sweaty as her tongue slid nervously across her lips. He watched her for a moment before smiling.
“Just reminding you—you can’t kiss me anymore,” he joked.
Embarrassed, Júlia quickly stepped back.
“But I wasn’t… I wasn’t going to kiss you! I was just paying attention to what you were saying.”
He laughed softly.
“Just reminding you. Anyway, breakfast is on the table. Shall we?”
“But what about Jade?” she asked.
“Is she ready?”
“No, she’s still getting ready.”
“Then it’ll take a while. She always takes forever.”
Júlia laughed, and together they walked to the dining room where they sat down to eat, though she was still slightly embarrassed about what had happened moments earlier.
At the police station, Júlia found herself sitting in a room with the chief and a clerk. She recounted everything that had happened, sometimes struggling to find the words as the memories of those dreadful events overwhelmed her.
The chief was visibly outraged by the situation and promised they would do everything possible to resolve the case quickly.
Still shaken, Júlia left the room and reunited with Heitor and Jade. The moment Jade saw her friend, she rushed forward and hugged her.
“So, friend?”
“I told them everything. Now I need to go to the Institute of Legal Medicine for the forensic examination so they can file the assault complaint. But the other charges have already been registered, and they’re going to start looking for him.”
“Dad, could you go with her?” Jade asked. “I can’t. I have an exam at college today.”
Jade studied in the afternoon, and it was already past eleven in the morning.
“Don’t worry, dear,” Heitor replied. “I’ll stay with her.”
When they arrived at the Institute of Legal Medicine, Heitor accompanied Júlia to the reception desk. She explained why she was there and handed the attendant the referral given to her at the police station.
“It’s empty right now. You can come with me,” the woman said.
“May I accompany her?” Heitor asked.
“No. You can’t enter the examination room with her. Don’t worry. I know you must be concerned about your girlfriend, but the exam is quick.”
Both of them immediately looked embarrassed.
“No, we’re not a couple,” Heitor clarified. “She’s my daughter’s friend. I’m just accompanying her.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t check the referral information properly.”
The woman finally looked at the document and realized that Júlia was there to prove the assault inflicted by her ex-boyfriend.
“I’m really sorry,” she added softly, glancing at Júlia.
Júlia said nothing. She simply lowered her head, embarrassed to be going through such a situation.
“I’ll wait for you here, Júlia,” Heitor said, gently squeezing her shoulder to reassure her.
Júlia followed the woman into the examination room. The medical examiner was sitting at his desk in front of a computer and stood up when they entered.
“She’s here for a forensic examination,” the woman said.
“Alright.”
She then left, closing the door behind her.
“Before we start the physical examination, I’ll need to ask you some questions,” the examiner explained.
Júlia nodded and sat in the chair he indicated.
By the time she finished answering the questions, tears were streaming down her face—something that would also be recorded in the report as evidence of the psychological impact of the assault.
“Could you please take off your jacket?” the man asked.
Júlia hesitated.
“Do I have to take off all my clothes?”
“Miss, don’t worry. I’m completely professional, alright? It depends on where the marks are on your body.”
“All over my body,” she replied quietly.
The bastard had assaulted her with slaps, punches, and kicks.
“Then I’ll need you to remove as much clothing as possible. I know it’s painful to see and show these marks. You’re probably trying to hide them from yourself and from others, but documenting them is necessary to put this criminal behind bars.”
Júlia nodded, slightly calmer. Slowly, she began to undress. In the end, she remained only in her bra and the small shorts she had worn under her dress.
The examiner conducted the inspection carefully. Seeing how uncomfortable she was, he avoided touching her whenever possible and examined most of the injuries visually.
There were many.
“That’s enough. You can get dressed.”
After the examination, Júlia walked down the corridor toward the reception, feeling humiliated.
The only man who had ever seen her in her underwear before was her ex. Because of him, she had now been forced to expose herself to a stranger.
Even though she knew it was necessary, the experience had been deeply uncomfortable.
“How was it?” Heitor asked as soon as he saw her.
The tears in her eyes answered the question.
He pulled her into a hug.
“It was horrible,” she whispered. “I had to stay in just my underwear.”
“It’s over now, Ju. Everything will be alright.”
“Heitor… I just want to get out of here.”
“Okay. I’ll just check when the report will be ready, alright?”
She nodded.
Heitor went to the counter, where the same attendant gave him the necessary information. Moments later, they finally left that place behind.
- Writer
