Twisted Thursday Presents: Jaded, Part 5 (By Saria Monette)

 

Jade opened her eyes to a blur of unfamiliar surroundings and bright fluorescent lights above her head. Her breathing was swift and heavy and she had a throbbing pain all over. She nearly panicked before Melvin, Elise and Richard came into focus at her bedside.

“What’s going on?” Jade asked through tears. “Where am I?”

“Baby, you’re in the hospital,” Melvin answered, wishing he could cradle Jade in his arms and gently rock her pain away. “You were in a car accident. We got here as soon as we could.”

“But you were just holding me. We were just at the house crying together on the floor. You were just telling me everything would be okay.” Jade’s panic returned in full force, infused with confusion.

“You were heavily sedated and must have been having a bad dream. You’ve been kicking, fighting and crying in your sleep for the past 20 minutes,” Elise said, brushing Jade’s hair back with her hand.

“How bad was it? The accident?” Jade questioned.

“You’ll be fine … you just fractured a rib and broke your left arm,” Melvin answered.

“The car, on the other hand, is probably on it’s way to Audi heaven,” Elise said, hoping a little humor would ease Jade’s pain even slightly.

“Oh, my God, what did I do? Anybody else hurt?”

“No, they said it looked like maybe a hit and run. But Jade, the paramedics said you kept screaming something about a rape and someone coming after you. Did somebody hurt you, baby? Please, tell me if someone hurt you,” Melvin urged as he rubbed Jade’s shoulder.

Things slowly began to come to Jade’s memory. I was trying to get to Melvin. Rico hurt me and I was trying to get to Melvin. I never made it to Melvin.

Jade broke into a loud sob that crescendoed into a frantic scream and caused Melvin, Elise and Richard to jump. The three quickly regained their composure, but stood confused — all except Elise. She was the only one who knew where Jade had been, and had an idea of what may have happened to her. I told her to leave him alone. Now look what he’s done, Elise thought. The pain she felt for her friend was slowly morphing into rage.

Melvin tried to calm Jade — alternating between kissing her forehead, rubbing her shoulders, rubbing her head, squeezing her hand. What in the world could have happened that was so traumatic? The mystery was frustrating him.

After Jade’s screams faded into a silent cry, Melvin quizzed again, “Baby girl, you’ve gotta tell me what happened. Were you raped?”

“Yes … I …” Jade began, still crying uncontrollably. “Baby, it hurts so much … I’m so sorry …”

“Sorry for what? It’s not your fault,” a tearful Melvin said, the anger building with each passing second. “Do you know the person who did this to you, Jade?”

Jade wept louder. She didn’t know what was hurting her more – her bruised and broken body, Rico’s betrayal, or seeing the pain on her fiance’s face. It was all too much to handle. How can I tell him I was raped by someone I know; someone I thought loved me?

Elise paced back and forth across the room – from the door to the window. She’d made Richard sit down; his futile attempts at comforting her just made her that much more frustrated and uncomfortable. You’ve gotta tell him. Just tell him, Jade, Elise thought, attempting to mentally persuade her friend.

“Jade, please tell me. Just tell me who did this to you! Tell me! Was it Rico?” Melvin pushed, unaware he was now yelling.

A passing nurse heard the commotion and barged into Jade’s room.

“What seems to be the problem here?” the nurse asked, walking over to Jade’s side.

No one answered. Elise continued to pace and bite her bottom lip. Melvin wiped his tears with the palms of both hands before standing eerily still at the foot of the bed and staring at Jade.

“She is under lots of stress as it is right now,” the pale, petite nurse continued as she straightened Jade’s bed covers. “She doesn’t need the yelling. It must stop or I will have to ask you all to leave.”

“Has she had a rape kit done?” a calmer Melvin asked the nurse.

“Not that I’m aware of, sir. She has to give her consent before an exam can be performed.”

“Tell her you want them to perform a rape exam, Jade,” Melvin said, his voice deep and cold.

“No, Melvin, I don’t want to go through that.” Jade’s voice cracked as she tried to force herself to stop crying.

“So, you know who did this and you’re protecting him? Please, tell me that is not what you’re doing, Jade. Tell me you just …”

Elise couldn’t take the charade anymore and before she knew it she was yelling, too. “Just tell him, Jade. Tell him the bastard is crazy. Tell him it was Rico who hurt you! Tell him it was Rico who was after you! Can’t you see how much he’s hurting, Jade? Just tell him …”

The nurse tried to talk over Elise to allay the situation. Unsuccessful, she gave up and dismissed herself from the room.

Jade was stunned by Elise’s outburst. How could she?

“Will somebody please tell me who Rico is? Please!” Melvin yelled. “Just tell me who he is and why would he hurt …” Melvin, suddenly overcome by his emotions, couldn’t finish his sentence. He flopped down onto the end of the bed and let the tears flow freely down his cheeks. Silence fell upon the room, interrupted only by the occasional sniffle.

***

 

The receptionist looked up from the book she was reading behind the desk in the emergency room lobby. A tall man who appeared homeless stood before her. He looked like he’d been walking for miles. His clothes were tattered and soaked with sweat.

“Can I help you?” the receptionist asked, seemingly disgusted and slightly annoyed.

“I’m looking for a patient. She was brought in a few hours ago. She was in a car accident.”

“We don’t usually do visitation at this hour. You family?”

“Yes … she’s my sister,” the man replied after a short pause.

“What’s your sister’s name, sir?”
“Jade … Jade Marie Jones.”

 

The receptionist keyed the name into her computer.

“Says she’s still in emergency. They haven’t put her into a permanent room yet. Let me call and find out exactly where she is,” the receptionist told the man.

She picked up the phone and dialed three digits. The man was growing anxious. Before long the receptionist had the information she needed. She jotted the room number down on a sticky note and handed it to the man.

“Just go down the hall to the left and follow the signs to …” The man didn’t wait for her to finish giving him directions.

***

 

Elise sat in the uncomfortable hospital chair, staring out the room window. Richard had fallen asleep in the chair in the far corner. Jade still lay in shock, and Melvin had finally calmed himself enough to speak again.

“Ok, I’m gonna ask one more time, and somebody better tell me, who the hell is Rico?”

Before the words could roll completely off his tongue the door to Jade’s room swung open.

Melvin sprang into a stand. Elise froze with her mouth gaping, and Jade shuddered in fear, wishing the bed would swallow her.

The man standing in the doorway spoke.

“I am … I’m Rico.”