Hannah
“Ok Hannah, I’m going to let you go home today,” the doctor told me. “I’ll send you with some pain medication, but if your pain gets worse or something doesn’t feel right, come back. Ok?”
“Ok.”
The doctor handed Bradley my discharge papers. A close family friend of his was a social worker and he somehow convinced her to let me stay with him.
I was nervous to be so close to Dad, but it was the best option.
Honestly, I didn’t want to leave the hospital at all. The minute I leave, I will be accessible to Dad and his friends. In here, I’m safe. They can’t get to me here.
But the doctor said I had to go home. I could just say I felt worse, but something told me that wouldn’t work.
A nurse came in and took off all the wires and tubes connected to me. She smiled at me and left.
Bradley handed me a set of clothes and I went to the bathroom to change.
The clothes were clearly Bradley’s. The shirt fit like a dress and I had to pull the drawstrings on the sweatpants as tight as they’d go so they’d fit.
My nerves set in as I looked in the mirror. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want Bradley to die.
I was trapped in the mirror, looking at a scared little girl. A girl who was just a shell of what she used to be. What she could have been.
“Hannah?”
I stared into other me’s eyes.
“Hannah? Are you ok?”
Bradley sounded worried so I pulled myself away from the mirror and opened the door to the bathroom.
“What’s wrong?” Bradley asked. His hand reached out to touch my cheek.
I shrugged my shoulders, welcoming the pain that came with the motion.
“Hannah,” Bradley sighed, cupping my cheek with his hand.
I looked down and fiddled with the hem of my shirt. His shirt.
“I don’t want to go,” I mumbled.
“Why? Are you still hurting badly?” Bradley asked, concerned.
“No. I just don’t want to go.”
Bradley pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me. I returned the gesture, clinging onto him like he was my lifeline.
“It will be ok. I promise.”
I shook my head as tears came to my eyes.
“The police will keep you safe. So will I.”
“No they won’t,” I whispered.
“What?” Bradley pulled back to look at me.
“They are with my dad. They help him.”
More tears came and I just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide away for the rest of eternity.
“What do you mean?”
“My dad used to be a police officer. The officers that came yesterday are his friends. They already knew about this and they help him.”
Bradley’s grip on me tightened. I could tell he was getting angry and I whimpered pathetically. I couldn’t help it.
Bradley pulled back and brushed a thumb over my cheek.
“Let’s go home,” Bradley said. “I know people that can help.”
I shook my head and began to cry historically. “No! He’ll kill you!”
Bradley held my face in his hands and looked me in the eye.
“He won’t. I won’t let him.”
“He’s strong!” I exclaimed. Bradley wouldn’t be able to win.
“I’m stronger.”
I collapsed into Bradley’s chest and clung onto him. He held me with as much power and we stood there like that for several minutes.
“We can’t hide away forever,” Bradley said to me when my sobs had calmed to sniffles. “but I promise you that I won’t die. And neither will you.”
I had no choice but to trust and believe Bradley. He hadn’t lied to me yet and he was right. We couldn’t hide away here forever.
I took a deep breath and took a step back from Bradley. His t-shirt was soaked with my tears and I immediately felt bad.
I was about to apologize but Bradley gave me a look, knowing what I was about to do and telling me not to. He took my hand and we walked out of the hospital room.
My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest and I thought I would be sick to my stomach, but I made it out of the hospital and into Bradley’s car.
“If you had this the whole time, why do we always have to ride the motorcycle?” I asked. He knew I hated that thing.
“I only use this when I have to. I prefer my bike.”
I nodded and got in the passenger seat. Bradley had opened the door for me, and once I was in, he closed it. It was like he was my chauffeur. The thought made me giggle.
Bradley got in on his side and started the drive home.
The closer we got, the more nervous I got. A bead of sweat formed on my forehead and my fists were clenched tightly.
Keeping his eyes on the road, Bradley reached over and rubbed soothing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb. His touch took my mind off of my fears and I found myself calming down. My fists opened and I felt my body physically relax.
I barely noticed when Bradley pulled into his garage and parked the car. He got out and opened my door for me. Taking my hand, he led me into the house.
“Is your dad ok with me staying here?” I asked quietly.
“Yeah, he’s cool with it.”
Bradley chuckled and my cheeks felt warm.
Bradley led me upstairs and to a bedroom. It was tastefully decorated in gray and cream. There was a huge bed in the middle and two doors. I assumed they led to a bathroom and closet.
“Why don’t you relax for a bit,” Bradley offered. “Maybe take a nap or a shower or something. I have to make some calls.”
“Ok.”
Bradley smiled at me and squeezed my hand once more before leaving me in the room.
I decided a shower would be nice after a few days in the hospital and went to the door that went to the bathroom. It was also very nice with a huge shower.
I turned the water to hot and stepped in. I sighed as the water ran over me, washing away the events of the past few days.
I found some shampoo and poured some into my hand. It smelled like vanilla.
I washed and conditioned my hair and washed my body. I felt so much better.
Turning the water off, I grabbed a nice fluffy towel and dried myself off.
When I went back into the bedroom to change back into Bradley’s clothes, I found that they were gone, replaced with a new set.
I smiled and put on the shirt, boxers, and sweatpants, blushing at the fact that I was wearing all of Bradley’s clothes.
Once I was dressed, the tiredness hit and I crawled into the big bed. Letting the covers swallow me whole, I snuggled in and fell asleep.
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