The night was rough. I couldn't stop tossing and turning thinking something was wrong. I called one of the nurses and she gave me some meds to fall back asleep. It was just a mess. I had a breakfast "smoothie" and it was chunky but it wasn't too bad. After I had breakfast they asked me to use the bathroom on my own. Sounded silly at the time but I knew why it had importance. After the put me through the whole " seeing if the patient can function " test I just laid in the bed. It felt like a few minutes before I heard a knock
On my door
" Hey can I check on my favorite student?"
I immediately recognized the voice.
" Please! Come in Mrs Adler!" I shouted.
" I brought a quest with me if you don't mind?"
" not at all I'm just happy to even hear your voice"
A few seconds later I hear footsteps and the flimsy curtains draw back. It was Mrs Adler, I tried my best to contain the excitement so I didn't hurt myself. She came on my bed side and gave me a light hug.
" how you doin sweetheart. I figured you were here."
Her quick smile soon turned to upsetting shock
" holy shit what happened to you Luna, your face! Oh my god!"
I slowly remove my sheets to reveal the rest of my damage.
" Oh Luna, what happened girly. You haven't been this bad in a while"
I started to get teary eyed from the tone of her voice.
" We had a test in Callahan's. It was just ten questions and some short answers. It wasn't hard and I passed "
I stopped and started to cry softly, my voice growing shaky-er.
" Troy didn't. He got a 27. He told me before the test that if he failed he was going to need a ' punching bag'. And now you're looking at the punching bag after the fight. He knocked me out in the beginning. But I still felt everything. The next thing I knew I was here and it was a few days later. "
" Oh sweetheart. That's horrible. What got damaged this time if you don't mind me asking " she sounded very concerned.
" surprisingly not too bad. A bruised nose, a fractured jaw, a cracked rib, a slight muscle rupture in my ankle, and a broken big toe. And there's some whip scars on my back that they skipped over"
I moved the back of my gown to show the scars. Her jaw dropped and I heard the gasp.
"I'm absolutely pumped full of meds right now, and it's the only way I can talk."
" Luna. I don't even know what to say" she said somberly
" I'm sorry Adler. I couldn't fight back"
She pulled me in for a hug and I just started to sob into her arms. She held me only the way a mother could hug her sick child. It was warm and comforting.
" it'll be ok honey don't cry."
She started to rub my back softly to calm me down. I moved my head to her shoulder. I sat there with my eyes closed and bawling. It was so stress relieving to cry it all out. After a few minutes I wiped my eyes and looked around. As I peered my eyes around the room I say a tall man behind Adler and realized who it was immediately. I pulled away from the hug gently
" Oh Mr Calix! I'm sorry you had to witness all that. Sorry that was embarrassing "
I gave a half hearted chuckle and finished wiping the tears away.
He just say there red in the face. Mrs Adler had looked like she forget he was there too.
" oh shit that's right. I brought him here on purpose Luna. He was worried and I thought he should see why I asked to do all what I asked of and why we have our agreement. The whole situation, ya dig?"
I shook my head. It was nice to see that he cared. I still wish he didn't have to see my like this. After a few seconds of silence, Calix pulled up the shitty hospital chair and sat next to us by the bed. He began to speak
" You know in the beginning I thought this was all just crazy. The whole lunch and money thing. But I see now how serious this is. I thought he was just a shitty boyfriend, not a psycho path. How did he get away with this"
His voice was deep yet soothing. He started to run his hands through his hair.
" Troy drove me here. He told the doctors that there was a robbery while I was at home. In self defense I tried to stop the man but I wasn't strong enough. He came home and I was unconscious."
I felt defeated and alone. But having someone people to talk to you was nice.
" That's crazy Luna. I'm so sorry that this had to happen. This may come across strange but can I see your back again?"
His question surpiesed me but I went a long.
" Why does it say ' Marshal's bitch' ?"
" Troy's last name is marshal. He marked me a while back for misbehaving and coming home late "
Calix was in total shock, I could see tears in his eyes.
" it's healed now. And I'm waiting from the release papers and the meds. I was going to text Troy afterwards so he can pick me up. "
Adler looked better but saddened by the fact I was leaving the hospital. Calix's face went from depressed to anger.
" How the hell are you going to go back with him! Don't you have family or somewhere else to stay!"
" I'm an orphan, and I'm the one who pays rent. So if I don't go back I loose a place to stay and gain the worse target on my back."
Calix just went blank, it was like all of his emotions just stopped
" I didn't know you were an orphan. I'm sorry "
" it's all good Calix. Ive been used to that for a while now."
As I finished that sentence we heard a knock at the door. It was doctor shore coming in.
" Looks like your essential functions are back to normal. I'm prescribing you with a month's worth of painkillers, once a day; everyday for the next month and then we'll lower the dosage after that. This is your discharge paper. You can either stay for another day or leave. It's all up to you."
" I'll sign them" I took the paper in his hands and then the pen and sign my names at the bottom.
" thank you ma'am. I hope you recover well. Have a great day"
I shock my head and smiled. Both Adler and Calix had gotten up and talked to each other after I signed the papers. The quickly got back to where they were sitting. Adler began to speak.
" I'll take ya home Luna. And if Troy asks anything just say it was me and I'll take the blame"
I hugged her and agreed silently. They excused myself as I got dressed in the clothes the hospital found me in, all torn up and bloody; and put my phone in my pocket. I undid the curtain and met with them in the hall. Calix shook his head and sighed. He quickly took off his jacket and grew it around my shoulders to cover me up. His jacket was warm and smelled sweet. I took my phone back out and texted Troy to tell him that he doesn't need to pick me up and that I got a ride. He asked who it was and I told him it was Mrs Adler and sent a picture of her walking next to me.
" I'll let this slide because I'm watching a football game right now and I don't want to move. Thank her for me and tell her I was busy"
" ok Troy. Thank you"
I turned back to the both of them and shook my head yes. They looked at each other and smiled. I walked to the front desk and left my room number with the women manding the desk. We got to Adler's car and got in. Her car smelt like a tropical beach. So much better than Troy's. The windows were working, the radio sounded incredible. It felt like a luxury.
" You wanna listen to music Luna?"
" Sure! Can we play some of my playlist ?"
" yeah just pass it up. "
Adler plugged my phone into the aux and my music started to play. I prefer the 90's to early 2000's with some heavy stuff in between. The first song that was played was Island in the sun by Weezer. As soon as it started we were on our way.
" Oh my god I love this song!"
I started to bop my head and sing but the pain was a lot. Adler tapped her hands on the steering wheel and sang to the chorus. Calix just smiled and laughed as we jammed along
" I would have never guessed that you two liked this. I used to listen to this when I was in high school. "
" It's my favorite type of music. I listen when I can"
Calix just nodded and looked through the windshield. Our ride felt much shorter than the 45 minutes it was supposed to be. As we turned the corner to my apartment my happy mood dropped and a sense of dread filled my body. I wanted the car to drive past but I could feel the tires slow down.
" Well Luna, we're here. Stay safe and if you need anything email us ok?"
" I will. Thanks for driving me and that's for the company you guys. See you in school soon Calix"
" stay safe Luna."
Calix's voice sounded so kind. It made me smile on my way out. I made to give Calix his jacket back so Troy couldn't say anything. I closed the door and started to walk. I turned and waved them goodbye. Her car started to drive away and I knocked on the door and Troy let me in. He didn't look happy, he was silent and pushed me in. I prayed for a miracle as he closed the door