A painful beginning leads to beautiful new possibilities.
*
Author's Note
I spent a little time in the urgent care clinic recently, due to a poorly-timed bout of strep throat. As I'm sitting there in the waiting room, my mind starts turning, generating ideas. By the time I get home, the story starts forming. And, since the steroid medication meant to take the swelling down has the unintended side-effect of keeping me awake all night, I was able to get it all down in one take.
This is another slow-building romance. It's a depressing start, but it gets better, so hang in there. It also takes place a few years from now in a not yet realized, but plausible future. It's not sci-fi or anything, just extrapolating on current trends to come up with a legal twist. I don't want to spoil it, and you'll know when you get there. It's not a major plot point, just something to think about.
I must also warn you that there's no sex in this one. Touching, kissing, cuddling, and romance yes. But given the subject matter that introduces the story, I thought it somewhat tacky to end in a wild romp. Besides, that's what sequels are for, right? So set your sights on slow-building lesbian romance for this one, and you'll feel good in the end.
Enjoy,
Wax Philosophic
*
The events and characters in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
*
Friday Night in the E.R.
I'm sitting in the university hospital emergency room. It's eleven o'clock on Friday night and this is the last place I want to be. I just want to go back to my dorm, take a long hot shower, and try to forget the past twenty-four hours.
"Did you notice anything else that might help us in our investigation?" the detective asks.
"Sorry, it was dark. That's all I can remember."
"That's alright Olivia, you've been through a lot. Once we have the rape kit checked into evidence, that'll give us some good leads. Meanwhile, try to get some rest." She hands me a business card. "If you think of anything, a particular sound, a smell -- anything. Or if you just need to talk. We take these things very seriously."
"Thank you."
The detective offers her hand. "Take care of yourself, Olivia."
The door closes. A few seconds later there is a knock, and a nurse walks in. She looks overworked, not surprising for the night shift in the ER I suppose, but she tries to put on a pleasant face for me. I think she was going for a smile, but it comes out as a sort of concerned grimace. That's OK, I'm not really in the mood for smiling anyway. "I'm Sofia, and I'm going to get you started by taking your vitals. The doctor will be another few minutes. You OK?"
"Olivia," I say, and shrug. "Best as can be expected, I s'pose."
"I'm sorry, Olivia, I know this is tough. We'll get you checked out as quick as we can so you can get back home. You got someone to give you a ride?"
"My roommate. She's in the lobby."
"Good. Let's get you in this gown, and the doctor will see you. You can put your clothes in this bag, OK?"
The door closes and I am alone again with my thoughts.
"I don't know who designs these things," I muse, trying my best to get the hospital gown tied up. It doesn't really matter what I do, it's virtually impossible to not end up hanging out somewhere. "I suppose this isn't the time to worry about modesty," I think, while envisioning the examination that is to come.
There's another knock on the door and two women enter. One is Sofia, who I already know. The other woman introduces herself as Doctor Dwyer. "We'll try to get this over as quickly and as comfortably as we can," she says. "Sofia will be getting DNA samples from your hands and face, I'll be doing the pelvic exam. Do you have any questions before we get started, Olivia?"
"Yeah. I -- I know it's not legal anymore, but -- but is there anything ... I just ... I really don't want to have his baby, you know?"
"Sofia, could you excuse us for a second?" The door closes and I am alone with Doctor Dwyer. "You're right, it is illegal now, but ... well let me just say that as much as we hate to admit it, medical mistakes happen all the time, particularly in fast-pace environments like the ER. We'll take care of you. Just promise not to sue for malpractice, OK? And we never had this conversation."
"Right," I say. "Thank you doctor."
She smiles at me with genuine empathy. There's a knock on the door and Sofia enters. She's busy scraping under my fingernails while Doctor Dwyer has her eyes down below. The pair is very efficient, and I begin to wonder how many others like me they have seen during their careers. The exam finishes up just as the tears start flowing.
"I've got this, Doctor," Sofia says. Doctor Dwyer snaps off her gloves, squeezes my hand and walks out.
Sofia helps me sit up and wraps an arm around my shoulders. She pulls a tissue from the desk, and a business card from her pocket. "I know this is too little, too late," she says, "but my sister teaches self-defense classes at the Capital Club. Give her a call."
"Thanks, but I don't think I can afford it. I'm pretty much your typical broke college student. I do all my workouts at the rec center."
"Hang onto the card anyway. You never know, they might run a special or something." She smiles. It was a tired smile, but genuine.
"Thank you. For everything."
The door closes and again I am alone. I take a moment to collect myself, sigh, and make my way to the lobby.
"Love the scrubs, Olivia," my roommate says, as she puts her arm around my shoulders in a comforting squeeze.
"My clothes are on their way to the crime lab. I'll get 'em back eventually."
"You need something to eat?" she asks. "I can swing through a drive through."
"I just need a long, hot shower."
"OK." She takes my hand as we make our way to the parking garage. "I'm sorry this happened, Olivia."
"Me too."