Authors: Niki Settimo
For the next week, I’m in my bed. Dylan is there the entire time and I don’t think there is a more perfect person in the world. We binge watch Dr. Who, he helps me walk to the bathroom, and he takes Dom to the rink to play around when I fall asleep. His parents stopped over a few times to see how I was doing and my mom invited them to stay for dinner every time.
The worst part are the drains on my sides that have to be emptied every day. The first time I tried to empty them , I insisted on doing it myself because I didn’t want anyone else to have to deal with it. One look at the blood and I almost passed out. I became extremely dizzy, and despite my pride, I had to call for help. Dylan was there before I could even get the words out of my mouth and he half carried me back to the bed. I never get dizzy at the site of blood, but there was just so much, and it was mine.
From that point on, my mom emptied the drains. Dylan offered to do it, but I told him my woman ego wouldn’t allow it.
Have I said how happy I am that I decided to do this? No more three bras, no more murdering my skin, and no more back pains. Why didn’t I do this sooner? Not to mention how much better I look. My body is somewhat proportional now. Oh and the best part? when I’m all heeled up I can finally start jogging and running without my chest threatening to hit my face.
I get my drains out today. I can walk normal again which is nice. Dylan took Dom to the rink while I went to the Doctor’s Office with my mom. He took the drains out, but the stitches still need another week or two. I get cleared to go to school, but no physical activity yet. We leave the Doctor’s office and I ask my mom to drop me off at the rink so I can watch Dom and Dylan practice. I also need to see something besides the four walls of my room.
This is my mom and brothers last day here. I loved having them around and I’m sad to see them go. I’m not sure when the next time I’m going to see them is, but hopefully soon.
As we drive to the rink, my mom decided it’s a good time to talk about Dylan. “I really like him Elli. I never thought I’d see you this happy.”
“I never thought I would find a guy. He’s done so much for me mom. You have no idea.” As I say this, I play with the charms hanging on my wrist, settling on the number 8 as I twist it in my fingers.
“Oh, but I do. You’re actually living now Elli. You’re not just trying to get through each day. Just be careful.”
“I love him mom.”
“Well that’s obvious.”
I smile as we pull up to the rink. We park next to Dylan’s jeep and I see other cars parked in the lot. There must be people using the rink gym since the campus one is closed during break. My mom drops me off and leaves to go to my place and make dinner. I sit down at a table where I can see through to the rink at my brother and Dylan running drills and practicing shots. There’s a bucket of pucks poured out on the ice, and cones set up, along with targets hanging from the goal.
Then I hear a group of guys coming from the gym. I turn my head to see Logan and some of the guys from his soccer team coming my way. My heart starts to race and I’m about to go into the rink when Logan calls my name.
“Yooo is that Elli? Looking good El!”
I don’t want to answer back, so I start to get up and then Logan’s hand is grabbing my wrist, and I can feel my charms dig into my skin.
“Where you going? I missed you at my party. Tegan was no fun.”
I try to shake his grip, but he’s not budging. So I speak up. “Let go of my arm Logan.”
“You look different since the last time I saw you. I’d sure like to see what’s changed.” He goes to reach for my shirt and I slap his hand away with the one he’s not gripping. I still feel extremely fatigued and I start to get a little dizzy. This is not going to be good.
“Hey now, no need to be violent. You should be grateful. You’re hot now and that’s going to get you a lot of attention. Preferably from me.” He goes to slide his hand up my side but before he reaches where my stitches wrap around my chest, I react and try to knee him in the groin, but he easily blocks it. I’m weaker than I thought. All of his so called friends yell out an ‘ohhhhhhhh!’ as they watch what’s going on. Logan’s hand is still wrapped around my wrist, extremely tight now, and then I start to panic.
“Logan let go of me!”
“Why? Don’t you like being touched by guys? Or maybe you roll the other way? I can turn you back though. Why don’t you come with me to my car and we can do some experimenting.” He starts to drag me to the door and I’m fighting against him as hard as I possibly can, but my chest is now in excruciating pain and I’m afraid my stitches might rip.
“Seriously Logan, let GO!” I’m a few seconds away from screaming, and hopefully someone will hear me and then the pressure on my wrist is gone.
It all happened so fast. The next thing I know, Logan is on the floor and Dom is leading me inside the rink. I see Dylan towering over him and threatening the rest of the soccer guys who we’re all just standing around. Dom sits me down on the bench and I take a few deep breaths.
After about two or three minutes, Dylan’s arms are around me, taking special care to avoid my chest area that’s throbbing where the drains we’re pulled out less than an hour ago. I think I may be bleeding and I’m extremely light headed.
“Are you okay?”
“Yea. I’m in pain where my stitches are, but I’m ok.” I rub my wrist where Logan held it and look up to see Dylan and my brother extremely concerned. “I’m ok, really. Just a little shaken up. If I wasn’t so out of it I could have handled it.”
“Elli you’ve only been healing for a week.” Dom says. Dylan just keeps looking me over to make sure nothing’s wrong.
After another minute, Chris comes in and asks if I’m ok. Apparently after Dylan knocked Logan on the floor, Chris came out of his office and called the cops. They just arrived and are going to come in here and ask some questions after they take Logan and the rest of them down to the station.
Dom goes to the locker room to take his equipment off and Dylan sits with me as I tell the police what happened. They take pictures of my wrist since there are marks where his fingers dug into my skin and the charms left an indent from being pushed down so hard. We leave the rink as soon as they ask Dylan a few questions and then he changes while Chris walks the police out and Dom sits with me. I’m completely exhausted and sleep threatens to take over any minute.
Dylan brings me a water bottle and holds me close to him as we walk to his Jeep. He helps me into the passenger seat, and even though I think I can do it on my own, I let him help me. I want him near me. He climbs into the driver’s seat and Dom gets in the back. Dylan grabs my hand and holds onto it the entire drive home, rubbing circles with his thumb in my palm which is extremely calming. He still hasn’t said anything to me yet, and I think he’s still processing what happened, so I try to ease his mind.
“Hey,” I cover our hands with my free hand and continue. “I’m ok, really.”
“If anything happened to you Elli…”
“But it didn’t, thanks to you, ok?”
“Yea Dylan, you knocked him out cold,” Dom pipes up from the back seat.
“He’s just a disgusting pig.” I say. “I knew ever since I saw him on the couch with Tegan. I’m just thankful you we’re there in time.”
“I thought Dom and I were the only ones in the rink. I didn’t realize there was anyone in the gym. When I heard a bunch of yelling, I looked and saw you struggling with all those guys laughing. I just snapped.”
“Hey, Dylan it’s ok. I’m ok. It’s over.”
By the time we get to the apartment, I take some painkillers and lay against Dylan as we sit on the couch and watch whatever team is playing. I don’t think twice about what Logan said before he found himself on the floor. It’s not long before my breathing evens out and I fall asleep in the safety and comfort that is Dylan.
Dylan
“What happened Dylan? Elli’s mom asks.
Elli is currently passed out on my chest and I can’t imagine what’s going through her head. I don’t even know how to tell her mom what happened. Thankfully Dom fills her in as I concentrate on Elli’s steady breathing. When her mom puts a hand on my shoulder, taking me away from my thoughts, I look up and see her eyes are all watery.
“I wanted to kill him. I didn’t know Elli was in the rink, or else I would have been with her sooner.”
“Oh no, Dylan, this isn’t your fault. You got to her in time. You’re all ok and that’s all that matters.”
I hold Elli a little tighter and make sure I’m nowhere near where she’s in pain. It’s when I see blood on her shirt that my heart stops and I look to Dom who follows my gaze. I call her mom over and without waking her up, her mom lifts up her shirt and closes her eyes as she looks away like she’s in pain. “She’s fine. The doctor said this might happen. I’ll clean it up while she sleeps.”
“Is it her stitches?” I ask.
“No, it’s her skin around the stitches.” She puts her shirt back down and heads to the bathroom. When she comes back, she’s holding a bandage that’s the size of my hand, and things to clean whatever it is that’s happened. She looks unsure as she looks at me questioningly. “I have to lift up her shirt Dylan. If..”
“Go ahead. I won’t move, I don’t want her to wake up. She’s been through enough.”
She’s silent and then nods her head as she lifts up Elli’s shirt. She’s wearing a white medical bra and it's currently coated red. Her mom lifts up the bottom half where the stitches are and that’s when I see an entire patch of missing skin.
“That can’t be normal. Shouldn't we take her back to the doctor?”
“He looked at it today when he took the drains out. It wasn’t this bad, but he said just to keep it clean and it’ll heal on it’s own.”
How much pain is Elli really in? She sure doesn’t show it. I watch as her mom cleans around the skin and then coats the band aid with some kind of healing cream. She puts it on top of the non existent patch of skin and we lower her shirt back down, and then cover her with a blanket.
I play with her hair as Dom and I watch the hockey game. Elli sleeps through dinner and I carry her to her bed when it’s obvious she’s going to sleep through the night. Her mom offers for me to stay over, but I have to shower and get fresh clothes. I tell them I’ll see them in the morning when I pick them up to go to breakfast before heading to the airport.
Elli’s mom hugs me goodbye and as I go to leave, she grabs my arm and says a simple “Thank you. I owe you Dylan.”
“You owe me nothing Mrs. Uccello. I love her.”
“I know.” She looks at me and smiles. “And please, call me Dee. Get home safe Dylan. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight Mrs. Uccel….Dee”
She smiles and closes the door and I wish I wasn’t leaving Elli alone, but I need to clear my head, because if I see Logan and his posse, nothing's stopping me from from making sure they never play soccer ever again.
I slept like shit. I don’t think I got one full hour without waking up and reaching for Elli, only to feel an empty bed. Around 6 a.m, sleep is out of the question and I decide to shower and get dressed. I throw on my beanie and head over to Elli’s early. When I knock, I expect her Mom or Dom to open the door, but I’m surprised when Elli opens it and smiles. I take her in for a minute. She’s wearing black yoga pants, and a white t-shirt that says ‘Don’t let the muggles get you down.” Her hair is down and she looks happy.
She’s perfect.
As I look at her, I fully take in the extent of her surgery. She doesn’t look like she’s in pain, and she stands a little taller, straighter too. It’s like confidence is flowing out of her.
“Are you going to stand there all day?”
I laugh and go to collect her in my arms. I kiss her on her head , and she relaxes in the embrace. I haven’t hugged her fully since her surgery and it’s amazing to hold her like this again. It feels different, because there is less of her chest between us.
“Have I mentioned how beautiful you are?”
“Are you saying that because you saw my chest last night while I was sleeping?”
I scoff as I tilt my head back and laugh. Then I look at her directly and reply. “Absolutely not. But speaking of, how do you feel? That battle wound looked pretty bad.”
“Well that Battle wound is going to scar, but I feel better. I think I made up for all the sleep I lost this past month. But come here, I want to tell you something.” She grabs my hand and leads me to the couch. I sit down and pull her down on my lap, but then I ask where her mom and brother are.
“Mom’s in the shower and Dom is still sleeping.”
“Plan on waking him up anytime soon?”
“Yea, he’ll wake up when I mention we’re ready to go to breakfast. He’s always ready for food.”
I laugh at that. When I was his age, my mom had to go shopping three times a week. “So what did you want to tell me?”
She grips my hand and plays with my fingers as she speaks. “Ever since I was little, I always had this nightmare. You can’t laugh.”
“I would never.”
“So it kind of goes like this. I’m in my house and out of no where it turns into the jungle and I’m running from dinosaurs. Everybody else is already safe upstairs in some random building and they’re all looking down at me running, trying to make it up to them. I can’t see who’s in there, but all I know is no one is helping me and I just continue to run and get chased until I wake up. Tegan heard me yelling one night and I told her about it, but it didn’t stop them from happening. Nothing did, until you came. They completely stopped, and I haven’t had it again, until last night.”