Chapter 20

You know those days when you open your eyes and think, Damn, this is a good day to be alive! This wasn't one of those days. I woke up and immediately felt every single bruise and tear on my body; my throat felt like someone had fired a blowtorch down it. The only good thing was that there were no tubes.

I started crying as soon as I woke up. A nurse heard me and came in. She patted my hand and gave me a pill. I went back to sleep, still crying.

The next time I woke up, Mom was sitting beside me.

"We should never have let you go out with that boy," she said.

"Not Marilyn," I said. My voice was barely a croak.

"But Mr. Hand said..."

"Mr. Hand is an idiot," I said, "It was Rickard."

Mom opened her mouth to argue more, but stopped herself. Even in my condition I could see that it took an effort. Instead she held my hand while I started crying again. She stayed there until the female cop from the school stuck her head in the door.

"I need to talk to Petunia," the cop said. She managed to sound apologetic and firm at the same time.

Mom was going to argue, but I put my hand on her arm.

"It's OK," I said.

"Do you want me to stay?" Mom asked.

I just shook my head.

"I'll be out in the hall if you need me." She glared at the cop on the way out.

"Hi, Petunia," the cop said. "I'm Constable Anita Cooper. I'm with the Sexual Crimes Unit."

"Like on TV," I said.

"That's right," she said, "Call me Anita."

I couldn't imagine calling a cop by her first name, but I nodded anyway.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Anita sat down beside me, "Take all the time you want, but it is important that I get it straight as soon as possible."

"Marilyn and I went to the dance," I said.

"Sorry, I should have asked your full name first."

"Petunia Jane Smith."

"And how old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"If you don't mind me saying," Anita interrupted, "you look a lot younger."

I just hung my head and nodded. A tissue gently wiped the tears away from my eyes. I wasn't even aware that I was crying again.

"I went to the dance with Marilyn."

"That would be Marilyn Robert Johnson?"

"Yes, but ne prefers just Marilyn."

"Ne?"

"Marilyn suggested that we use that instead of he or she."

"OK, so you were at the dance?"

"We were having a great time. Marilyn's an amazing dancer. I needed a bathroom break, so ne walked me to the hall and went to nir washroom while I went to the girls."

"Marilyn has her own washroom?"

"It was the Board's idea."

"Right." Anita handed me a cup and I took a sip. "Then what happened?"

"I was on my way back to the gym when Rickard grabbed me. I didn't know it was him until he turned on the lights in the shop."

"Did he turn on the lights right away?"

"No," I sobbed. "He tore my clothes off and hit me a bunch of times. I tried to fight but...."

Anita just put her hand on my arm and waited for the sobs to subside.

"He's a lot bigger than you are, Petunia. This isn't your fault."

"Call me Tuni," I said. "My friends call me Tuni."

Anita smiled and for the first time I could imagine calling her Anita without the constable or anything.

"Tuni," she said, then nodded at me to continue.

"He said something about wanting to see. That's when he turned on the light and he grabbed..." I broke down in sobs again. Anita just waited. "He took his thing out of his pants and I knew he was going to ...." I couldn't say the word, but Anita just looked at me.

"It will be easier if you can say it," she said finally.

"He was going to rape me." I forced the words out. They hurt so much I was surprised that I didn't start bleeding again. "Only Marilyn came in and they were fighting. Marilyn saved me."

"Mr. Hand said that he saw Marilyn pull you away."

"Mr. Hand has a hate on for Marilyn."

"I see." Anita sighed and put her notebook away. "Unfortunately the word of a Principal carries some weight. The crown doesn't want to proceed with charges without some more evidence. Fortunately the same is true for your friend Marilyn. If I hadn't heard you at the school, ne might be behind bars right now."

"Ne's my friend."

"I'm sure he is which is only going to make the next thing I have to tell you harder." Anita stared at me for a long moment. "You can't have any contact with Marilyn until I get this sorted out."

I didn't say anything, but finally I nodded.

"If you remember something else, or you just need to talk call me..." Anita gave me her card. She patted my shoulder and wiped the tears from my face again. "You're stronger than you think," she said instead of goodbye and left. I heard her talking with my Mom out in the hall but I was too tired to bother trying to listen.

If I wasn't going to die, I could at least get another one of those pills from the nurse.