Some time later, Caydence came back with a tray of food. If she noticed I had been crying, she didn't ask. She probably thought I was just in pain, or upset about the situation with Nolan. I was now able to shuffle to the bathroom by myself, using a walker like an old lady. Every step down on that left hip was torture. The doctor had explained that there was internal bruising and a lot of soft tissue damage, and that it could take many weeks before it started to feel normal. Once in the bathroom, I was able to really examine the injuries to my face and neck. I looked... hideous. There was a half-moon shaped bruise that wrapped from the corner of one eye, under my cheekbone and back up toward my ear, and my eye was slightly swollen. But my neck was far, far worse. When I lifted my
