You Broke Me

Chapter 11

Taylors POV

I was scared. No scratch that I was petrified for multiple reasons. For one I was in a lot of pain and coughing up blood. That's never happened before. Two Cade saw me at my worst. And three he was taking me to the hospital. No doubt where they would run endless tests, find out the extent of my injuries, the police would be called, my dad would find out, he would weasel his way through the system and he would find me again and put me through hell for seeking help. I knew how this was going to go down, but I didn't want to die. Not now. Not when I had so much to live for.

We were on our way to the hospital when I started shivering. It was a combination of being cold and scared. That was when I felt his hand. His hand had slithered its way to mine and gripped mine with force. A force that said ‘I'm here’ and ‘I've got you’.

“How did you know where I was?” I asked out of the blue. His beautiful brown eyes met mine.

“Amanda told me where you were. She said she saw you this morning. Why the hell didn't she report this? Why the hell has this been going on for so long?” he shouted. No doubt his own anxieties flooded into his words.

“I made her promise. My dad...it would only make things worse.” I said.

“We can get you help. Go to the police. He won't get away with this!” I just sighed and looked up at him.

“That's what you don't understand. My dad. He is the police.”

We finally pulled up to the hospital and I was so thankful. It was becoming hard to breathe, the pressure in my chest was unsurmountable. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest and I started Gasping for air. Luckily he pulled up to the entrance and his mother met us there with a team of nurses.

“Dear god!” she shouted. “Put her on the gurney. Let's go.”

Cade ran around the car not bothering to turn it off and picked me up as if I weighed nothing and laid me on the bed. He tossed his keys to the Valet driver and followed after us. They kept asking me questions like what happened, but I was struggling to catch my own breath. I couldn't waste what little oxygen I had left to answer their questions.

“She has a giant bruise on her stomach and ribs and she started coughing up blood.” Cade said as he finally got to the room. The nurses looked at him like a monster. As if he's the one who did this.

“Cade, I'm scared.” I managed to rasp out. He came to me and held my hand. A boy I've known for a couple of days has been my source of strength during this. The nurses saw our interaction and changed their faces. No one who was beaten by someone would seek comfort from them. At Least that I know of.

“Cade step out to the waiting room. We need to run some tests and work on her, okay?” Mrs Thomas said and he looked hesitant but nodded anyways.

“I'll be outside. I'm not going anywhere.” he dropped my hand and left the room.

They were checking my vitals, looking at my swollen face, and cutting my jacket off. I'm sure I heard a few gasps at the sight of my mangled body. Mrs Thomas instead of being in caring mother mode was in full doctor mindset. Poking, prodding, assessing. They brought in a portable ultrasound and X-ray machine and took some images. They took so many vials of blood. I apparently had a collapsed lung so they put in a chest tube to help me breathe.

“I want to do a head CT to make sure nothing is going on okay.” she asked and I nodded my head but the motion of doing so caused slight dizziness.

“Please don't call my dad.” I whispered to her and she ushered everyone out of the room.

“What's going on, Taylor? You can talk to me. Trust me.”

Can I trust her? Can I open up about this? She seemed to see that I was thinking it over.

“Cade and I had talked. We had been under the assumption that you were going through some things. Jumpy, fearful of men, a few bruises, the burn on your cheek. Are you being hurt Taylor?” she asked the obvious question. I nodded my head not able to meet her eyes. She grabbed my hand.

“It's okay, Taylor. You're such a sweet girl. You don't deserve any of this. I want to help you. But I can't unless you tell me to and you tell me what's happening.” I looked into her eyes and saw they were the same brown as Cade's. Warm and inviting. Reminding me of winnie the pooh's honey pot. I decided that it was time. Time to open up.

I told her everything. About how things were okay when my mom was around. But when she left that was when the drinking started. When the slaps started. The servitude started. I told her about the taser incident, about what happened last night. I told her every time he hit me every time I was ever hurt. I told her that's why I never talked to many people. I told her that's why I wanted to leave town.

“Why didn't you ever tell anyone or report him to the police?” she asked.

“He is the police. No one would have believed me. He is evil. He is manipulative. He would have spun it around to make him look innocent. I don't know how but he would have.”

Her eyes turned empathetic. “Well, I'm here now. Cade is still out there. You have your friend Amanda and your new friend Micah. Cade called them and they left school. He texted me while I was going over some of your lab results. They're all in the lobby wanting to see you.” she said. “They can come in,” she smiled.

“I'm going to go fetch them and go over some of your x-rays and the ultrasound. They should be coming to get you for CT here soon. Okay?”

Micah's flamboyant pink hair is one of the first things I see round the corner. Amanda is trailing behind them. Cade is not with them yet. More than likely, he's still talking to his mom. Amanda leaned over and gently hugged me. Mindful of all the tubes and wires on me.

“I'm so proud of you, Taylor. I will gladly stand with you on this. I'm so glad you're okay. Remind me to thank Cade for forcing you to come in. What's going on with that anyways?”

I just smiled. “We're just friends. Working with him on the project, I realized he's not that bad. He's actually pretty funny. Hey, Micah.” we haven't known Micah long but he's been a pretty good addition to our circle. “I'm sorry if this is a lot and scares you away…” I mumble.

“Lady, I ought to shake you.” he says with a smile. “You're my friend. You and Amanda are. Which means when you call, ill be there. Scary, deep, funny, I'll be there. You do look like s**t though, love.” I swear I want to throat punch him.

“Thanks." I deadpan with a glare. We talk for a bit more before an orderly comes to take me for my head CT. god, I'm exhausted.

Cades POV

Amanda and Micah entered the room and my mom pulled me aside. “It's good you brought her in when you did,” she said.

“I almost didn't go over there. But I'm glad I did. Seeing her like that. It was a rough mom. How bad is it?” She pulled me into an office and put the X-rays up on the screen and the ultrasound.

“She has a broken rib, a collapsed lung, a broken cheekbone, and there are multiple old fractures that have healed. Not to mention the old bruises that are in the process of healing. Her recount of this going on for 10 years is accurate based on just these X-rays alone. That girl has been put through hell. Cade as much as I hate to say this, if you hadn't gotten there I don't think Taylor would still be alive. whether from this beating or from the next she would get.” my fists were clenched at my sides.

“How? How can a parent do that? How can someone who is supposed to love and nurture you do that? I want to hurt him. I want to beat the s**t out of him!” I shouted. She grabs my hand and squeezes.

“I know. I know. And the medical records I looked up. She has none. At Least not for the past 10 years. Which goes on to prove none of her past injuries had been treated. She has received no medical attention in 10 years. That in itself is a crime.” hearing all this only makes my heart clench more. What more has Taylor gone through? Her mom left her. Her brother leaves her. Her dad beats her.

“Taylor mentioned her mom wasn't in the picture?” mom asked and I nodded.

“She said she has a brother but she hasn't been able to get a hold of him since he left 10 years ago too.”

She sighed. “She's almost 18. But since she's still underaged she would have to go with social services once she's discharged. I won't let her go back to her father.” Anything is better than where she is now.

“We'll figure it out. She's willing to report it now. She's willing to talk about it. She's willing to press charges. God willing.” mom hugged me and left me to go to Taylor's room.

“They took her for a CT scan. They should be bringing her back soon.” Micah said.

“Hey, can I talk to you?” Amanda said. I nodded.

“I don't know if you're serious about being her friend but she's my best friend. She means a lot to me. She's been through a lot. I know she told you some things, but you weren't there for them. I was. I had to listen to him hitting her, berating her. I almost called the cops, but she made me swear not to. And the only reason I didn't is that she said her dad is a cop and would find out and the punishment would be worse. What I'm saying is, please don't hurt her. I know you and your type. You wouldn't befriend her for no reason. All I'm saying is please just. Don't hurt her. If you do I won't hesitate to kick your ass” she said and I had no doubt she meant her words. “Count me in on that too. She is important. She is special. She is a pretty amazing girl.”

I squared my shoulders. “I'm being serious. I want to be her friend. There is something about her that keeps drawing me in. She's smart, funny, and kind. I don't know, I just feel drawn to her. Like a moth to a flame. I won't hurt her. I promise.” they smiled.

“Well, I'm going to go home. My parents will be looking for me soon. Please tell her to text me when she's feeling better.” I nodded and took a seat in her room. I wasn't leaving. I was going to plant my happy ass right here waiting for her. My phone went off and I pulled it out and saw I had tons of messages.

Mason: Hey, everything goes okay? I haven't seen you at school yet.

Me: Yeah. I'm gonna skip today. I'll text you later and fill you in on everything.

Nick: Yo! Where are you? Mason said you left this morning!

Me: Yeah. I'm staying home today.

Nick: Why? What's going on?

Me: Nothing.

Nick: Dude, you can tell me what's going on. You're my friend.

Me: I'll tell you everything later.

Megan: Baby wyd.

Megan: Cade?

Megan: hello?

Megan: Why are you ignoring me, baby? I miss you.

Me: What do you want, Megan?

Megan: I want you baby.

Me: Not going to happen.

Megan: Well, see about that.

I rolled my eyes at her antics. She does this every time we split. Only this time, I'm realizing how crazy she is. I know I have to tell the guys I can't go through with the bet anymore. Mason knows, but I'm worried about Nick's reaction. He can be a real dickhead sometimes. But I hope he'll understand. He has to understand.

Taylor is rolled back in the room pulling me from my thoughts. “Hey, trooper.” I smiled. She curves her lips up in a somewhat smile.

“You're still here.” she whispers amusedly.

“Of course. I'm not leaving. I told you I wasn't.” I grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I'll be here until you kick me out.” She has a tear that rolls down her face and I reach up to wipe it away.

“Everyone leaves in the end. You will too. Just give it time.”

I sit on the edge of the bed. “I'll just have to prove you wrong then won't I?” I say with a smirk and even though her face is swollen, bruised and I'm sure in pain, she smiles and blushes and I feel a pang in my chest. Despite her broken body, she's still beautiful. She's still sweet. I'm all the more determined to help her see justice.

I cut on the Tv in the room and she pats the bed next to her and I scoot to sit next to her. “Thank you for being here, Cade. I don't know why, but I trust you. Will you stay a little while longer?”

I can't help but think she shouldn't trust me but god I want her to. I wasn't lying when I told Amanda I felt drawn to her.

So against my better judgment, I say, “Of course.”