Between the Pages Chapter 7

Elianna stayed at Rose’s for the next few days, mostly lying curled up in her bed, attempting to heal yet another hole that life had torn through her. Her whole body felt too heavy to move, too heavy to even exist in its current state. Rose offered her food to which she would eat a few bites and be done. Rose began to worry that Elianna would grieve herself to skin and bones. 
After about a week the old Elianna came back to light. Rose found her that morning in the kitchen cooking up her famous scrambled eggs. Rose smiled with relief.
“Smells great darling!”
“Thanks. I was wondering if you would give me a ride to the hospital today.”
“Of course. Can I ask why? Will you need a ride back as well?”
“Yes, I would like a ride back as well. By now Charlotte’s bed has been filled and possibly by someone in need of a friend.”
“Elianna, how many of your friends have passed away?”
“Charlotte makes number three.”
Rose stared for a few moments scrambling to wrap her head around what she was saying.
“How do you know who needs a friend?”
“Any time a new patient comes in I just watch for a little while, see who has visitors and who doesn’t. For the long timers one of the easiest signs to spot is if they glance toward their door when someone walks past. Someone who has nobody will eventually quit looking to check.”
“Do you not have healthy friends? Friends that are not confined to a hospital?”
Elianna shook her head NO. “The kids in school are mean and bully me. They call me names and say awful things about me. I’ve learned that sick kids are kinder, more understanding. The balance of life and death puts off an aura of gratitude, love and compassion that most do not have. And they leave me only because they are forced, not from the result of their own choices.
After my mother died I didn’t know where else to go. Home was no longer home. So I went to the next closest place, the hospital. Then one day I saw Lilly. She looked just as sad and lost as I was. She was orphaned as a result of a car accident and later diagnosed with leukemia. I stayed by her side until her last breath. Then came Katie. Her mother died in child birth, while she was born with Neuroblastoma. Her father tried to raise her alone, but soon the job proved too difficult and demanding. He put her up for adoption at age 3. Then of corse, you have Charlotte.”
“What an incredible story for such a young girl.”
Elianna shrugged her shoulders as if every adolescent child hangs out at hospitals and befriends sickly children.
“I don’t mind to give you a ride at all. Thanks for breakfast dear.”



Elianna climbed the hospital steps once more  with previous days flashing through her mind. Some happy, some sad, but all filled with love and care. She wondered what the next one would be like. What would be their preferred things to do and favorite shows to watch? What would their laughter sound like, what would their specialties be? What would be their comfort food and daily routines? It buzzed her with excitement to think of all the possibilities. 
She greeted nurse Jackie and eyed the room once occupied by her dear friend Charlotte. Sure enough the glimpse of the end of the bed looked to be in disarray which seemed promising.
“He came here two days ago. No visitors thus far. No emergency contact other than St. Hope’s Home for Boys.”
“What’s his name?”
“His chart says George. Although I wouldn’t know that because he hasn’t spoken a word since he got here. His chart doesn’t mention non verbal so I’m guessing he’s just the quiet type.”
“I’ll try the test.”
Jackie nodded in agreeance.
Elianna walked slowly past his door eyeing George the whole time, nothing.
She circled back, this time slower, still staring intently. George doesn’t move his eyes from the floor. She pauses at the doorway the third time. He just sat there locked into his own world.
Elianna entered his room and silently sat next to him. He sat in a chair off to the side, tv playing but not watching it.  In response to her presence, he looked the other way.
“Hi my name is Elianna.”
Silence.
Elianna didn’t feel like talking either and she was really good at taking hints. Despite his abrasiveness she stayed and sat next to him in silence. She didn’t talk, she didn’t ask, she was simply there by his side. She stayed there until just before it was time for Rose to pick her up.
“I will be back tomorrow. For now, have a great night. It was great to meet you.”
George’s eyes flickered her way but no other movement, no other response. The day had left her feeling slightly discouraged, but she was determined to win her new, quiet friend over. She sat on the hospital steps sweltering in the summer heat. She slipped the black wig down revealing her natural blonde hair. Surely just this one time won’t do any harm. Who’s going to see her? She stuffed the wig into her bag and pulled out a book. What better way to pass the time than reading a book.
Two chapters later and she began to worry. Rose should have been there by now to pick her up. She always closes shop at 7 PM and comes to starlight there by 7:15. Here it was approaching 7:30. Panic and dread rose up in her causing her heart to quake. She no longer had a back up plan. She had become so accustomed to Rose’s generosity she had let a lot of old habits slip away. She no longer stashed away food for hard times. She no longer scouted places on outings, searching for safe sleeping places. She no longer hid away personal products for months to come. She quit hiding clothes in random places just in case she needed them. Without Rose she was alone again and somehow that reality seemed a whole lot worse than before. It was almost unbearable to think about not sleeping in her bed or not having a hot meal every night.

A stiff, shockingly familiar, hand comes down hard and tight on Elianna’s shoulder.
“I have been looking for you.”
“Elianna squeals and tosses her bag away from her.”
The other hand covers her mouth and lifts her into the air. She doesn’t have to look, she knows the touch without looking into the eyes of the beast. It was none other than her father. He had finally found her. He tossed her into the back seat of his car as another man drove them away.”
“Where have you been! Who have you been staying with? Why did you not come home?”
Elianna ignores his repeated questions, lost in a silent panic.
Was he the reason Rose was late? Did he know where she had been staying but wanted to hear it from her?  Where was he taking her? How could she be so careless? How did she not see him coming? How was she going to get away? So many questions yet so much out of her control.
Her silence angers him further. He smacked her face demanding she answer his questions.
She focused on a dot and folded within herself, emerging into another reality.
“Fine. You stupid little girl. You don’t want to talk, you don’t have to talk. But I am going to make you feel so bad you wont ever want to talk again. Not my original plan but so be it.”

Her father takes a vile from his pocket. She can see the liquid through the glass but as to the contents she is clueless. He twisted open the lid and placed his thumb over the opening. He leaned into Elianna wrapping his other arm around her head and used his hand to squeeze open her mouth. She tried to fight him but to no avail. He dumped the warm liquid into her mouth and forcefully blew into her face until she swallowed. Instantly her mouth and insides were on fire.
“Now you won’t feel like doing much of anything.”
He lifted her shirt and taped two tubular shaped objects to her belly.
“Buckle up, we have a long ride.”
He tossed a blanket over her and sat back in his seat.
Elianna did as she was told, while silently praying the poison didn’t kill her. She already felt ill and knew the worse was yet to come.