“Oh, I have another surprise waiting for you,” she called out as she walked
away.
“I can’t handle any more surprises, Mother,” I mumbled.
I showered again after hiding my garbage in my backpack. I would dispose of anything that was connected to that monster. He took my virginity. He stole the
prom memories that would have been perfect. He broke me.
If you hadn’t been such an eager whore, I scolded myself. As if the devil and the angel from old cartoons were dueling on my shoulder, I suddenly found myself saying, “I didn’t ask for what he did. I was the victim. Those boys lied.”
Returning to the kitchen, I found a crystal vase filled with four dozen red roses. I stared at the bouquet.
“Is it from Christopher, dear?” my mother asked. “He is such a nice boy.
What a lovely gesture.”
The room began to spin, and I forced myself to sit.
“Aren’t you going to read the card?” my mother prodded.
I had to decide, here and now. Was I going to tell her the truth or lock it away? Deciding I couldn’t let her be hurt also, I picked up the white envelope and slipped out the tiny card. Beautiful flowers for my beautiful girl. To our future. Love, Christopher.
I stared at the words. He had to be insane. Did he think the evening we spent
was consensual bliss? How will I face him at school? How will I face all of the boys that had lied about me?
“He got the beautiful right,” Thomas said, appearing over my shoulder.
Something in me exploded. I pushed myself up, knocking the chair over, as I
picked up the flower arrangement. I wanted it gone, but I didn’t know what to do
with it. The world decided for me as it slipped from my hands and crashed to the
floor. I tried to catch it, but instead, ended up with a handful of thorns.
“Oh my,” my mother cried as she rushed in. “What a waste. I’ll try to save
them, Caitlyn. Don’t move. I’ll go get the broom.”
“What is going on, Cat?” Thomas whispered.
“Get them away from me,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “I don’t want them.”
“Cat, you need to tell…Oh honey, you’re bleeding,” he said, taking the roses
by the flower. “Let’s go clean you up.”
When my mother returned, she saw my injury. “Caitlyn, let me –”
“I got it, Hill. We’ll go into Cat’s bathroom and clean her up. A bit of the glass got her.” He looked at the mess and frowned. “I mean, if you can handle
this?”
My mother daintily began picking up the flowers. “Of course, of course –
take care of Caitlyn.” She barely looked up to send us off.
When both bedroom and bathroom doors were shut and locked, Thomas held
my hand under cool water, washing away the blood. He led me to the edge of the
tub and began to dry my wounds off.
“What happened, Cat?” he asked. His voice was so sweet and caring that I instantly burst into tears.
“He raped me.” I wasn’t sure if the words had actually been said out loud, so
I repeated them. “Christopher raped me.”
Thomas’ grey eyes blazed with fury. “That son of a bitch. We need to call the
police.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket.
I grabbed his hand. “You can’t.”
