A Changed Life Page 14

  Michael savagely kissed me. He layered my skin with his poison, all over my neck, and down to my breasts. I could smell the liquor on his breath, mixed with his sweat that was all over me.

  With one strong thrust, he entered my fragile womb, ripping, tearing, and destroying my insides. My spirit had been shattered. Michael had changed the course of my life with his act of brutality. My whole world, and the life I had up until an hour ago, “changed forever.”

  Michael showed no mercy, he continued to thrust his hard length inside of me, as I cried and whimpered in excruciating pain. He just wouldn’t stop, until he finally let out a sound that pierced my ears. I never want to hear that sound again. Michael climaxed inside of me, and his body collapsed on top of me. I felt my sprit shattering like broken glass. He pulled out of me, and I winced in pain, and he lay next to me breathing with erratic breaths.

  Michael, shifting his body back onto mine, began kissing my forehead, and saying how much he loved me. This wasn’t love, this was masochism. I cried, and my body began to shake. I was frozen to the floor. Michael, stood up to put his clothes on, and I pulled my knees to my chest, I wanted to die. He got on his knees, and whispered into my ear.

  “This will teach you not to run from me again. You are mine, Nicolette, and I am yours. It’s best to remember that.”

  I was lying on the floor, listening to Michael’s threatening words echo through my memory. I was shaking and cold. I want my daddy to save me from this monster. Michael, turning away from me to fix himself a drink as he walked over to the bar. I looked at my surroundings, and saw a fishing trophy on the book case. I was in so much pain. Blood was trickling down my thighs. My legs felt like jelly as I struggled to stand, he was so smug that he didn’t even see me get up off the floor. With his back turned to me, and enjoying his victory drink, I saw my chance, and took it. I found the courage to strike. With every ounce of strength I had in my body, I grabbed the trophy and lunged at Michael.

  Hitting him over the head with it, the trophy smashed into two pieces, and knocking Michael to the ground. He wasn’t knocked out, but only stunned. He tried to grab me again, but I was too quick, and reached for the scotch bottle from the bar. I hit him again over his head, and this time knocking him unconscious. I began screaming for help as I held my head. I cursed at Michael, screaming with rage for what he did to me.

  “You bastard… you filthy, disgusting pig. You will never touch me again. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” I started kicking him in his ribs, and punching his back. I didn’t hear the cabin door open, as I kept hitting Michael, familiar hands reached for me, and pulled me to safety. The room began to spin, as pain pierced through my head.

  “Simon.” You found me. “I’m sor…”

  “Nicolette! Stay with me baby, help is on the way. Struggling to keep my eyes open, they begin to close with darkness consuming me.

  “Why isn’t she waking up?” Mom shouted. I could make out her voice, along with muffled sounds all around. I heard my father trying to comfort her. I was trying to listen for Simon…. remembering him finding me on Michael’s boat, and the look on his face as I closed my eyes. The sound of loud and shuffling chairs faded. I couldn’t open my eyes or speak, but my body felt his presence all around me. Next I felt warm hands fold into mine. I knew it was him. Simon was here with me. My heavy eyes would not open. I tried with all my efforts to acknowledge Simon, but they wouldn’t move.

  I felt pain throughout my entire body, no use on fighting right now to wake up, I was exhausted. While he held his hands in mine, I heard him over and over again say how much he loves me, as he begged me to wake up. His voice was laced with pain.

  “Nicolette, please wake up. You need to open your eyes, and come back to me. I love you so much, and I am so sorry for not protecting you. I should have never let you go that night. This is my fault, and I wish I can take all your pain away.”

  The sound of his cries was breaking my already broken heart. I wanted to comfort him, but darkness consumed me once more, and I was out. I fought my mind to open my eyes, but it was so strong, and kept me quiet and still. I heard crying from Gracie, and my mom. I heard others talking around me. My friends Alexis and Bailey, and of course, Simon. I felt his hands on mine again, and I was comforted in knowing he was by my side. He was reading to me. I felt wetness on my cheeks, as his tears fell down onto my face. He was gently kissing my cheek, and pleading with me to wake up.

  “Please baby come back to me. Open your eyes, Nicolette. I love you so much.” I’m trying Simon. I want to see you too.

  My eyes were sore, the pain pulsating through them felt like razor blades. With all my effort I tried to open them, this time succeeding. Very slowly, I blinked at the lights above me. The light was so bright; I had to blink several times to get used to the brightness in my room. I looked over to my right side, and there he sat sleeping. Simon was here with me. I’ve never seen him with hair on his face; he had to be here the entire time. My man needs a shave. Just looking at him made me forget for a brief moment why I was here.

  His hands were wrapped around my arm, that didn’t have an IV connected to it. Lifting my fingers onto his shaggy hair, and gently tugging to get his attention. Simon woke up startled, and got his bearings. Simon took one look at me, and breathed out a sigh of relief that I was finally awake. Tears were falling down Simon’s cheeks, he just leaned into me, and whispered, “Thank you god.”

  Simon called for my parents, and my doctor. My mother ran over to me, and cried. Gently caressing my skin, not knowing where I hurt, she was very careful. The truth was my body felt like I was run over by a truck. I ached everywhere, especially my heart.

  “Thank god baby, you’re awake. We love you so much.” I looked at mom, and dad just holding each other, and crying.

  Simon was on the phone, when a tall slender woman walked in to my room. She introduced herself as Dr. Jonas. She spoke with a Swedish accent, but I understood her clearly.

  “Welcome back, can you tell me where you are?” She asked me. I replied, “Hospital.” “How are you feeling?”

  “Alive.”

  “Can you tell me your pain level on a scale from 1 to 10?”

  I weakly replied, “twenty-five.”

  “Ok Nicolette, I’m going to check your vitals, and then we will talk.” Everyone left my room, except my mom, who held my hand, and silently cried for me. Nicolette, your IV will be disconnected in a little while, along with your catheter. I just want to make sure you are fully hydrated before doing so. Nicolette, you have been a sleep for the last 36 hours, can you remember anything prior before waking up?

  What a stupid question! Yes, I can remember what brought me here. I was brutally raped! I was screaming at her in my head. “Yes, I remember everything.”

  “You have a concussion from where you hit your head. You do have a significant bump along with scrapes, and bruising on your skin. You suffered some trauma to your uterine wall, and a tear which we had to repair. You have some stitches inside that will dissolve, and you may experience some discomfort over the next few days. Nicolette, while you were unconscious, I had to perform a number of tests, and an examination. It’s called a rape kit. By law, I am required to collect evidence of your attack.” My mother interrupted Dr. Jonas explanation.

  “Do you really need to give her every grave detail? She has been put through enough.”

  “Mrs. Vanelle, I have to make Nicolette aware of all that has happened, since she was brought in and admitted to my hospital. Your daughter is legally an adult, and I have to disclose all information to my patient.”

  “Well she’s my daughter, and all I’m asking for is some sensitivity.”

  Hello! I’m in the room if you hadn’t noticed. “It’s all right mom, please let her finish.”

  Turning back at me, Dr. Jonas carries on with her explanation. “As I was saying Nicolette, we gathered evidence, and it is now in the hands of the police. The detectives will probably want to speak with yo
u, now that you’re awake.”

  “Can I have a shower first?”

  “Of course you can, do you think you could stand on your own?”

  “I think so, I will take it slow.”

  “I’ll have the nurse come in right away, to remove you of your IV, and help you into the shower.” Hearing that a nurse would help me, mom dismissed Dr. Jonas, and telling her she would help me. I wanted to roll my eyes at my mother because she was being rude to my doctor. I didn’t have the strength to call her out on her behavior. She wanted to help me, and I needed to let her.

  Helping me out of bed, I leaned on my mother as she walked me into the bathroom. I was wearing a hospital gown. The thought of someone removing my clothes terrified me. Then I remembered that I had already been naked from Michael ripping my clothes away from my body. Oh my god, Simon saw me naked after the attack. Oh my god, Oh my god. My heart began to race as my body continued to shake.

  “Nicolette, it’s ok. Mommy’s here.”

  Blinking my eyes open. “Did I pass out?” I was on the floor with my mom holding me. My eyes looked all around the room, until I focused them back on her.

  “What happened?”

  “You must have gotten dizzy, and then you passed out in my arms. Nicolette, you’re exhausted. Let’s get you back into bed and you can shower later after you have had something to eat.”

  “I don’t want to eat! I need to shower. Right now Mom, I need to shower.” I gripped the sides of my head. My yelling at my mother didn’t help with my headache.

  “Can you stand?”

  “I think so. Just help me up and then I’ll be fine by myself.”

  “Nicolette, I can’t leave you here on your own. You just got weak with me holding you, what if you feel dizzy again and fall?”

  “I’ll take my chances. Please leave me be. I want to be alone.”

  “Nicolette, you can be so obstinate at times. Why won’t you let me help you?”

  If my head didn’t hurt so much, I would be screaming at the top of my lungs right now to be left alone. I feel sick for pushing her away, but I don’t want her to see me right now. This is too overwhelming for me to handle. She was being my mom, this is what they do, but I can’t let her. With her arms still around me, she gently lifts me up and guides me over to the shower.

  “If you begin to feel dizzy or anything, pull this cord and a nurse will be in to help you. Do you understand, Nicolette?”

  “Yes.”, I said weakly.

  I removed my hospital gown and stand naked in front of the mirror. I take sight of my injuries that now marred my pale skin. I had bruises on my arms, down my legs, on the insides of my thighs, and some on my back and shoulders. Seeing the evidence of my attack, now I know why I hurt so much. My cuticles were bloodied; some of my nails looked torn, as if they were bitten off. I couldn’t pry my eyes off the mirror; I just stared at my reflection. How could this have happened to me? My body surrendered into an uncontrollable crying fit, and I climbed inside the shower. Taking the soap, I scrubbed my skin until it bled. I felt so dirty, and I needed to wash Michael off of me. I didn’t want any traces of him left on my body. I had no strength left, and I slid down the tiled wall holding my knees to my chest feeling drained and weak.

  As I sat under the falling water now turning from hot to cold. I heard a voice outside the door. “Nicolette.” I heard my name. It was Simon calling out to me. I had no voice to respond to him. I watched the door as it slowly opened. I saw Simon come in. He reached in and turned the water off. My eyes found his, as he slowly knelt down in front of me. Wrapping me up with my robe, he picked me up off the shower floor and carried me to my bed. I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried into his chest. I wasn’t afraid, not of Simon.

  Simon carefully removed my robe, he had covered me with while never taking his eyes off of mine. He lifted my bruised arms up to dress me in my nightgown. Simon gently began brushing my hair, very aware of the bump on the back of my head. He then dried my hair with the dryer, and pulled it back into a loose braid.

  Simon was so gentle, he was treating me as if I was made out of glass and would shatter at any moment. Did he know that’s exactly how I felt? Simon was so careful. I could hardly feel him lifting me, and placing me under the covers. I was exhausted. Simon didn’t look any better. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days. I wanted to say something to him, but I could feel my eyes slowly closing. He sat beside my bed and held my hand. “I love you Nicolette, with all of my heart.” I heard Simon say, as I drifted off into sleep.

  My parents were introduced to Detective Jim Westphall and his partner Amy Lewis. They were waiting to question me, but I wasn’t ready to talk to them. I couldn’t look at my mom’s pained face anymore, or my dad’s. Simon was devastated, but remained calm around me even though I knew he probably wanted to kill Michael.

  “Is she awake Mrs. Vanelle?” asked Detective Lewis.

  “She’s still asleep. I don’t want to wake her if we don’t have to.”

  “I understand, but the sooner we question her, the sooner we can question Mr. St. Clair as well. He’s under guard in another area on the floor. He won’t get near your daughter.”

  “I heard his father was brought in as well,” mom had asked.

  “Yes, it seems that Michael also attacked his father. He was knocked out by his son, and left bleeding until his housekeeper found him. She had called 911 and the ambulance brought him in. Clayton St. Clair, only suffered a minor concussion, and took 8 stitches to the head. He was treated and released.”

  “Do you know if he is here at the moment?”

  “I believe he tried to visit with his son, but we didn’t allow access at the time. We want to question Michael first. Mrs. Vanelle, I can’t even imagine what you are going through, but I can assure you that I have worked many cases like your daughter’s. I will stop at nothing to bring her attacker to justice. We need to speak with Nicolette, it’s time.”

  I was awake by the time my parents, and the detectives entered my room. Wanting to get this interview over as quickly as possible, mom held my hand to comfort me. I was beginning to tremble with the thought of reliving that horrible night, and to have my mother and father listen to it, broke my heart.

  “Hello Nicolette, I’m Detective Amy Lewis, and this is Detective Jim Westphall.” I nodded at the both of them, struggling to find my voice.

  “Where’s Michael?” I asked. Detective Westphall answered me. “Nicolette we have him in another area of the hospital where he can’t get near you. As soon as he is questioned, he will be placed under arrest, and taken into police custody. Can you tell me your story?”

  I didn’t know how much mom and dad knew from Simon, so I just started from the very beginning. I looked over at my dad, who was always my hero. He looked so sad and withdrawn. My eyes began to well up again with tears, and he held my other hand to give me the strength I needed.

  “I had an argument with my boyfriend Thursday night, and skipped classes the next day. My parents had already gone to work, so instead of staying home, I went down to the beach, and sat by the marina all day.”

  “You told no one where you were?” Asked Det. Lewis.

  “Yes.”

  “After briefly charging my phone, I had powered it down. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. When I finally decided to check my phone, I had seen missed calls and messages from Simon, and friends. I listened to my boyfriend’s message, and wanted to get home, so I could see him. I called him first, and told him where I was. Simon said he was with my father, and that they were out searching for me. I was surprised that they were together, but then my father told me that he knew about Michael. I told Simon where I was and I ended my phone call with my dad. He asked me to wait for them to arrive.”

  “As I was making my way up the path, and back to my car, I was grabbed from behind. I didn’t realize it was Michael at first. He told me not to scream. He held my mouth so tight, I couldn’t scream if I wanted to. Michael dragged me back
down the path to the docks where he had a boat. He lifted me onto the boat and dragged me down the stairs to the cabin below. He threw me inside, and I lost my balance, hitting my head.”

  My father was gripping my hand to the point where it began to hurt. I looked over at him and when he realized how tightly he was holding my hand, he had let it go. I gave him a sympathetic look, he barely smiled back. I asked for some water before continuing. The detectives were extremely patient with me, and gave me the time I needed. I continued to tell them that after I had hit my head, Michael was yelling at me, grabbing me, and explaining in detail what he was going to do to make me his.

  “I tried with all my strength to fight him back.” I turned to my father, and repeated the words again. “Daddy, I tried to fight. I swear I did.”

  He leaned in to give me a hug. “Oh my brave girl… I know you did and I’m so proud of you.”

  “Michael was just too strong, and I couldn’t fight him anymore. He tore my clothes from my body, and he raped me…he hurt me, but wouldn’t stop even though I was begging him. I cried and screamed, but he showed no mercy for me. When it was over, he was happy with himself. Michael had finally managed to get what he had wanted. He left me on the floor to cry, and whimper in pain. At that moment, I wanted to die, and make everything go away. I couldn’t believe this happened. I was questioning everything in my mind at that moment.

  What I could have done to prevent this. Finally I got angry enough to move, and I just wanted to make him suffer, the way he made me suffer. While Michael’s back was turned, I scanned the room for anything I could fight him with. I only saw the trophy, and I was hoping it would be heavy enough to knock him out, so I could escape. My insides felt like they had been ripped into shreds. I was bleeding, and my head was throbbing, but I only had one chance to strike while his back was still turned to me. I reached for the trophy, and hit him as hard as I could. He dropped the glass onto the bar, and he stumbled …dazed. He tried to reach for me again, and that’s when I grabbed the scotch bottle, and hit him again on his head. This time knocking him out. I was still hitting Michael, when Simon came running through the door. I remember Simon pulling me off of Michael, and then I woke up here in the hospital.”