Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 98418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
I sit closer to her and wrap an arm around her shoulders. "You don't have to tell me Molly."
She shakes her head. "No I do, because Lilly will never tell you." She takes a deep breath. "When I opened the door all I saw at first was a bed and then blood. I panicked. She was unconscious and I couldn't work out where the bleeding was coming from. Then I noticed her lips were blue. She wasn't breathing." A sob shakes her frame. "I gave her CPR and screamed for someone to call an ambulance." Her eyes are distant as she relives the night. "When the ambulance got there they had to defibrillate her." More tears stream down her cheeks.
She turns to look at me again. "The forensics surmised that she was overdosed with Rohypnol, enough to stop her heart, but she still put up a fight until the drugs over powered her. The blood was from a cut to her head, probably from the struggle. He broke her wrist and two ribs as well. She was in a coma for six days. The police photographed all the bruises and took DNA samples. Bastard didn't even use a condom." She sniffs. “When she woke up, she didn't say a word about it. It's like she just pretended it never happened. The worst part about it is that she'd already had a terrible life before that.” She looks at me. “I know you love her Theo, but you can’t even begin to guess what she’s been through. It’s a wonder she can even get out of bed in the morning. She was trying to get her life back when the rape happened. I thought after that she might be damaged beyond repair." She shakes her head. "In true Lilly fashion, she picked herself up, dusted herself off and got on with her life. I wish I had half her strength.” She smiles. “You know, if that happened to me I think I’d be suicidal, but Lilly didn't shed a single tear. I asked her to go and see a psychiatrist, but she wouldn't. Instead she took up self-defence training."
"Yeah, I've seen her in action. That must have been some teacher." I whisper, afraid that if I raise my voice at all it'll crack. Unable to respond to what I've just been told, the images flash through my mind and my heart breaks for the woman I love more than anything in this world. I would give anything to protect her from this.
She places her hand on my forearm. "I know you love her, and I truly think you can make her happy Theo. God knows she deserves some happiness." She smiles warmly at me. "That's why I'm telling you this. I'm hoping it might help you to see why she didn't tell you. She's going to need you over the next few weeks. Lilly is a closed book, and there is a lot more to the story. I hope that one day she tells you, but be warned it's not pretty. All you can do is respect her for what she's overcome. She hates weakness and loathes pity. Remember that."
"I doubt she'll even want to see me after today." I swallow hard, crippled by the prospect that I may have messed up irrevocably.
"Lilly will do what Lilly does best, she'll push you away because you hurt her, exactly the same as you pushed her away because she hurt you. You should know by now that Lilly is worth fighting for." I can see how much Molly loves Lilly. "I've known her for twenty years Theo, she's never been happier than with you."
"Thanks Molly. I will fight." I promise her.
It turns out that fighting is really difficult when the person you're fighting for won't see you. I make an appointment with Josh on Thursday to try and see her. When I arrive at his office he tells me she's taken annual leave for the remainder of the week.
I try her at the flat. I call her. I email her. Nothing. Molly keeps me updated on how she is via the occasional text, but that's the only contact I have to Lilly's life.
By Friday night I've fallen into a deep depression. I feel as though the best part of my life has just vanished and all that's left is the benign details. It's as though all the colour has been washed from my world, leaving me in muted tones of grey.
My phone rings, shrill through the silence of my living room. The display reads Hugo.
"Hugo, I told you I'm not coming out." I say curtly.
"Theo. Look, I'm at the club." He pauses. "Lilly's here. Mate, she's absolutely wasted. Molly's just come to find me. She can't get her to stop." His voice is as serious as I've ever heard.