Just tell the nurse you slipped and fell
"Okay... I'm Dr. Phillips." Said the doctor, a young woman, looking down at the chart as she entered the cubicle where Rhiannon and Howie were. "What do we have here?" She looked up from the chart and her eyes widened in shock.
Seen it before but not like this
Rhiannon closed her eyes, her mind's eye filled with vivid pictures of the last time she'd been in the hospital. David had brought her in, threatening her the whole way with what he would do to Shane if she told the doctor the truth. Afraid for her son, she'd lied to the nurse, saying she'd slipped while mopping the kitchen floor. She was a convincing liar and the nurse had not suspected the circumstances were any other than what she was told.
It starts to sting as it starts to swell
She looks at you... she wants the truth
It's right out there in the waiting room with those hands
Lookin' just as sweet as he can... never again
Howie looked at Rhiannon, silently asking for permission to tell the doctor what had happened. Biting her lip nervously she nodded.
"Would it be possible for you to call the police?" Howie asked the doctor. "This is a result of spousal abuse." He finished quietly.
The doctor nodded. "That's not a problem. I'll just take a look and then I'll go phone personally." She stepped over to the bed where Rhiannon sat and peered at the cut on her forehead. "That will need a few stitches. And your left wrist? Can you move it at all?"
Rhiannon shook her head. "I landed on it when David hit me."
"Alright. I'll order x-rays and get someone in for sutures. I'll go call the police now. I'll send them in when they get here." At this the doctor left Rhiannon and Howie alone in the cubicle, pulling the curtain closed behind her.
Been there before but not like this
Never before have I ever seen it this bad
She's just a woman... never again
Howie sat in a chair next to the bed, gently holding Rhiannon's hand in his. He blamed himself for letting it get this far. For allowing this to happen to the woman he loved. Yes, loved. He always had, always would love Rhiannon. He'd been in love with his best friend since he was fourteen-years-old. And he'd lost count of the number of times he'd fallen asleep wishing that she felt the same. Only once had he been closer to her than a friend; one night five years earlier when she and David had temporarily broken up. One night when, desperate for comfort, Rhiannon had turned to her best friend. One night when Howie unequivocally gave her his heart, only to have it smashed to pieces when she and David made up the next day.
He could easily have run, turned his back on the love he so desperately wanted, needed, but he couldn't. He stayed, always there to care for and support her when David's rages ended in this. He looked up from the floor when he heard Rhiannon wince softly. Trying to find a more comfortable position she had bumped against the railing on the other side of the bed. Her eyes were now tightly closed, her good hand held to her stomach.
Wordlessly, Howie lifted her hand and gently pulled up the edge of her shirt to expose her stomach. His eyes filled with tears as he softly ran his hand over the obvious bruising where David's foot had connected with her body.
"God, Rhi. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." His tears spilled over, running in rivulets down his smooth cheeks. "I should have done something. I should never have let it get this bad. I'm sorry." His control shattered, he broke down, head in his hands, shoulders shaking as he cried.
Shocked and alarmed at Howie's emotional breakdown, Rhiannon struggled to sit up, slid off the bed, pulled the other chair in the room up to Howie's and sat down. She gently pulled his hands away from his face, forcing him to look at her. His cheeks were streaked with tears, his eyes red-rimmed and full of anguish.
"Howard, this isn't your fault." Rhiannon whispered, gently brushing his tears away. "It's no one's fault but my own. I should have listened to you years ago, but I didn't. This is not your fault." She repeated forcefully, looking deeply into his eyes.
Still too upset to speak, he continued looking into her eyes, unable to look away. Rhiannon was surprised when she saw something in the deep brown depths; something she'd always searched for, but had never seen in David's eyes.
There was little distance between them and Howie moved closer still. He swallowed hard and whispered, "I love you." Then he closed the distance between them, gently pressing his lips to hers.
He poured himself into the kiss, giving freely the love that he'd fought to conceal for so many years. Feeling the warmth and love radiating in the kiss, Rhiannon abandoned all thought, caught up in the rush of feelings finding the long searched for love produced.
At the sound of someone clearing their throat, Howie reluctantly pulled away. A look to the opening in the curtain revealed an embarrassed police officer.
"Sorry to disturb you." The officer blushed. "Rhiannon Morgan?"
