Page 41 of Gunner

“No, ma’am.”

“Do you need a ride, Haiz?”

“No, thank you. I have my car, and I only had one drink.” I winked at Corbin, and when he laughed, I heard Deputy Reed huff behind me.

Walking to my car, I thought about Aspen. No one knew exactly what had happened. The speculation was she had been drugged, like so many other women in the surrounding areas. What was worse was the possibility that she had been raped.

I was honored that the sheriff had asked me to go to the hospital to be there for her. Parking my car, I walked through the double doors and straight to the counter.

“Hello. My name is Dr. Haizley Walker, Sheriff O’Rourke asked me to come by and see Aspen Winters. She was brought in after an attack tonight.”

The woman behind the counter was older, maybe mid-sixties. She flashed me a sympathetic smile as she nodded.

“The sheriff called. We’ve been expecting you.” She looked around before calling someone over. “Joan, can you take Dr. Walker to the victim’s room?”

“Excuse me, we try not to use the word victim. It has a negative connotation that suggests how someone should feel after an attack, rather than letting them express how they feel without judgment.”

“I’m so sorry. I never thought about it like that. The patient is in Room 405,” she corrected with a warm smile.

“Thank you.”

I had dealt with medical personnel in the past. This wasn’t my first rape case. In Oklahoma City, where I did my residency, it was staggering how many women came in after being sexually assaulted. Often, when I corrected the terminology on behalf of the patient, medical staff and law enforcement scoffed and ignored me.

That was another reason I came home after getting my degree. The people were just nicer here. Tonight’s perpetrator notwithstanding.

Joan led me to Aspen’s room, and I knocked lightly before entering. I didn’t know Aspen well. Like me, she kept to herself except at work. She owned and ran The Flower Shoppe. I had only been in twice since I’d been home. Both times to purchase flowers for my parents’ graves.

Still, Aspen was nice. Sweet and compassionate. It was a nice combination considering all the reasons people bought flowers. Compassion was needed for customers who were in mourning, or maybe men who had screwed up and needed to buy flowers to apologize. But sweetness went a long way if you were buying flowers for a celebration, like a birthday or anniversary. Or when a nervous teenage boy came in to buy a corsage for his prom date.

Stepping into the room, I heard the familiar beeping of the heart monitor and smelled the light scent of disinfectant that was used to wash the floors and sanitize the equipment. My eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness as only one light across the room over the sink shone.

“Aspen? Are you awake? It’s Haizley Walker.”

“Hi, Haizley. I’m not exactly fit for entertaining.” Her quiet voice pained my heart.

I had never experienced anything like what Aspen had tonight. But I had counseled enough women that empathy and compassion were second nature.

“Well, good thing I don’t need to be entertained.”

She returned the small smile I sent her way.

“The sheriff asked me to come by and see you. Thought you might want someone to talk to.”

“Sent the female therapist to question the victim, huh? Thinks I’ll be more likely to talk.”

“I am not here to question you. I am here to listen to whatever you want to say. It doesn’t have to be about tonight if you aren’t ready.”

I pulled the chair over next to her bed. Taking her hand in mind, I added, “You don’t have to talk at all if you don’t want to. We can just sit here in the dark while I hold your hand.”

“Thank you.” The despair in her whispered response broke my heart. I didn’t need anyone to tell me that Aspen Winters had been violated tonight. It was there in those two quiet words that were barely spoken.

I sat with Aspen, holding her hand until midnight, when she asked to be alone so she could sleep. I said my goodbye, and when she asked me to come back in the morning, I assured her there was nowhere else I would rather be.

By the time I returned home, I was dead on my feet. I never stayed up this late anymore. I would have loved to sleep in, but I promised Aspen I would be there with her when she finally spoke to the sheriff.

I emailed my patients for tomorrow and let them know an emergency had arisen and I would not be available. This was something they all knew in advance was possible. I was glad it didn’t happen often.

They each had a new appointment date scheduled. All they would need to do was confirm. Afterwards, I slipped into bed and fell asleep within minutes.

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