Page 32 of Breaking Conviction
“I don’t know, Nay, I just, I feel like maybe I didn’t make it clear? Maybe I should’ve been more upfront? I can’t ruin this guy’s life.”
“Ruin this guy’s life? Sophie, heforcedhimself on you afterdruggingyou.” She was one excuse away from having steam blow out her nose. “Soph, you have to press charg—”
“Naomi?” Nora popped up out of her seat. “Sidebar, babe?” She tilted her head toward the door and Naomi bit the inside of her lip and nodded once. “We’ll be right back, Sophie. Naomi and I are just gonna have a quick lil’ chat.”
As soon as they stepped out into the hallway, Naomi opened her mouth to light into Nora for interrupting them, but Nora held up a finger.
“Naomi, stop. You’ve got to chill. You can’t be going around telling survivors how to live their lives—”
“Nora, she’s gonna let that guy get offscot-free—”
“Maybe!” Nora raised her voice before lowering it again. “But maybe not.” Nora backed away, creating space between them as Naomi concentrated on breathing in measured breaths. “This woman has just gone through what sounds like yet another traumatic event in her life. You can’t go in there telling her what to do with the life she already feels like she’s lost control of.”
Naomi turned away from Nora, closing her eyes before massaging a temple, a soothing gesture that wasnotdoing its job at the moment.
“But, Nora—”
“No Naomi, I know this is hard, but our job is to listen, explain her options, and let her know she’s not alone and that we’ll be with her every step of the way—” Nora tugged Naomi by the arm to face her. “No matter what direction she decides to take.That’sour job.”
“But this is myfriend, Nora. Or was. Damnit, she has us to help her get through this if she wants to prosecute and this guy deserves to pay for the bruises he’s made on her.” Naomi threw her hand in the direction of the small examination room. “She’s making ahugemistake.”
Nora’s lips tightened before she nodded and spoke in a low voice. “It’s hard to watch... isn’t it?”
Her quiet whisper barreled into Naomi like a freakin’ freight train. Naomi’s eyes widened and she stared off into space as she collapsed against the wall.
“Did I sound like that?” she finally asked, afraid to hear the answer.
“Honestly, babe? You still do.” Nora placed a light hand on Naomi’s shoulder and squeezed. “At some point, you might wanna think about why it’s so much easier to downplay your own trauma when you’re ready to crusade for your friend’s. But right now, that friend needs you. We’re gonna go in there, listen, and hold her hand through this sexual assault exam. We’ll present all her options with all the possible outcomes. It’s important that she knows she has agency over her life right now.”
Naomi nodded before shaking her head slightly and exhaling on a slow breath. “Okay… yeah… I get it.”
Nora patted her shoulder. “You ready for take two?”
Naomi snorted. “Yeah, I promise I’ll try my best to keep it together this time.”
She was greeted back with a small smile. “Our best is all we can do.”
Chapter Thirteen
After Naomi and Nora spoke with Sophie, mostly letting Sophie talk, Sophie asked that only Naomi be present for the rape kit. Nora, of course, was treating the situation with way more understanding than Naomi could muster, but she left telling Naomi she’d be back soon after giving them some privacy.
Naomi was still upset about Sophie refusing to report her rapist. The idea that someone like that could go out in the world free of guilt and shame, and possibly do it to someone else, chafed Naomi’s sense of justice raw.
But Naomi couldn’t deny that she was just as guilty of letting someone go scot-free. Nora had warned her that she’d find more in common with the victim than she’d thought, but neither of them could’ve known how right Nora would be. Besides the fact that the victim was a friend of hers, Sophie’s objections hit too close to home.
Naomi stood by, feeling helpless as her old friend was subjected to the process. Sophie turned in her clothes to the sexual assault nurse examiner, had her fingernails scraped, vaginal swabs done, blood, urine samples, pictures and her statement taken. By the time the exam was completed, Naomi could tell Sophie was desperate to leave, so they walked out to the car together as soon as they could.
“I know the SANE nurse gave me scrubs to wear…” Sophie pulled at the nondescript blue fabric. “But I still feel naked. Like I’ve been stripped of my dignity twice after that kind of exam.”
Naomi closed her eyes briefly, blinking back tears. “I’m sorry, Sophie.”
Such an empty, worthless platitude. Naomi wanted to say so much more, but she knew it’d come out wrong.
As soon as they stopped in front of Sophie’s car, Sophie reached for Naomi’s hand. “I know you want me to go to the police... I just can’t. Not yet, Nay. Please understand.” Sophie squeezed her hand and Naomi almost squeezed back three times, just like she did with Thea. She settled for one hard squeeze and smiled the best fake smile she could muster under the circumstances.
“I get it, girl. I do. I’m sorry I came on so strong.”
“It’s okay.” Sophie snorted. “After the luck I’ve had with men, it felt kinda good to have someone fight for me instead of against me.”
