Maybe he and Dotty would hit it off…
“Hi,” I greetsoftly.
“I briefed him on what I knew,” Matty says. “We don’t know what she’s been through. She’ll tell us when she’s ready. I want every inch of her examined. I want her healthy. Healed.”
“Matthias, boy, I’ve been doing this longer than you’ve been alive,” Dr. Anderson replies, gently but firmly. “Now step out so I can examine her.”
“No!” We say in unison.
My heart races. He can’t leave.
I justgot him back.
If he goes… I won’t be safe.
“I won’t leave her side,” Matty says, steel in his voice.
“You don’t want to hear this conversation,” the doctor warns. Then he turns to me. “Margot, if you’d prefer privacy, I’ll make him leave. Your comfort is my priority.”
“No. Please don’t make him go. I need him. He keeps me safe,” I plead.
“Some exams will be intrusive,” he warns. “You’ll need to be honest. If there’s anything–”
“No one raped me,” I whisper.
Matty exhales. “Oh, thank fuck.”
He presses a firm kiss to my hair and pulls me in closer.
“Matty, please don’t leave me.” I beg.
“Never, sweetheart. I’m never leaving you again. Fucking never.”
The exam is thorough. The results are just as I expected.
Everything will heal. I’ll be fine.
But I know Matty needed to hear it from a professional. He needed that confirmation.
He only lets go of me when absolutely necessary and picks me back up the second he can.
“When’s the last time you ate, dear?” Dr. Anderson asks.
“The gala,” I admit.
“Fuck! That long ago? It’s been a week!” Matty curses.
“A week?” I blink. I hadn’t realized.
“Yes, sweetheart. It’s Saturday.” He’s right. That explains why I’m so weak.
“They starved you,” he growls.
“No. They gave me food. One meal a day. I just refused to eat. It was all I could do to fight.” At the time, it felt brave. Now it feels foolish.
“My stubborn girl,” he murmurs with a slight upturn of his lips. It’s the closest thing to a smile I’ve seen from him since the gala. “Even in hell, you’re still a spitfire. I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too,” I whisper back.
