The doctor sat back down in the chair.
“Myla, would it be okay if Kaleb held some icepacks on your head and lip?It will take down the swelling.”
Myla nodded.Kaleb arranged one on her head that he held with his shoulder, and the other on her lip.
The doctor cleared her throat.“Myla, is it okay if I look at one of your arms first and then tucked it back into the blanket and look somewhere else?That way, you’ll never be naked.”
Myla nodded and pulled her arm out.
“This is great,” Jessica said, smiling as she carefully examined the arm and hand.
Kaleb glanced down.Her hands were scraped up pretty badly, and he could still see dirt and bits of rock in some of the cuts.
She put that arm in, and Myla pulled out the other one.
The whole time the doctor talked about her three-year-old and the trouble the little girl got into without even trying.Kaleb caught Myla trying to smile at a few of the stories.
The doctor had examined Myla’s arms and legs, neck, and head.She used a light to test Myla’s pupils.
“She has a slight concussion, but nothing to worry about.”Jessica turned to Myla.“Would it be okay if I lifted your gown so I could see your stomach?”
Kaleb cleared his throat to get the doctor’s attention.
“I’m not sure, but there’s a possibility she’s been ...hurt,” he said in a pain-filled voice, unable to say the word “rape.”
The doctor nodded.“Myla,” Jessica said, and waited until Myla’s attention was on her.“Honey, did the man touch you?”
Myla frowned in confusion.
Jessica cleared her throat.“Did he rape you?”
Myla instantly stiffened, and a low wounded sound tore from her throat.“No ...no, no, no.”
Kaleb caressed her cheek with his thumb.“Baby, you need to tell the doctor if he touched you at all.”
Myla jerked back from him.“He didn’t.I swear.”
Jessica nodded.“All right.Let me check out your stomach and back, and then we can move on to getting some fluids in you.”
The next few minutes were tense as the doctor examined Myla.Myla pressed her legs together, preventing the doctor from seeing her private parts.
Jessica looked up at Kaleb.“Was there any blood in her underwear?”
Kaleb shook his head.“Not a drop.”
Jessica nodded as she replaced the blanket over Myla and pulled off her gloves.
“Myla, the nurse brought in what I need for stitches, or we can use glue to seal it together.You’re probably going to have a scar no matter what.”
Myla closed her eyes.“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered.“I’m tired.Can I go to sleep?”
Jessica nodded.
“Yes, I think you’d feel better.Your friend will hold you while I get the cut fixed up.”
Myla nodded and then jerked her eyes open and stared up at Kaleb.
“Will you stay with me?Just until I get a little stronger?”
