Eli
To saythe mood in the car has shifted is an understatement. It all happens the minute we pull into the truck stop parking lot. Right after Emma sent Amber a text letting her know we were here, we watch as a tall, thin figure steps out from behind a brick retaining wall. At first, I don’t think much about it, but the closer it gets, I realize it’s Amber.
But not the Amber from before.
No, this Amber has torn clothing and bruises that are already turning black on blue.
“Jesus,” Emma squeaks. She throws open her door and shouts, “Amber!”
I quickly jump out of the car because I don’t know what we’re up against here. She’s obviously been assaulted; one look at her tells me that. But that’s all I know.
She lets us take her to the ER, which I think sort of surprises Emma. She also lets Emma hold her hand while she tells an officer what happened to her. When Emma steps out of the exam room, I can tell she’s been crying. “She wasn’t raped but close. She was convinced the guy was going to kill her.”
“Did she know him?”
Emma shakes her head. “No, but the guy’s truck was bright yellow. Hard to miss.”
I wrap my arms around my girl. “Do you think this will scare her straight?”
Emma makes that funny little snorting sound she makes sometimes. “I sure as shit hope so.” She looks up at me. “Honestly. I think so. I’ve never seen Amber so scared. Ever.”
* * *
“You sure youtwo will be okay? You could stay at my place.” We’re finally back in Madison. After spending four hours at the county hospital, they released Amber with some pain medication and strict orders to rest. The trooper assigned to her case, Officer Renate, said he’d be in touch as soon as they were able to track down the truck. He also said there has been other, similar assaults at that truck stop and more troubling, at least one missing person. Another young woman.
Inside her apartment, I watch Emma make her way to the sofa. “No. I’m going to give Amber my bed. I’ll sleep in the floor so I can keep an eye on her.
“Emma,” Amber mumbles sleepily from the couch. “I’m okay. I can sleep right here.”
“No. You’re sleeping in my bed.” Emma’s voice cracks at those words. “You could have been killed.”
“But I wasn’t.”
“We’re going to have to call Mom and Dad.”
“Tomorrow,” Amber mutters. “I’ll tell them I fucked up again.”
“Hey!” Emma pronounces angrily. “It’s not your fault that guy—”
“Yeah. It is. It’s 100 percent my doing.”
Deciding it’s time for everyone to get some sleep, I give Emma a quick kiss and whisper, “I love you.”
The smile I get is tired but sincere. “Love you too.”
“I’ll be back first thing in the morning. I’ll bring donuts or something.”
“Glazed” comes from the woman on the sofa.
Sure, she’s been terrible to Emma in the past, but there’s no reason to use that against her right now. “Glazed it is.” I mean, who doesn’t love a good glazed donut?
