Free Parker's Island by Kimberly Schwartzmiller Page A

voice called my name.  I stopped and turned to find Logan heading toward me.
    “Delaney, what’s wrong ?  W hat happened to you ?” 
    “Logan, oh Logan, please don’t look at me.” I said, pulling the jacket tight er around me.  Suddenly it was too much for me to endure , and I collapsed on the ground.
                 
    I woke up in a panic, once again unsure of where I was.  “It’s okay, you’re fine!” Logan said, immediately at my side.
    “What happened?” I asked.
    “ I’m afraid that’s something you’re going to have to tell me , ” h e said, looking very concerned.
    “I don’t know… I don’t remember , ” I said blocking out what I didn’t want to face.
    “ Delaney, I think we should call the police.”
    “Why?”
    “I think you were… hurt .”
    “No, I’m fine.”
    “I don’t think you are.  Do you remember why you were running down the road?” h e asked, trying to make me remember what I had tried so hard to block out.
    “No.”
    “I think you do , ” h e said, touching my cheek.
    “NO!  I don’t!  I’m fine , ” I lied , but still in denial as to what I was lying about.
    “Okay, you just rest now , ” h e said, standing up.
    “NO, don’t leave me!” I said, reaching for him.
    “I’m not going anywhere . ” H e sat down next to me on the bed a nd pulled the blankets up around me, tucking me in.
    “What are you doing here?” I asked, finally realizing that I was actually with Logan.
    “I live here, most of the time , anyway.”
    “You live here?  You live on the island?”   The island, suddenly I remembered what had happened and I jumped up.  “Oh no.  Oh no. NO NO NO! ”
    “It’s okay. You’re okay now!”
    “No, it’s never going to be okay again.  NEVER!”
    “You’re safe , Delaney.  No one can hurt you here , I promise.”
    “I need a shower.”  I realized I suddenly needed to wash all memories of the night away.
    “I really think we should call the police first , ” h e urged.
    “No!  I have to shower now!  PLEASE! Please. Oh please , ” I begged, frantic .
    He looked at me like he understood my urgent need for a shower and led me to the bathroom.
    “Will you be okay?”
    “ It doesn’t matter . I have to do this right now .”
    “I’ll be right outside the door.”  He shut the door gently.
    I threw off what was left of my clothes and stepped into the shower.  I only turned on the hot water, and as hot as it was and as red as my skin turned, it wasn’t hot enough to wash away the memory.  I scrubbed; using an entire bottle of body wash, then scrubbed my hair and used the rest of the shampoo on my body as well.  When I was out of all soap products I just stood under the hot water, certain I would never be clean again.
    The water finally turned cold and I slid down the shower wall and curled into the fetal position on the floor of the shower , and cried.
    I didn’t know how long the cold water washed over me and I didn’t answer Logan when he asked if I was okay.  I just laid there, shivering at the bottom of the shower, wishing the tears would stop and th e night had never happened.
    The next thing I knew, Logan had turned the water off , wrapped me in a towel and carried me back to the bed.   He held me for what seemed like hours while I cried.
    When I was finally spent and had no more tears, Logan said, “Delaney, we really should call the police.”
    “I can’t.  I can’t re-live… I just can’t.”
              “Whoever did this to you NEEDS to be punished , ” h e said, sounding very angry ; an emotion I had never seen Logan express before.
              “Please don’t call the police.  I couldn’t bear the humiliation , ” I pleaded.
    “Would you at least tell me who .. .did this?” h e aske d , his hands clenched into fists.
    “I…I don’t remember , ” I lied, fearing that Logan may go after Chad and I couldn’t live with that , either .
    Logan