“Oh God no,” Aaron fell to his knees. On the ground in front of him was a girl’s body. Badly beaten and bruised. He didn’t want it to be her. There was no reason for this to have happened to her. He ripped off his coat and gingerly wrapped it around her naked, lifeless body. “Don’t give up on me Jess.”

He took out his cell phone and dialed 911. “911 what is your emergency?”

“She’s raped. Please you have to help. I’m scared. She’s not moving.”

“Please sir calm down and tell me where you are.”

Aaron managed to tell them where he was and hung up to wait. He carefully pulled Jess into his arms like he would a small child and slowly rocked her back and forth. He noticed the back of her head bleeding and immediately ripped his shirt and tied it around her head to try and stop the bleeding. He gently kissed the top of her head and whispered, “Jess you’re going to make it. You have to.” He closed his eyes and prayed the hardest he ever had in his life for God not to take her from him.

As the ambulance showed up Aaron dialed Jess’ all too familiar number. “It’s Aaron meet me at the hospital,” he said as calmly as he could.

“But Aaron what’s wrong?”

“JUST DO IT!” he hung up the phone and carried Jess out near the road so the ambulance could see them.

“What is her name?” asked one of the medics.

“Jessica Lane. She’s sixteen.” He lifted her up into the back of the ambulance and turned back to the woman who had talked to him.

“Get in the front.”

Once they got to the hospital they sent Aaron to the waiting room and rushed Jess into the emergency room. Aaron just sat in a chair rocking back and forth and crying. “It’s all my fault! Why didn’t I make her stay?”

“AARON!” Jess’ mom ran in and threw her arms around him.

“I’m so scared mom. God I’m scared.”

“What happened?” Her mom kept talking as her dad went up to the desk to sign forms and talk to the nurses.

“We fought. She left and I… I was such a jerk. I came after her though mom. She went for a walk. I couldn’t find her. But then someone ran out of the bushes and I found her mom. I’m sorry mom. I’m so sorry.”

“What Aaron?”

“She… she was raped.”

She just sat there in shock. “I’m sorry mom this is all my fault.”

“No, of course not.”

“I shouldn’t have ragged on her so much about Jason. If I had just kept my big mouth shut and my music off she would have stayed like we planned but I’m a stupid jerk!”

“Aaron, please don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault.” She stood up and slowly walked over to the nurses station.

When Jess’ dad found Aaron he was sitting at a wall. He was curled up in a ball with his arms around his knees and he was shaking. “Son look at me.”

Aaron slowly lifted his eyes and looked at the man who had seemed to never want anything to do with him. “I’m in love with your daughter.” Her father finally broke down. He slid down next to Aaron and he cried too.

“I know you are Aaron. I know you are… now listen to me. When she gets better, and you feel like you both are ready… you have my blessing.” He wrapped his arms around Aaron and they cried together.

They stayed sitting by the wall for hours, joined by Jess’ mom not long after they had sat down. They talked and consoled each other until about five a.m. when a doctor came to talk to them.

“Mr. and Mrs. Lane?”

“Yes sir?”

“You may go in now. She is in a coma but we think she can still hear you.”

They all stood up and went to follow him. “I’m sorry sir. Immediate family only.”

“It’s all right. Let him come,” Jess’ mom put her arm around Aaron.