SIXTEENTH CHAPTER:

---Sarah’s POV---

“Meri have you ever spoken to a therapist about what happened last year?” I ask her as I push her hair back so I can see her eyes. I see Crispin out of the corner of my eye. I see him tense and shift as he growls. Whatever she thought wasn’t good. “Meri please tell me the truth. Not what you tell everyone else.”

“My parents said it would corrupt my testimony and that if I still wanted to, I needed to lie.” She said softly but everyone heard.

“Meri no that’s false.” Theresa started to reach for her, but Meri tensed again, so she just smoothed the sheets on her knees.

“Sweetie pie Theresa is right.” Mrs. Lopez confirmed and then added, “How are you sleeping?” just as Meri lifted her head she clarified, “Don’t you lie to me.”

“I sleep between 4 to maybe 6 hours. But that’s a..after I..I finish m..my” Meri starts’ only for Crispin to wave his hand. Meri stutters and then stops to clear her throat. “I have chores every day; from making breakfast in the early morning, to lunches for Dad and Daniella, then I have to vacuum or mop certain rooms, plus there’s dinner and then the dishes. Though on the weekend I have more to do. Plus, any given day there are other tasks that must be done. So as long as I get everything done then I can go to my room and do my homework and eat. I mostly sleep at my desk, as I also have to check Daniella’s work…”

“OK stop. Meri just stop.” Mr. Walker, the social worker. I knew he was standing just outside the open door, out of Meri’s view. Mrs. Lopez purposely got Meri to speak without knowing that she was outing her toxic family. “Mrs. Lopez I will speak with Chief Attorney Anderson and my supervisor. We will have her guardship changed before she is discharged. I now have more then enough evidence of abuse and manipulation of services.” He says before leaving and making calls.

Meri doesn’t say anything or have time to question what happened as now it’s time to transfer rooms. Mrs. Lopez moves to answer questions and sign things. Plus, Ericson arrived at the tail end, he just stood by Mrs. Lopez and helped with signing the paperwork.

I stayed on the bed with Meri as she just quietly took everything in. I think she is finally understanding how bad it is for her. Miguel had warned us that she was mistreated but this is beyond what we imagined. It’s like she was the slave and never thought otherwise.

“Meri what does Daniella do while you do all that?” Chrispin ask as we are rolled down the hall to the elevator. Ericson most likely demanded Meri be moved to the VIP wing and called in security as I see some of our Armed Guards standing at the elevator.

“She has violin lessons, given she is working to be first chair in the youth First Tribal orchestra in our city. That and she is on the cross-country track team at school. But that’s to keep in her shape and to help increase her endurance, so she can last longer while playing.” Meri explains. You can hear how excited she is for her twin, and yet that girl has not called to ask about her. Let alone I doubt that is the truth, not that I think Meri has lied but her family lying to her is possible.

“So, is that why you have to help her with her work?” Crispin asks as we wait for the elevator.

“I am only good at doing homework, and it’s how I help the family.” She states like its common sense.

“Meri, don’t you have any hobbies or things you want to do?” I ask as we are rolled on to the elevator. It’s Crispin, two of the Armed Guards, Theresa as she is pushing the bed and another nurse who squeezed in before the doors shut.

“I can’t have any, given last year I got entangled with Tom.” Meri says as she looks at me. “My mom says I can’t be trusted by myself, or I will bring an ax murder into the house.”

The other nurse whips around and stares at Meri like she has two heads. Theresa shakes her head and mumbles under her breath, ‘It just had to be him!’. It sounded like she found all this funny but crazily funny.

I mean I agree it’s all crazy but how can Meri not see that. Her family literally made her valuable to be targeted by the Bike Stalker and then they never noticed him hanging around their house. I seriously doubt they never noticed some strange guy on a motorcycle hanging around the neighborhood.

“Are you the only surviving victim of the Bike Stalker?” the nurse asked, shocking me. Now understand Theresa’s reaction.

“I prefer calling him Tom, as that name makes him sound like a mythical person and not my once good friend slash my first crush.” Meri rationalizes. The other nurse nodded his head in agreement and turned back just as the doors opened.

“Well I hope you testify and send him to jail. He hurt my friend when we had to treat him last year. My friend hasn’t been able to come back after that and it was that freak’s fault.” he revealed as stood at the door to keep the elevator from going up.

“I only want to tell the truth and get justice for everyone that Tom hurt. Tell your friend that Tom is just a person, and that the world is bigger than one person.” Meri just simplified a monster and possibly helped this person and their friend. “My name’s Merida but call me Meri and come see me whenever and bring your friend.”

“James don’t tell anyone besides Theo this, but she is under the alias Pomona. But make sure to run by me before your visit.” Theresa says and then gestures for him to step back. “Now get back to work.”

James smiles and waves as he steps back.

“Thanks for helping James. He has been really worried about Theo especially now that the case is approaching court.” Theresa said as we reached our floor.

“Hey what’s with the alias that you mentioned? Not that I don’t like Pomona but where did that come from?” Meri asked.

I just smirked, “That’s all Ericson. He asked you to use that name, right?” I asked Theresa.

“I asked him and that’s what he suggested. It’s a beautiful name.”

“Yes, it is and the perfect one in these circumstances.” I stated.