30 The Foolish Girl Chooses Silence, Again, and The Ignorant Nurse Complied (2/2)
Yeo Ri hesitated for a while before uneasily raising her dress, showing her injuries to the nurse.
The nurse gasped sharply, her eyes wide in horror.
The girl's body was covered with a multi-colour of marks. Hickeys dominated her upper body and there were bruises in different shades of reds, blues, purples, and yellows marking her body. A detail she noticed was that they were all in places that were usually hidden underneath clothes. Clearly, whoever did this to her knew what he was doing.
The nurse examined the bruises closely for a short moment, then raised her head to meet the girl's eyes. ”Do you need any help? Should I file a report?” The nurse lowered her voice and asked with concern.
Yeo Ri flinched, then shook her head in panic. ”N-no, I'm fine!” That man had threatened to kill Hyuk and Gun. If she reported him, then Hyuk and Gun would be in danger. She couldn't risk it. ”I'm really fine,” she repeated. It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself.
The nurse looked at the girl with a complicated gaze. On one hand, she was worried, and on the other, she didn't want to be a meddling stranger. She wanted to offer help, but seeing the girl's stubborn and insistent gaze, she gave up. It looked as if no words could change the girl's mind.
The nurse took out a small memo pad from her pocket, then scribbled a series of number and words on it. If she was so adamant about not turning to the authorities, then the least she could do as a concerned adult was offer some support for the girl. She tore the page from her memo pad and placed it in the young girl's hand. ”This is my personal number. If you need any help, just know that I'm available.” She stared at the girl seriously.
Yeo Ri looked at her hand which held the nurse's number, then looked up at the woman. ”T-thank you,” she says softly, lowering her head. Yeo Ri bit her lips as she sniffed, tearing up.
”Stay strong,” the nurse whispered as she enveloped the young girl in a comforting hug. Then, she finished up with Yeo Ri's treatment.
She handed Yeo Ri a clipboard, asking her to fill in her information. ”A doctor will come by to check up on you later, okay?” The nurse offered a few more words of encouragement before going back to her tasks.
Yeo Ri rubbed her eyes and nodded obediently.
”Yeo Ri-ah,” In Guk entered the curtained space just as the nurse exited, followed by Jin Goo. ”Get some rest. Me and Jin Goo will look after your brother for you. Don't worry too much; Hyuk's a fighter. He'll live.” In Guk smiled reassuringly, patting her head.
”...Okay.” Yeo Ri lied down on the bed. It was only after the situation calmed down that she felt the brunt of her wounds. Her body was heavily fatigued and sore. The moment her head hit the pillow, she passed out.