ISSABELLE

The next morning Issabelle woke up feeling much better. She had planned to speak to her doctor when she would visit her. The doctor found Issabelle much better while examining her. As soon as the doctor finished her examination, Issabelle put forth all her queries. She asked the doctor who brought her to the hospital, to which the doctor replied, that he was a young gentleman, who had placed a call that night to the Police / Emergency, as he had found a young girl on a deserted street late night while he was driving back home from a party. He informed the police that the girl was probably dead for all he knew. She was just lying motionless. He didn't check out, thinking it could be a medico-legal case. Within five minutes of him placing the call, the police along with an emergency medical team rescued her and brought her to the hospital. The young gentleman has requested for his identity to be concealed. Though the police department had his true identity. The only thing that the police had informed the hospital was that he was the son of an influential millionaire businessman. The doctor asked Issabelle, to remember him as an Angel. If Issabelle would not have been brought at the right time to the hospital, she would not have survived. On being asked by Issabelle what had happened to her, and in what condition was she brought when she was admitted, the doctor replied that she was very critical when she was brought. She had to be given respiratory support for a couple of days. Her worst fears were realized when the doctor informed her that she was physically assaulted/ raped by more than one person.

Issabelle started crying bitterly, she cried for being cheated in friendship ( Diana ). She cried for being cheated in love ( Sam ). She cried for being physically abused by the person she called her father, so what if he was her stepfather? Who could Issabelle turn to now in this hour of distress? The doctor told Issabelle that "You are alive today because you fought like a warrior in the face of death, and you should be brave and learn to fight. Everything is not lost. Have faith in God". She asked Issabelle to rest, and not think too much. She left Issabelle after comforting her.

Issabelle was pondering about all those doubts in her mind, when Sister Annie whose name Issabelle had asked politely the other day, turned up with her medicines. Issabelle had developed a very good rapport with Sister Annie. Issabelle enquired from Annie whether she knew someone, who could offer her shelter as Issabelle had nowhere to go once she was discharged. Annie asked her to stop worrying, and she would check out from someone whom she knew. That lady could probably help Issabelle, and after checking out from her, Anne would inform Issabelle.

The next morning after examining Issabelle, the doctor informed her that she was well on the road to recovery. She was also informed that she would be discharged the next day. But she would have to regularly follow up for her counseling sessions twice a week in the beginning.

Issabelle waited anxiously for Sister Annie to arrive, as she was afraid where she would go once she was discharged. Very soon she met Annie who gave her the good news that she would have a shelter on her head. She said she knew a very kind and rich widow Mrs. Betty. Baker, who stayed with her adopted daughter Emma. She informed that Mrs. Baker had asked Annie to get Issabelle to see her once she was discharged. Issabelle thanked Annie from the bottom of her heart.

Issabelle sent a silent prayer for Annie, and a Thank You to God, as her fear for a roof on her head, was over. She slept very peacefully that night, hoping for a new dawn to arrive. A new life where she could probably leave her past behind. Issabelle promised herself that she would not be a coward. She would learn to face life afresh. But she vowed that she would never ever trust any men.