Broken Birds, Part 24, Dante’s World

Part 24
Dante’s World

Beth prayed for Becka. Though Becka’s words relieved the major part of her guilt, she was haunted by the agony in Becka’s eyes. She remembered her own agony all too well – not of the rape itself, but of the feelings and aftermath. Her memories of the events of that Saturday night had been almost entirely erased.

Mercifully Becka had little memory of the next two days.

Jennifer examined her carefully and spat her disgust with rural American doctors. Becka had Chlamydia and Gonorrhea of the throat. She suspected from talking with Becka that she also had Herpes 1.

Becka’s vagina, peritoneum and sphincter had been ripped. The injuries had never been repaired. Anger coursed through Jennifer. They’d been given the money. Why hadn’t they gone to the doctors?

She scheduled Becka for surgery in Brisbane.

Beth and Alice sat beside Becka on the lounge pool deck. Becka had wanted to sun bathe, but the sun was too strong in the early afternoon, so they sat in the shade. Ted and Michael sat together at the other end of the deck. Ted had a beer; Michael sipped a Mimosa.

Michael looked into Jennifer’s face and blanched. “Can you send for Nancy? I need to talk with Ted and her.” She said in clipped tones. She waived Alice over.

Beth and Becka came over. Michael sent Beth to get Nancy. He rose and excused himself. This was Burkett family business.

Nancy appeared, hurrying to their table.

Jennifer took a long breath trying to remain calm. She looked at Ted and Nancy, cocked her head toward Becka asking silently if they wanted her to hear.

“I’m seventeen. Tell me what’s wrong.” Becka had a mulish expression. Ted and Nancy nodded.

“Okay. Becka, you have a couple of diseases including Gonorrhea and Chlamydia of the throat. She reached into her white smock and pulled out two bottles. “The directions are on the bottles. I think you may also have Herpes 1. It’s very common. It may or may not be connected with the rape.”

Becka began to sob.

“You also have significant scarring from the tearing of your vagina and sphincter. There’s also some scarring on your cervix. We’ll need to get that evaluated by an OB/GYN. You’re going to need surgery. I’ve taken the liberty of scheduling it ten days from now. I want you healthy before the surgery. Recovery time is usually about 6 weeks.” Jennifer’s anger grew.

Becka was now openly crying in her father’s arms.

Jennifer’s eyes hardened, “Nancy, you’re a nurse. Why didn’t you get her treatment? Misha sent money!”

Nancy’s face seemed to come apart. She ran from the table.

“It’s not her fault. She took me to our doctor right after and he said I’d heal. He took some tests, but it was probably too soon for him to detect the diseases. She tried to get me to go to other hospitals and an OB/GYN. I refused to go. I told her I was fine and if she made me go, I’d kill myself,” Becka said sobbing into her father’s chest, “I thought I’d heal and then forget it ever happened.”

Jennifer nodded sadly, regretting what she’d said.

“Okay young lady,” Jennifer said sternly, “you’re here to get fixed and we will fix you. Go take the pills. I need to talk with your mother.”

Jennifer left to find Nancy and apologize.

Alice had been quiet during the discussion, carefully monitoring Becka and her father. Clearly she trusted him. He reminded Alice of Michael, including his haunted look.

“Ted, would you excuse Becka and me?” Alice said kindly, motioning Beth to come over just as Misha came to them. Misha’s face showed signs of crying. She had on a bright yellow one-piece bathing suit that showed off a killer body for a woman of any age.

Misha touched Becka’s cheek with infinite gentleness, “I’m Misha. Robert was my son. I’m so sorry, Honey.” Misha’s tears started again. Beth put her arms around Misha. Becka rose and joined them. All three cried.

Becka looked at Misha, “I don’t remember Robert. It was that bastard John that set me up and raped me first.”

‘Thank God for small mercies,’ Alice thought.

“Misha, I was going to start a session, so if you’ll excuse us.” Misha headed for the other side of the pool deck.

Alice asked Becka about her dreams for the future.


Alice and Beth talked with Becka for nearly three hours. Alice had a private session with Becka for another hour. By the end, they were exhausted, but Alice had some very specific ideas for treatment. She also had a problem.

During a particularly painful, private discussion, Becka blurted that Sandy had been molested by her uncle several years ago. They’d kept it a secret because Ted would have killed him. She asked Becka to see if Sandy wanted to talk about it.

“I’m not sure I want to be alone tonight,” Becka said sadly, “I think the nightmares will come back. Could you stay in the room with me?”

“Of course, Honey,” Alice searched Becka’s eyes for a moment.