Chapter 6

To say I slept poorly would be the understatement of the century.

Couches may be good for sitting, maybe lounging ... but they are absolute shit for sleeping any extended period of time.

From the look on Laurie’s face in the morning, I knew that, once the Zoloft had worn off, sleep had proven to be equally elusive for her. She just couldn’t relax enough naturally to reach deep sleep.

It was Laurie who suggested that I stay with her until she fell asleep.

So we decided to give it a try. She would sleep on one side of the mattress, and I would lay on the other. She would gain comfort knowing I was there. Once she fell asleep, I would head downstairs and try to sleep on the couch again.

It sucked, but I was willing to do it. For Laurie.

The first night in my room with Laurie was a patchwork of tangled sheets and whispered fears. After a sleepless night spent on the couch, I took my place beside her, hoping my presence would soothe her restless mind. I could feel her anxiety palpable in the dim light, and each gasp she stifled sent a shudder through me.

“Can you stay awake with me?” she whispered, her voice barely making it through a heaviness that weighed down the room.

“Always,” I replied, shifting closer so she could feel the warm comfort of our connection.

~~~ The days drifted into one another, and despite our efforts to create a semblance of normalcy, sleep continued to evade Laurie. Each night, she would murmur the names of boys who had shattered her sense of safety, tossing and turning as I quietly assured her I was right there.

But it wasn’t enough. I needed to talk to Mom and Dad.

“Laurie can’t sleep alone,” I finally pleaded over a breakfast that felt too quiet. “She needs to feel safe, and it’s just not working with her in my room and me on the couch.”

Dad ran a hand through his hair, glancing at Mom, who looked as torn as I felt. “Gabe, you know it’s not ideal for you two—being teenagers of opposite sexes in the same bed,” he began reluctantly.

“Dad, I know. But Laurie needs this,” I pressed, desperation creeping into my voice. “She needs to feel secure. If we switch to my room, I’ll go to sleep as soon as she does. We can figure this out.”

Mom’s eyes softened, and I could tell she wanted to agree, but parental worry cast a shadow over her expression. “This isn’t just about comfort, Gabe. There are boundaries to consider ... but if she’s struggling this much, maybe we need to find a way.”

After a tense silence, Dad sighed, defeated. “Alright, we’ll make it work. We’ll get a queen bed for your room, but we expect you both to set some ground rules about privacy, okay?”

Gratitude surged through me as I nodded vigorously. “Thank you. This will help her a lot,” I said, relief flooding my chest.

~~~ Days later, the new queen bed replaced my old one, filling the room with a sense of shared sanctuary. Laurie and I rearranged my space, brightening it with her stuffed animals and fairy lights, transforming it into something more suitable for two siblings fighting against the shadows of trauma.

At first, it felt strange sharing a bed, but the initial awkwardness quickly faded. Each night, we fell into a rhythm—reading together, recounting memories, all the while inching closer to each other. I could feel Laurie’s tension ease a little, bringing her comfort and moments of laughter amidst the dark.

But then, reality struck.

~~~ It was Tuesday when I faced them again—Eric, Bryan, and Adam—the boys who had snatched away Laurie’s peace. As I walked into the school bathroom, their laughter echoed cruelly, writhing through my veins like poison.

“Hey, look who it is! The noble hero riding to his slut sister’s defense!” Eric sneered, flanked by Bryan and Adam. Their casual malice hung in the air, suffocating and vile.

“Leave me alone,” I managed to grit out, but they didn’t back down.

“Why? You’re the one who thinks you can protect her from us. She’s a whore. You know that, right?” Adam taunted, stepping closer, a predatory grin flickering on his lips. “She begged for it. She couldn’t wait to spread her legs for us.”

“Don’t talk about her like that,” I snapped, forcing courage from a reservoir I didn’t know existed.

“Make us!” Bryan cackled, lunging forward.

Before I could react, they charged. The world around me suddenly consisted of flashing fists connecting with flesh. My flesh. Pain erupted, but my thoughts remained locked on Laurie—the need to protect her had ignited a fire inside me.

~~~ When I finally came to, I was in a hospital room, the sterile smell of antiseptic biting at my senses. Tubes trailed from my arms, and the dull ache that coursed through me felt like a weight I could barely carry. My head hurt and I could only open one eye.

I struggled to sit up, confusion overwhelming me until one thought broke through.

Laurie.

“Where’s Laurie?” I croaked, panic surging in my heart as I scanned the empty room.

My parents entered shortly after, their faces etched with worry.

“Gabe!” Mom gasped, relief flooding through her. “You’re awake! Thank God.”

“What happened?” I asked, fear coiling in my stomach.

Dad clenched his jaw, anger rising. “Those boys ... they attacked you pretty bad. We were really worried. You’ve been asleep for a day.”

I could feel my heart sink. “Laurie—”

“She’s at home.” Dad reassured me quickly, his eyes conveying the toll this ordeal was taking on him. “But this can’t go on. You’re mom and I have talked about it. We are pulling both of you out of school. Laurie can’t go back and see her attackers every day, and you will continue to be a target as the trial gets closer.”