"Summer"

You croak out the word, wary of this new face. Your mind is reeling, trying to dredge up any recent memories. All you can remember just now is screaming, which you suppose is why your throat burns so much.

"Summer. That's my name."

"Okay Summer. Nice to meet you. My name is Doctor Rachel Feldmann." She reaches out a hand to touch yours, with just her fingertips, and despite an involuntary flinch you allow her to. "We've done all the tests we can. Despite everything you've been through, your baby is just fine. Can I get you anything? You've been asleep now for nearly a day, maybe something to eat? Some water?"

"Water," you nod. She smiles and gets up, walking over to a corner of the room. When she draws her fingers away you flinch again, but it is a smaller response this time.

"Tell me Summer, do you know anybody by the name of Gwen Doe?"

"Of course I do," you croak the words uncomfortably. "She's my sister."

"I see. Good. I'm glad you two appear to agree. She's been very anxious to see you by the way. Would you like to see her?"

"YES! Yes, I want to see her," it is impossible to contain the desperation.

"Okay, good. She'll be along soon." She hands the plastic cup to you, and you guzzle it down desperately. "Easy now Summer, take it slow. Sip it if you can."

When Gwen arrives, she falls upon you like a devoted mother. She explains that due to a 'records failure' nobody has been able to find out who you are. That until you confirmed she was your sister, they wouldn't let her see you. She places her hands on your tummy and kisses it, and you feel her love pouring into you. Her face looks haggard, like she's been awake for days, and you ask her what is going on. A shadow passes over her as she explains. As soon as she starts to explain where you were when she saw you last it all floods back.

Alex is dead. The police came, called by a neighbour when they heard the screaming, to find his body and the weapon that killed him alongside the two of you, too traumatised to respond to them. Since then, they have been trying to get the whole story out of Gwen, and failing to connect all the dots due to you having no real identity. She relates that your parents arrived some time later, and attempted to confirm everything. Still they wouldn't let anybody see you until you'd assented to it, and now finally here we are.

The news washes over you. Everything has gone wrong. From the discovery at Carly's to now must be a little less than 24 hours, and yet in this time you've lost a friend, nearly been ****, had your sister kill your boyfriend to protect you, and been sedated twice.

It's too unbearable to comprehend, and it takes a long long time for any semblance of normality to return. It's more than a week before the hospital allows you to return home, and when you get there, despite the efforts of your parents and sister, everything is still broken.

When finally your water breaks and Gwen rushes you back to the hospital, you barely even feel the labour and the birth. When it's all over and she hands your newborn son to you, all you can see is the face of the now dead man who tried to violate you. As the tiny child's head turns towards your breast to feed, all you can feel is a sense of despair that not only do you have to face this all alone, but you will be reminded of the **** that you suffered every time you look at your child.