All Is Not Forgotten Read Online Free Page B
Author: Wendy Walker
understand that it was actually quite the opposite. It requires far more strength to experience emotion than to suppress it.
Dr. Baird stood behind them, checking a chart that hung on a metal clip at the end of Jennyâs bed.
Why donât we speak in the family lounge? he suggested.
Tom nodded, wiped his tears. He leaned down and kissed the top of his daughterâs head, and this brought on a series of deep sobs. Charlotte brushed a stray hair from Jennyâs face, then stroked her cheek with the back of her hand. Sweet angel ⦠sweet, sweet angel, she whispered.
They followed Baird and Detective Parsons down the hall to a set of locked doors. Through the doors was another hallway and then a small lounge with some furniture and a TV. Baird offered to arrange for coffee or food, but the Kramers declined. Baird closed the door. Parsons sat down next to the doctor and across from the Kramers.
This is Charlotteâs account of what happened next:
They beat around the bush, asking us about Jennyâs friends, did we know about the party, did she have any troubles with any boys, did she mention anyone bothering her at school or in town or on her social media? Tom was answering them like he was in some sort of fog, like he couldnât see we were all just avoiding what needed to be discussed. Iâm not saying that those werenât legitimate questions or that we shouldnât have answered them at some point. But I had had it, you know? I wanted someone to tell me something. I try really hard to let Tom âbe the manâ because I know I can be controlling. No one complains when the house is in perfect order and the fridge has everything they all need and their clothes are washed and ironed and put away where they belong. Anyway ⦠I do try because I know itâs important in a marriage for the man to be the man. But I couldnât take it. I just couldnât!
So I interrupted all of them, all of the men, and I said, âOne of you needs to tell us what happened to our daughter.â Dr. Baird and the detective looked at each other like neither of them wanted to go first. The doctor drew the short end of the stick. And then he told us. He told us how she had been raped. It was not what I had hopedâthat it was some boy she liked and he got carried away. Oh God I know how bad that sounds. The feminists would have my head, wouldnât they? Iâm not saying that that kind of rape isnât really rape or shouldnât be punished. Believe meâwhen Lucas is older, Iâm going to make damn sure he knows the kind of trouble he could be in if he isnât absolutely sure he has consent. I do believe that men have a responsibility, that they need to realize that when it comes to sex, we are not on equal footing. And not just because of the physiology. Itâs the psychology as wellâthe fact that girls still feel pressure to do things they donât want and boys, men, have very little understanding about what girls go through. Anyway, it was not what I had hoped. And actually, it was what I had feared most. Detective Parsons filled in this part. He wore a mask. He forced her to the ground on her face. He ⦠Iâm sorry. This is hard to say out loud. I can hear the words in my mind, but saying them is another thing altogether.
Charlotte stopped to gather herself. She had a particular method, which she used without deviation. It was a long inhale, eyes closed, quick shake of the head, then a slow exhale. She looked down first after opening her eyes, then nodded in confirmation of the control she had wrangled.
Iâll just say it, all of it, quickly and then be done. She was raped from behind, vaginally, anally, back and forth apparently, for an hour. Okay. I said it. Itâs done. They did the rape kit. They found traces of spermicide and latex. This ⦠this creature wore a condom. They didnât find one hair either, and the forensic
Dr. Baird stood behind them, checking a chart that hung on a metal clip at the end of Jennyâs bed.
Why donât we speak in the family lounge? he suggested.
Tom nodded, wiped his tears. He leaned down and kissed the top of his daughterâs head, and this brought on a series of deep sobs. Charlotte brushed a stray hair from Jennyâs face, then stroked her cheek with the back of her hand. Sweet angel ⦠sweet, sweet angel, she whispered.
They followed Baird and Detective Parsons down the hall to a set of locked doors. Through the doors was another hallway and then a small lounge with some furniture and a TV. Baird offered to arrange for coffee or food, but the Kramers declined. Baird closed the door. Parsons sat down next to the doctor and across from the Kramers.
This is Charlotteâs account of what happened next:
They beat around the bush, asking us about Jennyâs friends, did we know about the party, did she have any troubles with any boys, did she mention anyone bothering her at school or in town or on her social media? Tom was answering them like he was in some sort of fog, like he couldnât see we were all just avoiding what needed to be discussed. Iâm not saying that those werenât legitimate questions or that we shouldnât have answered them at some point. But I had had it, you know? I wanted someone to tell me something. I try really hard to let Tom âbe the manâ because I know I can be controlling. No one complains when the house is in perfect order and the fridge has everything they all need and their clothes are washed and ironed and put away where they belong. Anyway ⦠I do try because I know itâs important in a marriage for the man to be the man. But I couldnât take it. I just couldnât!
So I interrupted all of them, all of the men, and I said, âOne of you needs to tell us what happened to our daughter.â Dr. Baird and the detective looked at each other like neither of them wanted to go first. The doctor drew the short end of the stick. And then he told us. He told us how she had been raped. It was not what I had hopedâthat it was some boy she liked and he got carried away. Oh God I know how bad that sounds. The feminists would have my head, wouldnât they? Iâm not saying that that kind of rape isnât really rape or shouldnât be punished. Believe meâwhen Lucas is older, Iâm going to make damn sure he knows the kind of trouble he could be in if he isnât absolutely sure he has consent. I do believe that men have a responsibility, that they need to realize that when it comes to sex, we are not on equal footing. And not just because of the physiology. Itâs the psychology as wellâthe fact that girls still feel pressure to do things they donât want and boys, men, have very little understanding about what girls go through. Anyway, it was not what I had hoped. And actually, it was what I had feared most. Detective Parsons filled in this part. He wore a mask. He forced her to the ground on her face. He ⦠Iâm sorry. This is hard to say out loud. I can hear the words in my mind, but saying them is another thing altogether.
Charlotte stopped to gather herself. She had a particular method, which she used without deviation. It was a long inhale, eyes closed, quick shake of the head, then a slow exhale. She looked down first after opening her eyes, then nodded in confirmation of the control she had wrangled.
Iâll just say it, all of it, quickly and then be done. She was raped from behind, vaginally, anally, back and forth apparently, for an hour. Okay. I said it. Itâs done. They did the rape kit. They found traces of spermicide and latex. This ⦠this creature wore a condom. They didnât find one hair either, and the forensic
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