***Note: This entry is dedicated to all those who have ever been bullied by their siblings, parents, and/or classmates. It's based on a few true stories; some names have been changed to protect privacy. It is also dedicated for the select few who had the guts to stand up for their friends. In my case, only one name rings out as a hero and that's Danny Garcia. You will always be a hero in my heart no matter what happens. You did what no one else wanted or had the guts to do and for that I will always love you. Thank you for showing me how to be powerful for myself as well as for others. Thank you for being you! Xoxo Olga***

***WARNING: This entry may be a trigger for people that self-harm. Reader discretion is advised. Thank you.***

Dear Diary: March 18, 2014

What a week! I've been working 48 hour shifts at the hospital. After hearing that story about the "Other Side" from Rogue with all of its characters, I must say I was kind of happy to go to the hospital and work with humans! Don't get wrong, I enjoyed and pleasantly surprised by all of the Ancient Greek G-ds (other than Michael) and am looking forward to meeting them all but even though I'm a vampire, I've lived in the human world all of my life so it's just a little bit more familiar. So off to the hospital I went. Meanwhile, back home John and Maria had returned and Alice was bugging Michelle and Kim to pin down a date for their wedding. Now that Leah and Keith's was over, our resident pixie was bored and wanted something else to plan and as we knew the ladies wanted a wedding in April, Alice was whining about getting things planned. I think Kim was ready to have that pterodactyl eat her by the time she was satisfied with all of the answers. To let out her annoyance, Kim went to work on a motorcycle in the garage with Rose and Jacob. To be perfectly honest, can't say I blame her.

But I digress. I never expected that my 48 hour shift would yield me a look into the dark side of adolescence. I mean, yes we already had a school shooting last year that nearly harmed my granddaughter if it wasn't for Michelle's quick thinking and watching. But this was a whole different ballgame, one that made me very sad and angry. I will start at the beginning so not to confuse you. So my long shift started on Sunday. I changed, went to my office to look over my patient charts, and started with my rounds after speaking with Betsy and Charlotte. I was almost done with my patients when I heard my name being paged to come to the ER at once. I jogged to the elevator and down to the ER I went.

A young lady was brought in, no more than 20 years old. She was weeping into her pillow. Just looking at her, made my heart ache. I walked over to her and gently touched her on the shoulder as I introduced myself:

"Hi there, I'm Dr. Cullen. Can you tell me what your name is please?
"I...I...I'm Daisy" the young lady whispered through her tears looking at me with big scared brown eyes.
"Nice to meet you Daisy. Why are you crying? Are you in pain? Can you show me where it hurts? I promise I'll be gentle." Just then Charlotte came over with her usual sunny disposition.
"Hi again honey. Dr. Cullen is real nice; you tell him what you told me ok?" Charlotte said to Daisy in a gentle all Texas drawl that reminded me of Jasper.

It looked like Charlotte had gotten a relationship going with Daisy before I got there so Daisy was holding Charlotte's hand as the latter nodded at me to look. Daisy then lifted her pant legs. What I saw horrified me; she had deep lacerations to both legs from the hips all the way to the knee. All would require cleaning and stitching. As I got closer careful not to touch anything, I saw Daisy wince in anticipation. I put my hands behind my back to reassure her that I wouldn't touch her and continued to examine her. I got my stethoscope out to check her vitals and told Charlotte to draw blood which she did. Then I told her that I would have to clean her wounds but before I did that, I had to ask her:

"Daisy, can you please tell me why you did this to yourself? Because these look like they're self-inflicted and not like you were harmed by someone else." I said very quietly looking at her kindly.

She had calmed down by that time to just hiccup a little bit I wanted to keep her talking while Charlotte drew blood, got her connected to an IV, and got the stitching kit ready. I also knew that I would have to get psych down here soon. But so far she seemed to trust Charlotte and myself so I didn't want too many doctors in her face either. I would pass along everything to the psych doc when we were ready. She looked ashamed but after a reassuring squeeze from Charlotte, she looked me straight in the eyes and with a very sad look said:

"It's because of the bully. I did it because I couldn't take being picked on anymore."
"The bully? Who's the bully?" I asked gently.
"M-my sister Mandy and her 3 friends Julia, Lauren, and Rita."
"Your own sister is bullying you? Why?" I was stunned.
"Because she thinks I'm a wimp without a backbone and that I can't do anything for myself. Plus she backs up her own friends when they make fun of me. They've told me that they wish I would just die and one even punched me. Mandy's boyfriend Jeff has even tripped me so I fell in front of them all." Daisy looked sad as more tears ran down her face.
"Wait a minute; your sister is with your aunt in the waiting room. Is this the same sister?" Charlotte's eyes widened as she asked. Daisy nodded quietly.
"I only have one sibling. Sometimes I wish I was an only child. Her friends even said I was born ugly and was a waste of air and she laughed with them."
"How could siblings and young adults be so cruel to each other?" I wondered aloud.
"No idea but it makes me sick to my stomach." Charlotte mumbled. I nodded.
"Daisy, where are your parents?" I asked turning my attention back to my patient.

"They died when we were young. They were both drug addicts. We aren't from here; I mean not from NH. We're from the Midwest. Our aunt took us in and she was born and raised here in Hanover. She's an awesome lady. I love her very much." Daisy said smiling for the first time; it brightened her whole face. She was a very lovely girl.
"What's your aunt's name honey?" Charlotte asked.
"Alexandra Flowers. I love her name. It's so pretty!" Daisy said, her eyes lighting up again.
"Well your name is pretty too, Daisy. You're named after a flower." I said to which Daisy's smile faded and she said:
"Yeah I wanted to change my last name from Kyla to Flowers but the bully and her friends told me that it would make me sound like a drag queen or some LSD hippy; Daisy Flowers. Why does she have to be so mean? I've always stood up for her and stuff. So not fair!" Daisy said angrily pounding her fists into the bed as Charlotte and I looked at each other.

"Is she younger then you?"
"Yes by 5 years. She's a little know it all teenager." Daisy said hotly but still with a quiver in her voice.
"Dr. Cullen, should we stitch her up now?" Charlotte asked.
"Not yet." I said. I had an idea.
"Wait, aren't you supposed to wash the cuts out first?" Daisy asked.
"It's already done my dear." I said to her with a smile showing her as her eyes got wide.
"Wow and I didn't feel anything! It just stung a little but didn't hurt. I've done this before and when the doctor washed out my cuts it hurt so badly." She shuttered at the memory.
"I guess you need the right kind of doctor with the magic touch." Charlotte told her with a wink. Daisy smiled.

I motioned Charlotte over to me and we told Daisy to just relax, then I gave her a small amount of sedative; not to knock her out but just to calm her down. Her whole story was disturbing; but what was more so was her admission that she had done this before. I was saddened but at the same time I was very angry and thought it was time to speak with Ms. Flowers and Mandy the bully. Rogue wasn't the only one capable of ice cold rage; I'd remain professional of course but I was determined to give that punk girl a piece of my mind. Charlotte agreed to keep Daisy company, even bringing out Courage the bear that still lived in her locker at work. She kept him there for patients like Daisy to hold onto while she told them the story of how he got his name and his existence (the whole Carrie thing and Nessie's broken leg).

I meanwhile made my way to the waiting room where it wasn't hard to spot Mandy as she looked like a younger version of Daisy and Ms. Flowers. They were sitting in the furthest corner of the small waiting room; Mandy was playing with her phone. I stared at the 15 year old with contempt in my eyes until she looked up and her eyes widened in shock. I walked over to where she and her aunt were sitting. Before I could get a word out, the aunt said:

"Doctor, how's Daisy? Is she alright? What happened? Did she fall?"
"Hello Ms. Flowers, I'm Dr. Cullen. I am treating Daisy. She did not fall, no. I think physically she will be alright but she does need to speak with someone about what's been happening." I paused briefly to glance at Mandy who shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another and refused to meet my gaze.
"What do you mean; she will need to speak with someone about this?" Ms. Flowers looked confused.
"Will you both please come with me?" I said gently.
"Of course doctor." Ms. Flowers as she and Mandy followed me down the hall to where Charlotte was sitting with Daisy. The ER areas were quiet so I knew I could do what I planned to do. As soon as Daisy saw her aunt she was briefly happy until she saw Mandy behind her and then she started to get agitated.

"No! No! No! I don't want her here! Get her out!" Daisy yelped pointing at Mandy whose eyes grew to the size of saucers.
"Daisy...Daisy please calm down, why don't you want to see Mandy?" Ms. Flowers was aghast by her niece's distress.

Daisy turned around and clutching Courage and Charlotte's hand continued to sob. Her sobs were so complete that even Charlotte had tears in her eyes as she tried to hide them by wiping them away quickly and looking away from everyone. Looked like she was clutching Courage's other paw herself. All I could do was shake my head. This poor girl has been attacked from every direction and there was no one to stand up for her. Well that stopped there. I would be her voice of strength and hopefully through my voice, she would find her own. I looked straight at Mandy without blinking and said:

"This is your doing Mandy, please come closer; both of you. Look what your words have done to your sister." I motioned both until they saw the now washed lacerations. Ms. Flowers gasped as did Mandy who also looked a bit queasy.
"Merciful heavens! What did you say to her, Mandy??" Ms. Flowers—whose eyes were as wide as saucers—turned to her youngest niece. I continued.

"Mandy, this is what being a bully does to the ones you love. Daisy has been nothing but a wonderful sister to you and yet you and your group of thugs have constantly harassed her and even pushed her. Who died and made you G-d? Who said you were better than your sister? What would have happened if the paramedics didn't get there in time and your sister died? What would you do then? Would it still be funny? Daisy, is your one and only sister. You don't get a do over. If she dies or she disowns you....you'll be alone forever. Friends and boyfriends come and go but siblings are for life. You're 15 not 6. Grow the hell up and act like it!" As I finished speaking, Daisy was looking at me in shock.

Mandy meanwhile, was sobbing like a little baby. Tears were pouring out of her eyes in rivers. I think she was beginning to get it that this wasn't a game. That people could leave you on their own or through other means not of their own choice and you could end up alone. Ms. Flowers was standing next to Daisy, holding her and rocking her as tears flowed out of her own eyes. Charlotte had come to stand next to me by this time.

"We'll get through this baby. I promise we will." She said over and over to Daisy as the latter clung to her. Finally Daisy looked at me and said through her tears:

"I...I...don't know what to say, Dr. Cullen. No one has ever stood up for me before. I never thought I was good enough to be defended by anyone. But you're a doctor and everything. Thank you. I don't think you know how much that means to me."

"You're welcome Daisy. Just remember, you are good enough to live, breathe, and most importantly be respected by everyone especially your sister." I finished and looked at Mandy who was still sobbing and standing on her own as her aunt glared at her and her sister didn't even look at her. Finally, she walked slowly over to Daisy and said:

"I...I....I'm so sorry Daisy. I never thought.....ok that's stupid. I do love you very much. I just thought it was funny. I never thought about your feelings. Which is wrong and dumb and not who I want to be. I don't want lose you ever. Please forgive me. I'll get rid of Julia, Lauren, Rita, and Jeff right away. Nothing and no one will ever come between our family. I'm so sorry."

She walked over and hugged her sister as I said:

"It's all about actions Mandy, not words. You have to prove to your sister you mean it. Words hurt....you know that saying sticks and stones? Well it's a total lie. Words not only hurt but they can kill. You remember what happened at Hanover High School last year. My own niece barely escaped with her life. Don't turn into another Frank Jordan or a victim of one." Mandy nodded as their aunt chimed in.

"Girl, if you don't straighten out, I will send your butt to military school! I will not have any bullies in my house! Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Yes ma'am." Mandy said with a gulp. Military school isn't fun and Ms. Flowers wasn't joking. Good for her for putting her foot down.

After that, I asked Mandy and her aunt to step out while I stitched Daisy's legs closed. I gave her a local anesthetic so she wouldn't feel anything. She clung to Courage as Charlotte kept her talking about her favorite hobbies like knitting and drawing. Charlotte showed her pictures of baby Hope who was now a toddler and had started to walk fairly recently. Daisy was enchanted with Hope who gave me more than enough time to finish all of the stitching and cleaning her up. Betsy had already paged the psych doctor and I explained what his job was going to be. We would keep Daisy overnight so that we could monitor her vitals and her wounds and the psych doctor could get her assessed and ready for treatment. Mandy would get her own treatment through an outpatient program. As soon as I was done, a room was ready for her. Mandy and their aunt were leaving and hugged Daisy promising to be back in the morning. I had a feeling Mandy would be grounded for life.

My shift was over and I was going home but as Charlotte and Betsy rolled her away, I had one last question:

"Hey Daisy, what do you want to be when you grow up?" She smiled at me and said:

"A caring doctor."

~Carlisle Cullen