Silence

As part of our investigation, we have received a report from the A&E doctor at [. . .] regarding the tests performed on Mr Alex Winckler, aged 19, on the day he was admitted. The report specifies that the victim presented with the following injuries:

•  Severe concussion resulting in a minor coma, GCS 11, temporal lobe contusion from occipital skull trauma.

•  Multiple haematomas on the face, shoulders and thorax; open wound on the right leg.

•  Several rib fractures on the right and left sides.

•  Open fracture of the right tibia.

•  Contusion of the left hand resulting in a Bennett fracture.

•  Fracture of the right malar as well as of both orbital floors, broken nose, trauma to the soft tissue.

•  Tear of the upper right eyelid, temporal conjunctival wound, traumatic posterior subcapsular cataract, sub-retinal haematoma, and tear of Bruch’s membrane, fracture of the inner eye wall, haemorrhage of the vitreous body, in short severe trauma to the right eye, with retro-orbital haematoma and damage to the optic nerve.

 

Alex’s mother was the one who found him.

With no news from her son, she took the spare key to his flat and walked in to find him lying unconscious on the wooden floor, his face covered in bruises and blood, his right leg at an unnatural angle.

She crumpled without a sound.