It was the following morning and Alicia had just arrived home from work. She had spent a large amount of her shift worrying about her sister but she was relieved when she texted her sister during her break at 2 o'clock to not get a reply. It meant the girl must be sleeping. Robyn had texted her before she went to her bed to say that she had spoken briefly with Saskia but Malia had seemed okay that evening.
Alicia arrived home at just before 8 o'clock and was expecting to have to rush her sisters. She walked up the stairs and was shocked to see neither of them were in bed.
"Hi, how was your shift?" Saskia asked giving her sister a hug. This caught Alicia by surprise but she smiled and hugged her sister back.
"It was okay, I'm glad to be home now though" Alicia said kissing the girl on the head "How did you sleep?"
"I slept well" Saskia said smiling.
"Did you have a shower?" Alicia asked.
"I had one last night and then Malia dried my hair. She is having a shower just now. I'm just about to get something to eat and then walk to school" Saskia explained and Alicia nodded.
"You are such a good girl" Alicia said and Saskia smiled.
"We'll speak later okay" Alicia said wanting to make it aware to her sister that she was still remembering what they were to walk about.
"Head down the stairs, I'm just about to speak to Malia" Alicia explained and Saskia nodded before running down the stairs.
"Mal" Alicia said knocking on the bathroom door.
"Two seconds" Malia said before opening the door in a towel.
"I managed to get you a doctor's appointment at 1 o'clock this afternoon" Alicia said and Malia nodded.
"Thank you" Malia said "You will still come with me right?"
"Of course I will, don't worry" Alicia said. "I'm away to have a sleep until about 12 but if you need me just wake me up"
Malia nodded before continuing to get ready. Once she was ready, she headed down the stairs to watch some television. She was the only person down the stairs as Robyn and Max were both working.
Malia felt bad for ruining her sister's sleep. She was sure she must be so tired after working all night. Maybe it would be best if she didn't go to the doctors. She could just leave it and let Alicia sleep for longer, she decided to tell her sister that once she woke up.
Malia continued to watch the TV before she heard her sister coming down the stairs.
"I was thinking, I don't think I should go to the doctor. I think you need to go back to sleep, it's not fair on you" Malia explained and Alicia shook her head.
"No, we need to go. I will be fine. I will go back to sleep when we get back" Alicia said.
"But" Malia said making a face.
"What?" Alicia asked sitting down.
"I don't want to go" Malia said and Alicia sighed.
"Why not?" Alicia asked.
"Because I can't" Malia said.
"Why can't you? I'll be there with you?" Alicia explained and Malia sighed.
"I'm scared the doctor won't believe me or I'll get upset" Malia explained and Alicia nodded.
"Listen, its fine to be upset" Alicia explained and Malia shrugged. She hated getting upset in front of people.
Alicia sighed before going up the stairs to get ready. Once she was ready, she grabbed her coat and encouraged Malia to get ready.
"Lesh, I'm really nervous" Malia admitted.
"You are okay, I am here for you baby" Alicia said giving the girl a hug. Malia nodded. They soon arrived at the doctors and Alicia signed the girl in. She was so glad that she registered them last week as soon as she arrived and had managed to get Malia an appointment without an issue.
They arrived and sat down in the waiting room. Alicia noticed Malia's hand and leg shaking. She grabbed the girl's hand and held it tightly.
"I'm here baby" Alicia said hoping to calm the girl down. Luckily they didn't have to wait for long before they were called in. They walked into the office and sat down. Alicia could tell how nervous Malia was and noticed instantly when they walked in a barrier went up.
"What can I do to help?" The doctor asked looking between Alicia and Malia. Alicia looked at her sister, she didn't want to but in too much but she didn't think Malia was going to speak.
"Mal, can you speak to the doctor about how you have been feeling lately" Alicia asked softly and Malia glanced up slightly.
"I've not been feeling right, I've just been really sad and stuff" Malia admitted.
"Has it been effecting you in many ways?" The doctor asked and Malia nodded.
"What ways?" The doctor asked and Malia shrugged.
"I get mad and angry quicker. I don't eat because I'm not hungry. I can't sleep. I don't want to see my friends or anything. I have more spots on my face too" Malia admitted.
"When do you think this started?" The doctor asked.
"Like summer" Malia admitted.
"What's made you realise that you need to come here" The doctor asked and Malia looked at Alicia.
"I told my sister" Malia admitted and the doctor nodded.
"So your sister encouraged you to come here" The doctor asked and Malia nodded.
"Have you harmed yourself?" The doctor asked and Malia looked at Alicia and pleaded her for help.
"You can do it, Mals just explain" Alicia said leaning forward and holding her sister's hand. Malia looked at the doctor and nodded.
"Have you thought or attempted suicide?" The doctor asked and Malia nodded. They spoke for a bit longer about what was going on and the feelings Malia was going through.
"What do you think we should do?" The doctor asked "What help do you think would be best for you?"
Malia shrugged.
"What do you think?" The doctor asked looking at Alicia.
"I feel that she definitely needs some form of counselling, there has been a lot of family issues recently and I think it is just getting too much. I understand that there is a waiting list and I do feel it would be very beneficial for her to be on medication. I don't think she is safe without anything" Alicia admitted and the doctor nodded. The doctor was aware Alicia was a doctor and took her opinion on board.
"So we don't overly encourage teenagers to go on anti-depressants but I do feel it is the best option. I will start you on a low dosage of prozac and then see you in two weeks where we will reassess. I will put in a referral for counselling too" The doctor explained. Alicia nodded that was what she had thought would happen. The doctor printed off the prescription before giving it to Malia.
"Remember to book an appointment for two weeks' time" The doctor said and both Alicia and Malia nodded. They headed back to the reception where they booked an appointment before heading to pharmacy. Luckily they didn't have to wait too long before they were given the medication.
"Have you been struggling to sleep?" Alicia asked and Malia shrugged.
"Before it was really bad but since I've been sleeping with you I've been a lot better" Malia explained and Alicia nodded.
"I'm glad, we need to keep an eye on your sleeping though" Alicia explained and Malia nodded.
"Is this medication like safe?" Malia asked and Alicia nodded.
"Yes but it can cause some side effects" Alicia explained.
"Like what?" Malia asked.
"Stomach issues, sleep issues, appetite issues, headaches, sweating. It just depends everyone is different" Alicia explained and Malia nodded.
"If it makes you feel like crap then I want you to tell me" Alicia said and Malia nodded.
"Listen to me, I am so proud of you for today" Alicia said and Malia nodded and smiled. She really was lucky to have her sister.
"Let's head home" Alicia said putting her arm around her sister.
"Do you feel ready for going back to school tomorrow?" Alicia asked and Malia nodded.
"Good girl" Alicia said "When we get home, I'm going to nip back upstairs for a sleep until I need to make dinner will you be okay?"
Malia nodded.
"Go and sleep" Malia said as they walked into the house. Alicia smiled and went up the stairs. She quickly got into bed and fell asleep quickly.
It wasn't long before Saskia returned from school. She walked into the living room and sat down next to her sister.
"How is school?" Malia asked and Saskia shrugged.
"It's fine" She said and Malia nodded. She didn't know what else to say. They sat in silence and it wasn't long before Alicia came down the stairs.
"What do you want for dinner?" Alicia asked and both girls shrugged to busy watching what was on the TV. Alicia laughed and walked into the kitchen. She quickly started making a stir fry for them. She decided to call Saskia through.
"Sash, can you come and help me?" Alicia asked and Saskia sighed before walking through to help her sister.
"How are you feeling after yesterday?" Alicia asked and Saskia shrugged.
"Listen, I know it is hard but I really need you to trust me" Alicia explained "I can't tell you what is going on but once Malia is ready I will"
Saskia nodded, she did trust her sister but she just felt like everyone was leaving her out.
"What's happened to our family?" Saskia said with tears in her eyes.
"It's all going to be okay in the end and it is making us stronger as a family. That's the main thing to think about, think about how much stronger we will all be at the end of this. How much this will bring us all together" Alicia explained and Saskia nodded.
"I love you so much Sash" Alicia said giving her sister a hug. Saskia smiled and melted into her sister's arms.
"I love you Lesh" Saskia said.
"Do you want to set the table for me?" Alicia asked and Saskia sighed.
"Fine" She huffed before doing what her sister had asked her.
It wasn't long before dinner was ready and Alicia called Malia through as well. They had a casual conversation before Alicia had to get ready for work.
"Any issues, you call me or speak to Robyn" Alicia instructed to Malia. Malia nodded her head.
"I will" She said before giving her sister a hug.
Hope this is okay :) I haven't been getting many reviews so could really do with some more reviews before I post the next chapter. Just so I know that people are still reading it.