Contains mild themes of abuse please be warned before reading, so not to offend or distress anybody.
As Caroline and Kate climbed out of the car and headed to a lonely figure standing by the bridge, they were met by the tear soaked face of Lucy her body shivering her face red raw from the tears that continued to streak down her face.
"Hi Lucy it's Kate Mckenzie" the fragile girl turned to face her trusted teacher and leapt into her embrace "I...I'm Sorr..." She half sobbed into Kate's chest.
lucys body stilled a little as she took in the scent of her friend, and teacher she had gown to trust so much over the last year, she felt calm, safe and easily reassured by the genuine gesture of a hug. It made it all the more unbearable she let her head lift up to meet the concerned gaze of Kate " I didn't know who else to call". Kate was struck by how she looked apologetic she looked so vulnerable, her gaze shifted to Caroline a little shocked at her appearance. Of course it was silly of course they would have been together of course Kate would have told her what happened between them. Kate felt Lucy tense and her body retreat from the sanctity of her arms watching her eye Caroline as the option between fight and flight took over her.
"Caroline was concerned too, we both were what's happened?" Kate looked at her with such compassion, she felt her Head teacher take her arm "please Lucy we want to help". She felt a surge of guilt "I ..." She had no words she was scared whatever she said would be the wrong thing.
"Christ" Caroline whistled as she took in the light from the street lamp above catching a glimpse at the bruise across her cheek "it was an accident" she said rapidly. It was her knee jerk reaction She was programmed after all these years of lying and deceiving, everyone around her stuck in her own private hell, not to ever let anybody in.
Caroline and Kate took her hands and led her back to the car "come on let's go back to ours, you can stay with us and you will be safe". She complied unsure of what else to do she so wanted to be safe and she felt safe with Kate, but she knew he would be angry and she felt guilty for accepting their kindness. But evaluating the options she had.. Well she didn't have any so she slowly climbed In to the car silently.
As they sat in the living room hot chocolates in hand, Kate sat next to Lucy "please Lucy you need to tell us what happened" Lucy looked down her hand was shaking. She was rooted to the spot now she was here all she felt was sheer panic, she knew he would make her regret it if she spoke out. And yet as she looked at the caring eyes of Kate she felt compelled, turning to glance swiftly at her Head teacher seeing nothing but compassion and care.
"I didn't do what I was supposed to, he got a little angry I'm ok. I over reacted when I phoned you" she turned to Kate begging her to read her mind and not ask any more questions. "Lucy.." Kate pushed her a little "I deserved it. I'm always a disappointment if I could just do better, what he wanted he wouldn't get so angry" she said apologetically.
She felt Kate's hand touch her hand and let it rest their for a moment she felt safe, cared for, Kate met her gaze confidently "Lucy I have not told Caroline what you have told me but in the light of this maybe you should" She smiled reassuringly.
The tears rippled down her face "he doesn't mean to, he's not a bad person when he's happy". Caroline bit her bottom lip unsure what to say not to frighten her into submission "mums not well, so he's always stressed and tired and if he's not happy he gets angry, I can't make him happy" Caroline was shocked at how she spoke so matter factly, believing it was normal it was her fault.
"Does he hurt you often?" Caroline asked tentatively almost not wanting to know the answer "not that often" Was the monotone response. Lucy felt Kate's eyes upon her she couldn't meet them, she knew Kate would tear down the walls of her lies, that he did do it often he wasn't sorry and that he was more sadistic than they could imagine to her and others. "He likes power" she whispered almost in audibly "you can't tell anyone" the salty hot tears flowing freely again "please" She begged the fear so etched upon her face.
Kate looked at Caroline asking for advice , but Caroline know knew how Kate had become such a focal point for the vulnerable young girl in front of her. She should call the police but would that help Lucy or put her in more danger at the moment. Caroline stepped into head teacher mode "I'll think about keeping it between us, but you need to talk to us our priority is you keeping you safe and happy" Changing into mum mode "we care about you we will look after you Lucy".
At Caroline's words Kate felt the young girl slump into her arms once more, "shall I make you a bath, you can relax then we can talk some more if you want". Lucy nodded the exhaustion hitting her from the eventful night "we need to let you father know where you are" Kate watched her face flood white the fear evident.
" I can't ... don't tell him where I am please" she almost cried in anguish, the panic rising if he knew god if he knew.. She screamed in her head. "ill text him" she suggested Kate looked uncertainly at Caroline.
Caroline looked unsure but was resolute not to scare Lucy into no longer confiding in her, in Kate "Lucy obviously can't go home tonight, we are teachers its are duty of care to keep you safe. So in this instance a text will be adequate for now". Caroline smiled at Kate and then at Lucy watching the relief flood to Lucy's face, Caroline and Kate watched her send it:
: I'm safe I think you need time to calm down, I will stay with friends.
It wasn't ideal but in the circumstances it was good enough at at least Lucy would be safe tonight Kate thought.
Kate made some more hot drinks and ran the bath for Lucy leaving her to be alone, Caroline knocked on the door of the bathroom "do you want me to wash your clothes for tomorrow? You can borrow something for tonight" "yeah thanks, come in" came the quiet reply.
Lucy wanted her to understand her ...she wanted her to know why she needed Kate so much, depended on her like she knew she shouldn't But most of all she wanted To be liked to be listened to. She handed Caroline her jumper and slowly slipped her shirt off her heavy shoulders trying to avoid Caroline's watchful eye, before Caroline realized she was undressing and turned away, She couldn't help but catch a glimpse of lucys back as she did so.
Caroline felt the bile rising in her throat as she saw her blackened back covered in new and old bruises, she had passed this girl in the corridor She was a bright student known by all the teachers how had nobody known what this poor child was going through. She bit back the tears that swelled in her eyes " he never means it's really" Lucy whispered Aware of Caroline's reaction Behind her.
Caroline had no words she smiled trying to comfort her with words unspoken as Lucy moved to take her skirt off passing it her, as Caroline turned away again she felt self conscious Witnessing Lucy's pain so first hand.
She had not expected her to change in front of her just to hand her the clothes though the door. She knew Lucy was showing her because she could not have ever told her, as Lucy stood in her underwear Caroline saw her girl like figure marks invading her skin. "I'm disgusting" Lucy spat viciously towards her own self hate "no wonder nobody wants me".
Why would Kate want me... When she could have you she thought looking at the beautiful, clever and caring Head teacher in front of her.
"oh my god Lucy of course your not" Caroline almost cried pulling her into a tight hug "it's ok it's ok, I'm here" she stroked her hair as she talked soothingly as lucy sobbed uncontrollably for what seemed like forever.
Finally she swallowed the emotion "I'm ok now, I'm ready for my bath" her face now placid like no such emotion had ever taken such complete control. The facade of everythings fine took over, a look Caroline knew only too well. Taking her cue she left the room, as she stood on the landing her legs went from under her As she slid down the wall.
Kate called up the stairs "Caroline" she heard nothing so slowly accenting the stairs she was shocked to find Caroline on the floor outside her bedroom. "Have you seen the bruises" Kate looked blankly "no" she saw the tears skip down her lovers nose and fall onto her blouse leaving a puddle. "Shes black and blue Kate, and I think on top of him hurting her she's hurt herself too she's covered in scars. How did I not know about this, how did I fail her so badly".
Kate pulled her into a tight embrace "you haven't failed her, she confided in me but I still didn't realize quite how bad this was, she's never reached a point that she could be this open. I wrongly thought maybe she was embellishing because I knew she enjoyed talking to me Alone. If anyone has failed her it's me, but How could we have know, what's important now is how we help her".
Caroline nodded she sat for a moment before composing herself and standing once more and taking Kate's hand headed back downstairs. "So now what?" Caroline asked ...