Sophia's POV
I paced the living room after I pulled myself away from the bathroom door, trying to get my thoughts together on what I had just seen. Christine's back and arms covered in bruises. How long had she been hiding her pain? More importantly, who was doing it to her? Who was beating this sweet little girl that I had become very fond of? The fondness that I was feeling towards her was beginning to scare me, but it almost felt natural. I shook my head, trying to figure out how I was going to talk to her about this. She didn't have anyone else except the trio, and from what I could see, they were still at the park dealing with what remained of the bustling crowd. I took a deep breath, getting a tray of cookies and two mugs of hot chocolate ready for a bedtime snack. I heard the water draining and I sat down on the couch, putting some marshmallows in the cups, stirring the hot liquid slowly. It wouldn't be much longer until she came out of the bathroom, and we could talk. I just hope that I would be able to get out of her who was hurting her. I heard the bathroom door open and the small footsteps of Christine coming into the living room. She appeared in front of me with a hairbrush, smiling a little as she handed it to me and took her place sitting on the floor in front of the couch between my feet. I swallowed a little as I handed her one of the mugs of hot cocoa, starting to brush out her hair as I looked at her upper arm which was covered by the fabric of her nightgown. I swallowed again, finally gathering my words in my mind as I finished brushing her hair and had begun to braid it.
"Christine," I began slowly as I worked my fingers through her thick curly locks, working on a French braid for her. "I have to ask you something, and feel free not to answer me, but I need to know something."
"Okay," she replied in a soft voice, nibbling on a cookie. "What is it?"
"Christine, I came into the bathroom earlier to bring you the pajamas that you had brought with you. You didn't see me because you were drawing your bath. I…" I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I noticed that you had a lot of bruises on your back and on your arms. Has…has someone been hurting you?" When she didn't answer, I continued with braiding her hair. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I'll understand if you don't trust me yet, since we've only known each other for a little over a month, but I feel like we have become very good friends. I'll understand if you don't want to talk to me about it, but I just want you to know that I'm here for you and that you can tell me anything if you want to, but only if you want you." I finished the braid, tying the end of it with a small hair tie and moving over so she could sit on the couch. Instead, she doesn't move. She's staring down into her mug, contemplating with herself, struggling on whether she can talk to me or not. As I reach for my mug, she begins to cry, and as she tries to fight back the tears, she chokes back sobs. I looked down at her, setting my mug back down on the coffee table. "So someone is hurting you?"
She nodded, climbing up onto the couch. She couldn't bear to look at me. This was obviously bothering her, and the secret that she had been keeping was weighing her down. She took another sip of the hot cocoa. I cleared my throat, turning to her fully and slowly taking the mug from her, taking her hand, patting it softly.
"Who's hurting you? Is it someone you know?" She nods. "Is the person close to you?" She nods again. "So it's a family member?" This time, she doesn't nod. She begins to tremble, sniffling as the tears start to flow harder. Before I realize it, I pull her to me, consoling her as she cries. I rub her back as she lays her head on my shoulder. I don't know when she finally stopped crying, but I know that it was a while. The cocoa had grown cold, and we were in the wee hours of the morning. How she was still awake from crying I don't know, but I knew that she still needed to get something off of her chest. She doesn't pull her head up when she speaks to me again. Her voice is in a soft whisper, as if she didn't want anyone else to hear her. The whisper took my breath away out of shock.
"It's Mommy."
I blinked, looking down at her as I feel her slowly pull away, wiping her eyes. I swallow a lump in my throat, a lump that was a mixture of sadness and anger that she was going through this, and that it was Emma who was the cause. "It's Mommy," I ask to be sure, handing her a tissue to blow her nose. She nods as she blows her nose, setting the tissue on the coffee table.
"It didn't start out like this. She used to just yell at me when she was upset at Grandmamma Isabella or at Papa." She looked at me and I nodded, indicating that she could continue. "I don't know what has changed with her lately. She just…started hitting me for no reason. I don't know what exactly I did wrong, but I know that I was bad. She told me so." She sighed heavily, rubbing her tired eyes. "Mommy never played with me. I'm beginning to wonder if she even loves me."
Hearing Christine say those words nearly brought tears to my eyes. However, I had to keep myself composed so I would appear strong to her. Inside, I was screaming with anger, wanting to punish Emma for what she had done, and I knew that I would get my chance sooner or later. However, I wasn't the important one at this moment. The important one at this time was Christine. I pulled her into my lap, rubbing her back, singing something to her that had just come to my mind.
Love's a curious thing
It often comes disguised
Look at love the wrong way
It goes unrecognized
So look with your heart
And not with your eyes
A heart understands
A heart never lies
Believe what it feels
And trust what it shows
Look with your heart
The heart always knows
Love is not always beautiful
Not at the start
So open your arms
And close your eyes tight
Look with your heart
And when it finds love
Your heart will be right
I looked down to see that she was almost asleep. I smiled softly, continuing to rub her back as I slowly rocked her back and forth, lulling her to sleep.
Learn from someone who knows
Make sure you don't forget
Love you misunderstand
Is love that you'll regret
Look with your heart
And not with your eyes
The heart can't be fooled
The heart is too wise
Forget what you think
Ignore what you hear
Look with your heart
It always sees clear
Love is not always beautiful
Not at the start
But open your arms
And close your eyes tight
Look with your heart
And when it finds love
Your heart will be right
I looked down at her again, seeing that she was sound asleep. I slowly rose from the couch, carrying her to the bedroom carefully. I laid her down gently on the bed, kissing her forehead. I found myself wishing that she was my daughter, and how I wanted to protect her from any more harm that would come to her. I watched her sleep for a while, watching as the sky began to grow lighter with hues of bright orange and blue. The sun was rising, and it was a new day. However, I knew that I had to address things with Erik. Emma was being abusive towards Christine, and he probably had no idea. I finally pulled myself away from Christine and out of the bedroom, going to lie down on the couch to try and salvage what little sleep I could. I picked up my phone as it buzzed on the table, seeing I had a text message from Erik. I slid my thumb over the screen, opening the message.
I told Emma I wanted to separate. She's not taking it well. We'll be back sometime this morning or this afternoon. She's going to be staying at her mother's in the city until further notice.
I had to read the message a few times before it finally sunk in. I swallowed softly, turning to glance back at the bedroom before typing a reply.
There was nothing that you could do to try and save the marriage?
I hit send as I sat down on the couch, slipping my shoes off and turning on the television, keeping at a low volume so it wouldn't wake Christine. My phone buzzed again as I laid down, my eyes heavy. I slid my thumb over the screen, reading his reply.
We fought the whole time. There was really nothing that could be said or done to change my mind. She'll have to accept it. In the end, this is the best decision for both of us.
I sighed softly, growing more and more tired as my head sunk into the pillow. I typed a quick reply, fighting to keep my eyes open.
I've been up all night; haven't slept. Falling asleep as I type this. I'll talk to you when you get here.
I hit send, and placed my phone on the table, immediately falling asleep soon after.