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Chapter Thirty-Eight
Dividing Attention
Now that Ethel needed help, things had to change at home and that meant they needed a new routine. Esmerelda would help Ethel up and get her set up and comfortable as they had breakfast. Ethel also needed medication every morning, and Esmie was just glad she had a good memory and she always made sure to give her the medication.
After breakfast was eaten, Esmerelda had to help Ethel with the physio exercises she had to do daily, twice a day. Ethel hated them because it caused her more pain than just their daily lives. If she didn't do them though her body would never become stronger so it was important she did them.
"Ethel, do you want to watch telly?" Sybil asked as she sat next to her sister, trying to make her feel better and forget the pain. She knew this was Ethel's least favourite part of the day. Ethel nodded, thinking the sounds of the telly might distract her.
"Thank you Sybie" Esmerelda told her sister as her distracting Ethel made it easier to do the physio.
After an hour of doing the physio therapy, Ethel was worn out and wanted to have a break because it was extra painful in her legs and back so Esmerelda lay her on the sofa knowing she needed to have a break for a while.
This was the time when Esmerelda would find something to do with Sybil. Esmerelda had researched Ethel's injury, and the impact a disability has on a family, one thing she found out from her research was when something like this happened, the other children that were not injured, were often neglected by their parents or carers, not intentionally but because they were so busy with their child that needed extra care it just ended up happening. Sybil had experienced neglect in her life already and Esmerelda had promised herself she would not let Sybil feel like that, even with the extra care Ethel now required.
"Esmie you said you would help me with the potions work I was sent" Sybil said reminding her of the work she had being sent from the school. Esmerelda nodded and smiled.
"Ethie I am just going to help Sybil with her work, if you need me call out okay?" Esmerelda told her as Ethel nodded. Esmerelda and Sybil walked to the bedroom the girls shared and Sybil took her books out of her bedside table drawer.
"What potion are you researching today?" Esmerelda asked sitting next to her on the bed, she looked over to make sure the door was open in case Ethel was in distress.
"An opposite potion, I understand what it is and does, but I just don't know how to explain it in an essay" Sybil said, scratching her forehead in confusion. Esmerelda took her book so she could see what she actually had to do and nodded.
"Explain the dangers of an opposite potion, I remember doing this essay too, it was a hard one to think of so many reasons, tell me what you have thought of so far" Esmerelda said to Sybil.
"Well it makes everything the opposite in a person so I suppose it could be dangerous because the drinker could become a threat to someone they normally wouldn't be a threat to" Sybil said looking at Esmerelda worried she was wrong.
"That is great Sybs, anything else?" Esmerelda asked.
"The drinker could become more daring and they might decide to do a dangerous stunt ot something they normally wouldn't dream off" Sybil went on, listing of another reason the potion could be dangerous.
"Brilliant Sybie, them ideas are great" Esmerelda told Sybil who smiled at her. Esmerelda drafted some sentences down, she was not going to do the essay for Sybil, she was merely giving her ideas about how she could put her ideas into words.
Esmerelda had often being told by people Sybil was naturally bad at potions and that her grades were low because she didn't try hard enough but Esmerelda knew they were wrong. Sybil was not any worse at potions than she was at anything else, the issue Sybil had was confidence. When they were younger their parents had hired a tutor to teach them the basics of potions, she was a horrible woman named Millicent Coldstone, the only person she could be described as similar to was Miss Hardbroom, but this woman was much much worse. She yelled at the girls for the smallest mistake and would belittle them by calling them stupid and useless. All the girls were terrified of the woman but Sybil being the most timid was the most scared of her, she had scared her so much Sybil was now unable to do potions without panicking about it. Sybil didn't mean to get it wrong, she had just being put down so much she freaked out. When she started at Cackles, HB being her teacher for the subject didn't help, because she reminded her of her old tutor, and she would be so scared of messing up she ended up messing up, it was a never ending cycle.
Esmerelda though would be patient and calm with her and Sybil always did much better with her than in lessons, she knew it would take many years for Sybil to regain that confidence, of ever because of her past experiences.
"That is it Sybie, see you can do it" Esmerelda told her as her sister smiled and started to write her essay, Esmerelda thought it was as good as time as ever to talk to her about what was on her mind.
"Sybie, I want to talk to you, about Ethel" Esmerelda said starting the subject off lightly. Sybil looked at her concerned, thinking she had noticed something wrong.
"What about her?" Sybil asked confused.
"Well now she is injured she will need extra care, all the moments I am free I am going to make sure I spend them with you, but I don't want you to ever feel neglected at any time, if you do feel neglected please tell me, I don't want to give all my attention to Ethel and I don't want you to feel like you can't talk about it" Esmerelda told Sybil. She knew what Sybil was like, she wouldn't say anything just go along with it but she didn't want that. She knew some days Sybil might get less attention, if Ethel was having a bad day, she wanted Sybil to tell her if she ever felt pushed aside.
"But Esmie.." Sybil said not wanting to sound selfish if she ever felt like that.
"No Sybil, I took you in to get away from the toxicity of being told you are not important and getting less attention, I don't want you to feel like you did at home" Esmerelda told her. Sybil nodded understanding.
"Okay I will tell you if I ever feel like that, but I don't right now" Sybil replied.
Esmerelda was glad. She was good at, and had gotten used to, dividing her attention between her younger sisters, now it was obviously harder but if she made sure to spent time with Sybil whenever she could, she knew Ethel would not get all the attention. She knew Sybil helped with Ethel and the three of them did things together, but one on one attention was so important to her.
"Thank you Sybie" Esmerelda told her hugging her with a smile, she knew it would take more effort, but it was worth it because it would benefit her sisters to both feel love and valued.
Esmerelda was pleased to realise it actually wasn't that hard though. Yes sometimes she had to focus on Ethel because she needed help to move, or medicine, or her walking exercises or physio but Sybil helped Esmerelda with that and during the times Ethel needed a break, Esmerelda would make sure to spend quality time with Sybil. She also made sure to spend time with Ethel that was not because of one of her needs, she would spend time talking to her or reading or watching telly with her, she didn't want to only spend time with Ethel when she had too because of her injury, but because she loved her and both girls were good at entertaining themselves when she was with the other.
And yes Ethel did require a lot of care but they all loved the times when they got to spend time together, watching a film or talking, spending quality time as sisters, it was something they didn't really get to do when they were at home, their parents hated noise and mess.
"Thank you Esmerelda" Ethel said one day after they had finished watching a film, Esmie looked at her confused.
"What for?" Esmerelda asked, wondering what she had done to be thanked for.
"For being the best mother figure ever" Ethel said and Sybil smiled and nodded.
"Yes you are the best Esmie, our mother and sister in one" the youngest replied. Esmerelda squeaked and then grabbed her sisters to hug them as she thanked them and kissed their heads, trying to stop the tears falling but it was no use, she cried.
"Don't cry Esmie" Ethel said sadly, able to sense she was crying because she could feel her shaking.
"I am just so happy, I love you both" Esmerelda told them hugging them more, touched by their words.
"We love you too Esmie" Sybil replied, as the three sisters hugged each other a while longer.