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Chapter Thirty-Six
Meeting Ethel
The girls flew to the hospital in silence before landing on the path. Mildred told the girls to remove their belts and pin badges so that they looked more normal and then they headed into the hospital. Mildred walked to reception worried but knowing the woman behind the desk.
"I need to see my mum, she called us about a patient," Mildred told the woman who smiled at Mildred.
"Of course Millie let me see where she is," the woman said before she rang someone on her phone, spoke a few seconds and then put the phone down.
"She's in A&E," the woman told Mildred. Mildred nodded and monitored the other two to follow.
"Do you know the way?" Sybil asked curiously.
"Yes, I know this place like the back of my hand, come on the lift is quickest," Mildred told them leading them to the nearest lift, stepping in and then clicking to go to floor 3.
Esmie gripped onto the metal bar for dear life and Mildred was surprised to see the girl seemed scared, but then again she had no way of knowing if she had ever been in a lift before.
When they stepped out Sybil looked a little sick and Esmie looked relieved. Mildred hoped the lift hadn't interfered with the pregnancy but she was sure it was safe. She rushed out of the lift seeing her mum walking towards her.
"Mum" Mildred shouted as she came to a halt, Esmie walking into her as she stopped so suddenly.
"How is she?" Esmie asked thinking about nothing more in that moment than her little sister.
"She's dehydrated and malnourished but considering she has been sleeping rough I would say overall she is good," Julie told the girl seeing the worry in her face.
"Sleeping rough, you mean outside, like homeless?" Sybil asked her eyes filling as Mildred had not gotten a chance to tell them that bit as they were rushing so much.
"Oh sorry hon I thought you knew, yes Ethel was sleeping rough" Julie said as Sybil burst into tears, she was so emotional right now with the pregnancy. Esmie cuddled her before turning to Julie.
"Can we see her?" Esmie asked. Julie nodded.
"I told her you were coming, she has said you can see her, but go easy on her, I know it is tempting to be angry after she ran away but she is delicate right now," Julie told the girls and they nodded, more worried than angry about their sister.
Julie told Mildred to hang back for a bit, let the sisters have some time to themselves and put her arm around her leading her away.
The sisters entered the ward seeing Ethel lying on her side, with a tube in her hand supplying her with her lost nutrients, that did it for Esmie then.
"Oh, Ethie," the girl said squeaking as she cried. Ethel turned around, she hadn't been asleep just resting.
"I am sorry I ran, I had no choice," Ethel told them. Esmie and Sybil jumped with how bad she looked.
"But why? I know you have a secret, what is so bad you can't tell us?" Sybil asked looking at Ethel hurt.
"I can't say...I am sorry" Ethel said with a sigh.
"I will get mum and dad to tell us, I know they know Ethie, whatever it is, it is eating away at you, and I don't want to lose you again," Esmie said knowing she had to tell them because it was affecting her a lot.
"I am scared, they threatened me," Ethel said and Esmie and Sybie eyed each other, knowing who she was talking about.
"Don't worry, I finally saved up enough to buy that flat, we can move out, they can't hurt you anymore" Esmie said. Ethel gasped and hugged her crying, feeling the pain in her heart.
"Oh Ethie, you are in a pickle," Sybil said as Ethel stared at her stomach, seeing it was starting to grow.
"You are right...I can't hide the truth anymore from you, it's not fair and I will never get over it or start to heal unless I talk about it" Ethel said knowing her sisters needed to know, so they could all start to move on.
"Answer me one question, Mildred let slip you said history had repeated itself, were you attacked?" Esmie asked afraid to know but needing to know.
Ethel nodded and Esmie squeaked and cried as Sybil hugged her tightly.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sybil asked
"Because there is way more to the story, that is only the start," Ethel said crying. "I don't want to hurt you and when I tell you you will be upset," Ethel told them.
"We are ready to listen and help you," Esmie told her and Ethel nodded knowing it was time to reveal the truth, it was eating her alive and she wanted to move on.