Matilda watched as Hortensia appeared in the living room carrying the biggest bowl of ice cream she had ever seen, before joining her on the couch.

"You should choke more often." Hortensia said, beaming at her as if it had been something they had planned together all along.

"You didn't have to drop me on the floor after." Matilda rasped out, voice barely over a whisper. She had the feeling Hortensia had been in utter shock when the piece of pork chop had actually dislodged itself that she forgot she still had Matilda hoisted into the air and had simply let go.

Hortensia shrugged and began to pile ice cream in her mouth as if those minor inconsequential details didn't matter. Matilda supposed they didn't really. Being sore was better than being dead, and it was much more than her mom had done for her.

Eve had been fussing over her ever since, asking if she wanted anything every couple of minutes. Matilda was content with the cup of applesauce she had been given. It was much easier to swallow and eased her raw and aching throat. Matilda guessed it was her way of apologizing.

Hortensia found it amusing whenever she ran in the room every time she heard a cough, she had even coughed on purpose just to see if she'd run in. What she did not find as amusing was being showered in praise. Matilda noticed she looked very uncomfortable whenever Eve had thanked her for her quick reflexes and thinking on her feet. It was clear to Matilda that Hortensia didn't know how to take a compliment.

"But I wasn't thinking. I only knew because of a scene in a comic book." Hortensia mumbled when Eve had finally left the room for the 8th time in the last hour. "What if she expects me to know what to do next times there's a problem?"

"I think she's just surprised you beat her to it." Matilda said. "She didn't even realize I was choking until you said something." She was even more surprised than Eve. Hadn't she just been fanaticizing about smacking her for not paying attention to her surrounds? And speaking of smacking…

Matilda gingerly rubbed at her upper belly and grimaced. While some of the thrusts had hit their intended target, others had not. Two of Hortensia's blows had been too high and to the left, landing themselves directly into the bottom of her rib cage. Instead of keeping her fists in place, Hortensia had essentially assaulted her stomach and ribs with a barrage of punches followed by her lifting Matilda into the air in what Matilda could only guess was an attempt to crack her like a glow stick. Yet the physical pain she was in was a welcome change. It gave her mind something else to think about. Now the lump in her throat had all but disappeared, and she had been able to find her voice again.

When Eve came into the room again a half hour later, the longest she had gone without checking on them, Matilda asked if she had heard anything from Miss Honey. It was getting late and Matilda wanted nothing more than to climb into bed.

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Rodgers had called while you were asleep earlier. They're keeping her overnight for observation." Matilda was about to ask why she hadn't been given the phone, but Eve chimed in answering the question before the words could leave her mouth. "She told me not to wake you."

Her heart gave a small twinge of pain as the voice in the back of her head reminded her she was being left out again.

"Did she say anything else?"

"Miss Honey wants you to know she loves you." Matilda's head shot up.

"You talked to her?"

"No, Mrs. Rodgers said she was under sedation." Matilda lowered her head.

"Oh." she said, feeling disappointed. "Then it wasn't really her who said it."

"She told me a little bit of what happened. She said you walked in on Miss Honey having some kind of episode, and it scared you." Matilda looked away. She didn't want to talk about this. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself before changing the subject.

"Am I staying here?"

"Yes, I'll make a spot for you on the couch. Let's see, first things first," Eve flipped up Matilda's shirt, in what Matilda could only guess was to check the diaper, but she saw eyes begin to travel up. "Can you take this off?" she asked. Matilda eyed Hortensia, the idea of being seen in nothing but a diaper was about as appealing as trying to eat another piece of pork chop, but the older girl's attention was transfixed to the tv screen. When Matilda began grimacing in pain, Eve stepped in and helped.

"Ooh," Eve said with a grimace of her own. She looked Matilda up and down. "Was that from earlier?" Matilda nodded. It was about the only body part she could move without causing her core to ache. "How am I going to explain this to your mom?" she groaned. "She's going to think I beat you. Does it hurt?"

"It's a bit sore when I move. OW, no, don't touch it!" Eve let out a sigh.

"Somehow you always manage to get hurt here. I don't think you've broken anything, I think it's just bruised. Even if you do have a cracked rib, there's nothing that can be done for it but rest and time. At this rate, I'll feel fortunate to give you back with all your fingers and toes."

"Better than being dead." Matilda said.

"Yes, very much so, but you're not supposed to look like you've been given chest compressions from abdominal thrusts. The saying 'If you're not breaking ribs you're not doing it right' is only meant to refer to CPR." Matilda hissed in pain and smacked Eve's hand away when she began pressing on the purple raised spot again.

"It's like I got CPR from the back."

"What? Like ass to mouth resuscitation?" Hortensia said with a snicker.

"You better watch that mouth of yours." Eve said with a shake of her head. "Cynthia's coming over tomorrow morning to check in while I'm at work. You remember what happened last time?"

"Ugh, why?" Hortensia complained. "It was her stupid fat kid's fault." she grumbled. In the midst of arguing with her daughter, Eve proceeded to rip the tapes off Matilda's diaper. While quite glad to be out of the sweaty thing, Matilda did not appreciate being stripped naked in the living room for all to see.

"Hey!" she shouted, quickly bending to cover herself before immediately regretting it.

"Sorry, dear, I keep forgetting you're not one of my patients."

"Don't you work with old people?" Matilda asked skeptically.

"Yes, but they're not always with it. Some have dementia, some have hearing loss, so you have to be very firm and direct with them, or they won't hear or understand you.'Tens is always after me to use my inside voice. And none of them bat an eye when they come strolling out to dinner in their birthday suit. What?"

Matilda was gripping her side in pain, but she couldn't stop laughing. All this time she was afraid Eve had been treating her like a baby, but it was the exact opposite. She was treating her like a geriatric. She couldn't stop picturing herself bent over with a walker and searching for her dentures, which only made her laugh more.

"You broke her." Hortensia said.

"Says the person who tried to snap her in half."

"G-get off my lawn!" Matilda said shaking a fist before doubling over from the pain of laughing as she gasped for breath.

"Yep, she's broken."

"Alright, I'm glad you're feeling better, but let's calm down before you hurt yourself more. Do you think you can make it to the bathroom on your own or do you need help?"

"I need my walker!" Matilda said, now silently shaking from the effort of holding in suppressed giggles.

"Okay silly, I'll be your walker, give me your hands, up we go." Matilda groaned in pain as she was lifted to a standing position, all thoughts of modesty gone. "Go potty, then I'll give you something for the pain. Do you need help?" Matilda shook her head and slowly hobbled over to go take care of business, not fond of how much it hurt to get on and off the toilet.

Once she was done, she peeked her head out the bathroom door. She didn't care for the thought of streaking back into the living room, so she yelled out she was done.

"Meet me in 'Tens room. I'll be there in a minute." came the reply.

When Matilda got to the bed, she discovered a problem. She couldn't pull herself up. The more she tried, the more sharp pains greeted her with every breath. Matilda stood awkwardly to the side, and waited for Eve to get her something to wear. She eyed a towel on the ground she could cover up with, but she quickly found bending over was as impossible as pulling herself up. She let out a growl of frustration.

When Eve finally made her way back, she was carrying the diaper from before in one hand and a small medicine cup of red liquid in the other. Matilda quickly downed it without hesitating before making a face. Children's Cherry flavored Tylenol. She recognized the taste from the last time she was here with a fever.

"I wish my patients were as good about taking their medicine as you are." Eve said taking the cup from her. "Now let's get this back on you. Hop up on the bed."

"I can't. It hurts too much. Can't I go without it? I don't need them anymore, I swear!" Matilda said taking a reflexive step back.

"Tell you what, put this on tonight, and you can take it off in the morning. You've had one disaster after another today. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me one bit, previous bed wetter or not, if you didn't make it through the night. I wouldn't blame you one bit, so how about we save both of us the stress of 'what if's' and you just worry about getting a good night sleep. " When Matilda didn't answer, Eve added, "They're all the rage at the nursing home." causing her to crack a smile.

"Fine." Matilda grumbled. She knew even if she said no, Eve was just going to do it by force. She whimpered from the pain as she was picked up and laid down.

"The medicine will kick in soon." Eve said to reassure her as she pinned the old diaper back on with bobby pins. "There, all done. I've made you a spot to sleep on the couch." She offered a hand up to Matilda, but she hesitated.

"Can I sleep here?" Matilda asked softly. The thought of trying to get off the bed made her break out in a sweat.

"No, sorry, I can't have Hortensia sleep out there, she'll stay up all night watching tv." Matilda pointed to the tv in her room. "It doesn't get the channels she watches. You didn't have a problem sleeping on the couch earlier. What's wrong?"

"I can't get down. It's my arthritis." Matilda said with a slight smile.

"Very funny." Eve said, before bending down and scooping her up behind her neck and knees and carrying her fireman style back to the couch. "You've got water, pillows, blankets, anything else you need before I turn out the lights?" Matilda shook her head and nestled underneath the blankets. "Hortensia! No, turn off the tv, and go to your room."

"But it's not even nine!" Hortensia complained. "I can't sleep this early!"

"You don't have to go to bed, just go in your room, so Matilda can sleep in peace. Go read one of your little picture books you like so much." Matilda buried her face in the blanket to hide the snicker while Hortensia ground her teeth.

"They're comic books. Com-ics!"

"Yes, yes, whatever." Eve said while following her daughter down the hall before flicking off the lights, leaving Matilda alone in the dark. "Good night," she heard called out before two doors closed.

Matilda laid there for a moment lost in thought. How long had it been since she got to sleep alone? This was kind of nice. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of…nothing. No one was breathing next to her, or sleep talking. No one was hogging the blankets. When was the last time? The Trunchbull's crazed face as she tried to strangle her entered her mind. Matilda eyes sprang open. That was the last time she had slept in an empty room.

Now Matilda didn't feel so alone, and not in a good way. She scanned the darkness for threats.

"Think about the good things," she whispered to herself. No bed hogs, no fighting over blankets, no Miss Honey trying to attack her in her sleep. Matilda frowned. No Miss Honey to hold her. No Miss Honey to talk about her day with. No Miss Honey.

Matilda forced her eyes closed, ignoring the moisture now spilling from them, and quietly cried herself to sleep.

When Matilda awoke again, the room was still dark and empty. She turned her head and stared at the digital clock on the VCR. It was only 3:30 in the morning. She shuffled her feet as she realized what had awakened her. Matilda quietly groaned in annoyance. She had to pee. Couldn't it wait till morning? She tried to go back to sleep, but found it was impossible. Fine, you win, she thought. The sooner she got up and went to the bathroom, the sooner she could snuggle back under the covers. Only, when she tried to sit up, she was met with an excruciating stab of pain that made her sink back down on the pillow at once.

It took Matilda a moment to focus on her bearings. She slowly tried to inch herself back up but froze. The most she could do was get herself into a sitting position by leaning her back against the arm rest before the pain won out. The Tylenol had clearly worn off, and now she sat unsure of what to do. She really needed the bathroom now, but she couldn't get up without help, and help was still sleeping.

Matilda looked again at the clock. What time would they get up on a Sunday? 7:00 am? 8:00 am? What if they slept in? Four more hours at best. Matilda began to panic. She couldn't wait that long! It was actually starting to hurt to hold it in. She'd have to figure out a way to get herself up, but try as she might, the pain was only getting worse each time she hoisted herself up or tried to turn her torso. It left no other choice. She'd have to call out for help and hope someone heard her.

Would Eve be angry if she woke her up? Matilda gripped the front of the dry diaper and squeezed. She couldn't hold it in this way like she could with regular underwear. There was too much padding. There was another thought. She could just pretend she wet the bed. Eve had said she wouldn't be surprised or angry. Miss Honey had made her use them before. It would be easy enough to just…let go.

Matilda made a face of disgust. What was she thinking about? She loathed sitting in her own urine. Besides, she had to prove she didn't need these things anymore, and there was something even more shameful about having an accident while she was awake.

"Hello?" Matilda finally moaned into the empty air. "I need help!" She waited, but no one came. She tried again. Nothing. Now she was starting to sob. "Please! Anyone!"

Finally, she heard a door begin to creep open as heavy footsteps began to approach.

"Is that you making all that noise?" A half asleep Hortensia asked.

"I need the bathroom, but I can't get up on my own." Matilda said.

"Why not?" Hortensia mumbled.

"Because my side hurts!" Matilda said. "Pull me up." Matilda let out a howl of pain as Hortensia tried to get her up. "Stop! Stop!" Matilda begged, clutching her side.

"I'll get Ma." Hortensia said before shuffling back down the hall. Matilda waited and squirmed in place, but instead of Eve, only Hortensia emerged looking sheepish. "She told me to give you some more Tylenol." Matilda watched her pour out the medicine before coming back and handing it to her. Matilda downed it and handed the cup back.

"Is she coming?" Matilda asked.

"No," Hortensia said avoiding eye contact.

"But I need the bathroom!" Matilda nearly cried.

"Yeah, she said if you're in that much pain to just, umm, go in the diaper." Matilda let out a horrified whimper. "Sorry," Hortensia said. "Maybe you'll be able to get up once the Tylenol kicks in?" Hortensia was about to leave, but Matilda stopped her.

"Don't leave!" Matilda nearly shouted before she could stop herself. "Could you stay and try and get me up again if I can't?"

"I'm tired." Hortensia complained. "I want to go back to bed." Matilda dangled the tv remote in front of her. "Fine." she grumbled.

Matilda had her hands balled into fists at her side as she tried to focus on the screen. Each attempt to get up every five to ten minutes was only met with more pain. Hortensia kept looking from the screen back to Matilda. Finally, Hortensia sighed and turned off the tv.

"Dude, c'mon, it can't be that bad." Hortensia said.

"You broke my rib! Yes, it hurts that bad!" Matilda said with tears running down her face.

"I didn't mean that, I meant, uhh, you know…" Hortensia mumbled. "Wouldn't it just be easier to…"

"No!" Matilda hissed, shooting her a death glare. "Try and pick me up again."

"Dude, no, I'm just going to hurt you more."

"Please, I- I can't-"

They both jumped when they heard the other bedroom door swing open.

"Hortensia! You better not be out there watching television! Get back to bed!" Eve shouted. Hortensia flashed an apologetic look before shuffling back down the hall. "Get the wipes and a clean diaper from your closet while you're at it."

Matilda gritted her teeth as Eve approached. She didn't need a new diaper, she just needed up!

She had to cover her eyes as Eve flipped on the light switch. Eve was standing there in a brown bathrobe looking as bleary-eyed and exhausted as Hortensia had been.

"Alright, let's get you situated, so we can all go back to bed." she mumbled.

"I just need help up!" Matilda said with urgency as she squirmed underneath the blankets.

"Matilda," Eve said sounding a bit annoyed. "Didn't 'Tens tell you what I wanted you to do?"

"No," Matilda moaned.

"'No' 'Tens didn't tell you or 'No' you're not going to do it?" Matilda glared at her defiantly. "You better wipe that look off your face, young lady."

"Why won't you help me?" Matilda cried.

"I'm trying to help you, but you're making this very difficult." Eve said sounding very tired.

"This isn't helping! All I need is to be put on my feet!"

"And then what, hmm? How do you expect to get on and off the toilet if you can't get on and off the couch?"

"You helped me earlier." Matilda said looking away.

"Matilda," Eve said before taking a breath and running a hand down her face. "This is why I had you wear a diaper during the night, because I didn't think you'd make it to the morning."

"I don't wet the bed anymore." Matilda said. "I told you that!"

"You're supposed to be the genius here, I didn't think I needed to spell it out for you. When I said It was okay if you did, it was supposed to be an invitation, not a challenge to prove me wrong. I had you wear it for this very reason in case you woke up and couldn't manage by yourself, so you could just relieve yourself and go back to sleep. " Matilda wrinkled her face in disgust.

"Then you'd just think I wet the bed."

"Matilda, I wouldn't have cared as long as there wasn't a mess for me to deal with."

"I'd care, especially if you told Miss Honey." Matilda mumbled, "but it's not like she wants me anymore."

"Is that what this is all about? You don't want me telling your mom?" Matilda sniffled before slowly nodding her head. Eve sighed.

"And if I promised this stays between us? Then would you go? Please? I can't keep picking you up, I have a bad back, and it's really acting up tonight."

"Why didn't you just say that to begin with?" Matilda asked. "I would have done it if I knew you were in pain."

"Why isn't your own pain motivation enough?" Eve asked with a shake of her head, but Matilda could tell she looked much less annoyed.

"Because I'd rather hurt outside than inside." she mumbled, before hiding herself underneath the blanket. She tried to relax, but her body refused to listen. Matilda let out an annoyed huff. She had been on the verge of losing control mere seconds ago, but now that it was okay, her bladder refused to empty. No one would listen to her. Not even her own body. She couldn't seem to do anything right.

"You don't need to cry, shh, come on out, and I'll help you get cleaned up." Matilda stayed where she was. Crying seemed to be all she was good for. "Matilda." She felt the blanket getting lifted off her head, but it only made her cry harder. She wanted to curl into a ball, but she couldn't. "Are you all done going potty?"

"I c-can't!" It was hurting to breath. "I want to, but I can't, and it hurts, and I don't want to make you mad, but it's all I seem to do is make people mad." Now she could feel all the blankets getting pulled off.

"Hey, it's okay, I'm not mad, see? Try and take some deep breaths for me, okay? Maybe you're just too upset now." She could feel Eve brushing her hair back. She wanted to pull away, but there was nowhere to go. Matilda batted her hand away. That was Miss Honey's thing she did for her and now…and now… Was this the disgust Miss Honey felt when looking at her? Is this what she felt when Matilda had touched her?

Matilda couldn't take this feeling anymore. She needed to feel something else. Anything else! She forced her torso and legs around into an upright sitting position and yelled out in pain.

"Matilda, what are you doing!? Stop it! Lay down, you're hurting yourself!"

"It's better." Matilda said, still sobbing.

"No, it's not! What are you talking about?"

"It's better than the other pain." she moaned.

"What other pain?" Matilda pointed at her chest. "Well of course your chest hurts." Matilda shook her head. "I don't understand. Is it your heart? Does your heart hurt?" Matilda slowly nodded. "Did someone break your heart?" Matilda nodded again. "Who?"

"Miss Honey."

She hadn't planned on telling anyone about what had happened, especially not Eve, but the next thing she knew, she found herself pouring her heart out, from being locked in the room, to the look of disgust in Miss Honey's eyes, to the absolute terror that consumed her at the thought of going back to the loveless life she had lived after being shown how wonderful it could feel to be wanted.

"That's certainly not like Jennifer, but Matilda, I can absolutely promise she loves you. I don't think anything is ever going to change that." Eve said after quietly listening to her lament.

"But you weren't there! You didn't see the look she gave me!"

"You're right, I wasn't there, but Mrs. Rodger's said she was having some kind of episode. I don't know what she meant by that, but it's clear to me, she wasn't acting like herself. She may not have been aware of her surroundings, or who she was talking to. If it's anything like the 'episodes' I see the patients go through, there's no telling when or where she thought she was."

"I guess." Matilda mumbled.

"I promise. She is not going to send you away. All we can do is hope she's getting the help she needs right now, so you don't get caught in the crosshairs again. I can see this has deeply affected you. I know it's easier said than done, but try not to take it personally. We've all done things we didn't mean to when we were scared or upset, even adults."

Matilda turned her head and stared at the newly replaced back patio door feeling a pang of guilt. She had done plenty of things she hadn't meant to under emotional duress.

"Oww, don't." Matilda whined, blocking her stomach from the sudden invading prods.

"Dear, not to change the subject, but I really need you to go pee. It's worrying me that you need to but can't. Do you think it's a mental thing? I know you don't want to go in the diaper. Do you think that's what the problem is?"

Matilda shrugged in response and cradled her lower belly. The fullness was starting to ache.

"Because I'd much rather it be a mental problem than a physical one. I can work around a mental one. I still don't think it's a good idea to take you to the restroom, because I may not be able to help you on and off the toilet without hurting you even more." Matilda hung her head. "But, do you think you can walk if I manage to get you on your feet?" Matilda nodded eagerly. "Do you think you'd have an easier time if you stood in the grass out back?"

Matilda could feel her face flush, but it was still better than peeing on herself. It always burned her skin and no matter how well she was wiped down, she never felt clean until she took a bath.

"It might, but what about your back?"

"I'd rather have peace of mind knowing it's nothing more serious. I was more concerned about dropping you onto the hard toilet. At least this way, you'll only fall back on the couch if my back spasms while lifting you."

"What happened to it?"

"My back? I was hit by a car as a teen." Matilda grimaced. "Make sure you look both ways while crossing the street, are you ready? Lift out your arms." They both grunted in pain, but they managed.

Yes! She was on her feet! And she was walking, albeit while holding on to Eve's arm, but she was doing it! Just a few more steps and… no! No. No. No. Matilda let out a soft whimper. She stopped walking and crossed her legs. Not now, not after all that work of getting her up!

"What? What is it? Are you in pain? Do you need a break or…" She saw Eve's eyes searching for the source of the hissing sound until they stopped on her waist. She felt a hand give her shoulder a pat. "Just let it happen, dear, it's alright, uncross your legs. There's a good girl. "

"I'm sorry!" Matilda groaned before averting her eyes. With a grimace, she stood as still as a statue, helpless to stop the flow of urine now surging out like water from a pressure hose into the rapidly expanding padding. She wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disgusted. Would Eve be angry she had gotten her up for nothing? Clearly there was diddly squat keeping her from peeing now.

"There isn't anything to be sorry for, you go on and finish."

It felt like one of the awkwardest minutes of Matilda's life as she stood there, legs now forced apart from the swollen garment. Was she done? She couldn't tell. The noise had stopped, but everything was just so warm and wet against her skin. Ick. She hated this feeling. Eve was rubbing circles on her back now. At least she wasn't angry.

"All done? Ready to go back?" Matilda nodded her head and gave one last scowl towards the backyard. She couldn't have held it another minute?

"Gross. Gross. Gross." Matilda chanted with every step.

"I'll get you fixed up and into something dry. I'm just glad you were able to go. Maybe it had to do with the way you were sitting and walking loosened up your muscles."

"I don't want to do this again." Matilda complained as she slowly lowered herself back on the couch with Eve's help.

"I know you don't, and hopefully you won't be in as much pain. It's going to be up to Cynthia tomorrow though on what to do. You need to be a good girl for her and do as she says, even if you don't like it." Matilda shuddered as her bottom half was exposed to the cold air. "If she wants you to use diapers, I don't want you arguing with her. If she can help you get to the bathroom, that's fine, but I'm going to ask her to stay in there with you."

"What? No!" Matilda protested.

"Honey, no offense, but I've never met a more accident-prone child than you, and I'm not talking about what comes out. I need to give you back to Miss Honey in one piece and so far, we're off to a terrible start. Brace yourself this is going to be cold."

Matilda grimaced as she felt herself getting wiped down. No matter how many times she went through this, it never got easier.

"I don't want some stranger watching me use the bathroom or changing me." Matilda grumbled.

"Would you rather 'Tens do it?" Eve asked, eye-brows raised.

"NO!" Matilda nearly shouted.

"I didn't think so." she said with a smirk. "There, all done, was that really so bad?"

"Yes," Matilda said, arms crossed over her chest.

"Oh, stop pouting, you'll be fine. A few wet diapers won't hurt you." Eve said as she spread the blanket over her. Matilda wanted to argue, but all she could manage was a large yawn. "Go back to sleep, I'll check on you in the morning before I leave for work."

Matilda sighed as the lights were flicked off, and she was left alone once again. There was something about being in a diaper that made her feel so small and helpless. She felt like she was stuck in a never ending cycle of getting hurt or sick and ending back up in diapers no matter how hard she tried to stay out of them. Did other kids go through the same thing? She never heard anyone mention it before, but maybe it was just one of those things everyone went through but no one talked about. Matilda couldn't be the only one this unlucky. Hopefully she wouldn't be in this much pain come tomorrow. She let out another yawn, glad to be comfortable once again, and looked at the time. It was 3:50 in the morning. She was asleep before the clock struck four.