Abby stirred, her neck was sore and she remembered she hadn't even bothered to take off her jacket. She sat up groaning, rolling her neck from side to side wincing slightly as the pain increased. Liana was curled up beside her still fast asleep. Abby paused wondering whether to let her sleep for longer but came to the conclusion that she should wake her as it was going to be a long day ahead.
"Liana" Abby bent down and whispered in her ear. She shook her gently attempting to rouse her from a deep sleep.
"Liana, wake up" her voice became louder and she shook her again. It was no use.
"Come on Liana, I'm making breakfast…your favourite." Abby raised her eyebrows hopeful but she was a deep sleep making it difficult to wake her. She got dressed slowly and kept her eyes on Liana praying she would stir. After thirty minutes or so passed Abby decided she would try again as she had been sleeping for almost twelve hours.
"Liana!" Abby exclaimed. She approached her and shook her arm and after a while she started to stir.
"Nooo, I'm too tired", her voice was muffled and lethargic. Abby sat down next to her causing the bed to dip and Liana to roll over into Abby's lap. She didn't open her eyes, instead curled up on Abby's lap and fell back asleep. Abby sighed and picked her up hoping that if she brought her through to the living room she would stir and wake up properly.
"It's a good job you're so little," Abby muttered, "most seven year olds don't have the privilege to be carried around by their mothers, especially those mothers who are only five foot one."
She turned her head to see if Liana's eyes were open but she remained still. Abby drew the curtains and bright sunlight filled their apartment. She placed Liana on a kitchen chair and watched as she slouched over the table still refusing to wake up.
Abby sighed and flipped on the kettle switch, she opened the fridge to see an absence of milk. Fantastic! Abby thought as she closed the fridge door and turned the kettle off. She retrieved two bowls from the cupboard and laid them out in front of Liana. She started to fill them with cereal and then cursed herself for forgetting there was no milk. Turning to the last resort, Abby grabbed a couple of end pieces of bread and put them in the toaster.
"Liana wake up."
She eventually got through to her, and she lifted her head slightly as a huge yawn emerged from her mouth.
"Hey there sleepy head."
Liana blinked a couple of times, her eyes focused on the kitchen table. Abby sighed in deeply contemplating what stage of the disease would affect Liana today.
"We need to have a talk Liana, are you awake yet?"
"Yes" she said sleepily.
Abby sat down next to her and imitated her by resting her chin on her arms.
"How are you feeling this morning?" She shrugged her shoulders.
"Do you feel different from how you felt yesterday?" Liana didn't really understand the question, so Abby decided to take a different approach and tell her straight out.
"Liana" Abby paused and gently took her hand, "From now on you're going to take some medicine that'll I've give to you and when I'm not around Mandy will do the same."
"Why?" she asked confused. Abby lent back in her chair and crossed her arms. She formed a pout with her mouth keeping her eyes on the ground.
"Do you remember when Maggie and Uncle Eric visited awhile back?"
Liana thoughtfully considered her question and slowly nodded her head. Abby opened her mouth to speak, but the words refused to come out. This had been more difficult then she imagined it would be.
"Uncle Eric is bi-polar do you remember me telling you that?"
"Maggie is bi-polar as well right?"
"That's right and sometimes…" Abby's voice trailed off, she found it so difficult to put the disease in its simplest form in order to explain it to a child.
"Mum what's that burning smell?" Liana asked inquisitively smelling the air. Abby, somewhat too late, remembered the bread in the toaster. She hopped up from the chair and grabbed the charred pieces of toast, her fingers were scolded from doing so and she yelped out in pain.
"That burning smell is your breakfast," she muttered.
"Am I sick is that why I have to take medicine, I don't feel sick."
Abby turned around and rested against the counter rocking slightly on the balls of her feet.
"No you're not sick Liana," she paused and took in a deep breath; "Uncle Eric and Maggie take medicine as well." Abby could almost see the clogs turning in her mind as she figured it out. Abby closed her eyes and reopened them to see Liana by her side.
"Mum am I bi-polar?" she tugged repeatedly on Abby's arm, desperately wanting her attention. Abby lifted her hands up to her head and ran them through her hair a couple of times in an attempt to detangle her messy hair.
"Yes Liana" she eventually said returning her arms to the side of her body. She watched as her face fell, Liana turned afoot and ran into her bedroom. The silence was broken by the slamming of her door. Abby immediately followed and found her sitting underneath her desk. A place she often went when she had been bad or was upset about something. Abby sat down and peered under the desk.
"You don't like when Maggie stays mum, I know you don't." Liana's hands flew up to her face and she burst into tears.
"Hey, hey," Abby grabbed her under the arms and dragged her out from under the desk, placing her onto her bed.
"Am I not allowed to stay with you because I'm like Maggie?" Abby draped an arm over Liana and gave her a little squeeze.
"Of course you can stay."
"But you're always sad when Maggie comes"
"I know but Maggie is different, she doesn't take her medication and sometimes she can become very sick. That's why you will take medication so you can feel normal."
Abby realised she was giving her daughter an ultimatum, stay medicated and lead a semi-normal life or refuse to take the medication and let the disease take control of her life. Liana sniffed back her tears and buried her face into Abby's lap.
"I don't want to be like Maggie."