Cat took the lady's hand and walked over to the front desk. "This is Caterina Valentine. I want to know why she's here, please." The man at the desk nodded.
"She was hysterical and needed to be sedated and restrained." He looked down at Cat. "How is she now?"
"Does it look like she needed restraining? She's a little girl!" The nurse holding Cat's hand tutted, "I really don't see how she – still just a baby – needed a sedative."
"Well, the social workers did." The nurse pressed her lips together.
"Well, obviously. Please tell her social workers that I'll be in the psychiatrist's office. Come on, darling." Cat sniffed and continued on, wondering where she was going.
"What's a physic- something or other?"
"It's a person who talks to you," the nurse says. Cat looks up at her.
"I don't really want to talk to anyone right now." The nurse smiles, and grips Cat's hand tighter, squeezing it to reassure her.
"It's fine. You'll just colour or something then."
"Oh." Cat says. She doesn't really like colouring but she decides not to say anything anyway. She just walks with the nurse and seals her lips. When they reach the room, it's colourful and full of animals and pirates and princesses. Cat frowns.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Cat shakes her head.
"Nothing," she says calmly. She doesn't like how the room is so familiar. "Who is that?" she points at a man in a blue suit.
"That's the man who will talk to you." Cat scrunches up her forehead.
"But I told you I don't want to talk!" The nurse hushes Cat.
"I know. You don't have to do anything you don't want, okay?" Cat nods solemnly. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand." Cat is lead into the room, where the lady lets go out her hand and leaves. "Um, hello?" Cat calls. The man in the suit turns round.
"Hello, Caterina, how are you?" Cat stands still.
"My name's Cat now." The doctor nods.
"Hello, Cat." Cat nods this time.
"Hello." The doctor beckons her over with one finger. Cat stands still again. She shakes her head. "I want to stay here."
"I can't talk to you over there, silly." Cat remembers again.
"How am I meant to throw the ball over the trampoline net? Jump off, silly!" Her mother grinned, spinning Cat around and around until she was dizzy.
"Mama, mama, I wanna go in a swim pool!" Cat's mother giggled and tried to hide her smile.
"A swimming pool, darling," Cat giggles.
"Yes mama!" She splashes about in it for ages, and her mom watching at the side. "Mama, I hear the phone."
"Okay darling," she picks up Cat, because not for a second would she leave her, and goes inside. She hands Cat a towel. "I think that's enough splashing now, huh?" Cat nods happily, going to retrieve her crayons. She hears a deafening scream and stops in her tracks.
"Mama, you okay? Mommy?" She then hears a thud. She runs to the kitchen where the phone is where she hears sobbing.
"Cat, go away."
"Mama?"
"No. I love you, darling, I just need some time." Cat hovers by the door.
"Who was on the phone?"
"No one." Cat's mother composed herself. "I have some news." Cat looked up. She held her mom's hand and her face lit up.
"Is daddy coming home?" she beamed up at her and grinned. "I can't wait!" Her mother swallowed noisily.
"No, darling, he's not. I'm afraid daddy's gone to sleep."
"I always push him that wakes him up."
"No, darling, that isn't working this time. I'm so sorry," Cat frowns.
"Why are you sorry?"
"I just am."
Cat's mother was never the same after that day.
Jade wakes up that morning and there's an eerie silence. "Maddie?" she calls out. She sees her in the living room, crying her eyes out. Jade's face droops. "Please don't cry."
"Oh Jade, you won't understand. Please go away."
"Oh…okay." Jade heads back to bed, struggling to hold back tears. Her heart leaps when she hears Maddie call her name. "Yes, Maddie?"
"Come here," she calls. Jade runs to her. "Turn off my light please; it's giving me a splitting headache."
Jade slams the door shut, leaving the light on. She's so hurt. She runs out of the house, stunned that no one is stopping her. She realizes it's still very dark. Jade decides that she likes the dark. She also decides that she hates the weekends, and people, and babies, and ducks, man she hates ducks.
"Hello, little lady, and where do you think you're going?" Jade sighs and sees Gina, the head social worker.
"Nowhere," she mumbles. Gina nods and turns her around.
"What are you even doing up?"
"Couldn't sleep."
"I see that," Gina says. "Never mind. I'll make you hot chocolate and then you can get back to bed." Jade thinks about things, walking back. She's never really been anywhere that treats her so well. As she walks in the door she hugs Gina. Gina smiles down at her.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," Gina says as if she knows what Jade means. Jade wonders if she really does.
A/N:
Sorry that this was a bit messy and all over the place. I can't think straight. Did you hear about the shooting? That was terrible…poor kids.
Did you see the new episode? It was funny. If you'd like to know what Maddie looks like, type in Maddie Duggan. She was on Eastenders…if you know what that is. She wasn't named after her, it was coincidence. Anyway…hope you enjoyed it.
~ Caitlin