Chpt.4
The police arrested my mother and the court case was scheduled a week afterwards. I wasn't there when the police arrested her, but I was okay with that. I never wanted to see her again.
However, Flash… or I should say, Wally, told me that I would have to testify in the court, which was a new and terrifying thing to me.
I would have to stand up in front of a group of people and answer various questions and explain what my mother did to me, all the while she would be in the same room, most likely glaring daggers at me.
Not only that, but Wally told me that if my mother wasn't found guilty in the case, I would be sent back to her.
"Don't worry." Wally smiled at me. "Your mother won't get custody of you. I'll make sure that that doesn't happen."
He smiled at me so reassuringly, yet I was so scared.
"Let's head to my apartment. I have a guest room that you can use." He smiled, and I silently nodded, still a bit in shock from what was all going on.
In a blink of an eye, Wally lifted me up in his arms, sprinted to his apartment, and the next thing I knew, I was in a comfy looking living room.
"This is your apartment?" I inquired, scanning the place with my eyes. It was ordinary, but I liked it. It was a comfortable type of ordinary.
"Yup. Home sweet home." He shrugged. "I'll give you the grand tour of the place." he placed a hand on my shoulder and showed me around the home.
"This is the kitchen. I'm not the best at cooking, but I can get some stuff right. This is the living room. The television has cable and it's great. Here's my bedroom." I looked at the room, and yet again, it looked so normal. A few clothes lying about here or there and his bed was unmade, but aside from that, it wasn't entirely messy.
"This is the bathroom. And this is the guest room." He smiled, opening the door to a plain looking bedroom with blue walls and an average size bed.
"And… I'll be staying here?" I inquired, and Wally nodded.
"Yeah. Is this alright with you?"
"Yes. Yes, it's wonderful. Just… this room is really big." I looked around at the guest room in surprise. My mom never let me sleep in a room so big.
"Is that a problem?" Wally inquired, concern on his face, ready to fix something.
"No. No not a problem at all. It's… wonderful." I whispered, smiling.
"Do you want to take a shower? I can give you some of my old clothes for you to wear when you get out and tomorrow we can get you some new clothes." Wally suggested, and I nodded.
It had been some time since I had a shower. Yes, I did wash myself in showers at gyms, but I always had to be quick and I didn't get them regularly.
After Wally showed me how to work the hot and cold knobs in the bathroom, I hoped into the shower and smiled at how warm it felt and I liked how I didn't feel so rushed.
I made sure to wash with the soap, and I giggled at the suds that formed over my arms.
Once I finished, I opened the shower curtain to see a towel and some clothes that were folded up for me.
I quickly dried myself with the soft towel, and then I went to putting on the clothes. I still had my underwear, but aside from that, Wally had left out a pair of mesh shorts with a draw string and a t-shirt that had bubble words stating: I LOVE CENTRAL CITY.
I tied the shorts as tightly as I could around my waist, and the t-shirt hung off my thin frame.
However, I didn't care. It was comfy and stayed on.
I padded out of the bathroom and into the living room, where Wally was hanging up a phone. He turned around once he heard me enter and the room and smiled.
"Hey Lyf. I guess the smallest t-shirt wasn't small enough, huh?" he chuckled a bit.
"It's very comfortable, Uncle Wally. Thank you for everything." I stated, playing a bit with the bottom of the shirt while testing out the name Wally told me to call him. Uncle Wally. I liked it.
Wally just grinned as he knelt down to be almost the same height as me.
"Tomorrow I'll make sure you get some better fitting clothes. But for now, do you want to head to bed? It's been a long day."
"Yes, please." I nodded.
Wally actually tucked me into bed. He patted my head gently, gave me a hug, and then made sure the blanket was around me comfortably.
"Goodnight." I whispered.
"Goodnight." He repeated, and then closed the door to the room.
I fell asleep before I could even hear Wally's footsteps walk away.
I woke up in the middle of the night with a scream caught in my throat. I had a nightmare. I had a terrifying nightmare that was just on the cusp of memory. All I could really remember from it was my mother's smiling face. That was it, but it was enough to scare me.
It apparently was enough to make me do something else too.
Kicking the blanket off of me and turning on the lamp on the side table, I frowned at the sight of a pool of liquid on the blankets and clingy uncomfortably to my legs, through my underwear, and through Wally's pants.
I stared down at the mess wide eyed, unsure of what to do.
I… I don't know how to fix this! This must be why mother didn't like it when I slept on beds. Ohnoohnoohno! Maybe I can wash the sheets. But how? With what? And how can I do so without waking up Wally. Oh no Wally! I can't tell him! He might kick me out if I tell him I did this! I don't want him to kick me out! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I thought and as I continued to imagine all the awful things Wally could do since I wet the bed, I started crying.
This was too much. It was as if this one day flipped my life upside down and all it'd take to ruin the day would be one wet bed.
"Lyf?" I looked up to see Wally in the doorway of the guestroom. "I had to use the bathroom and I saw that your light was on from underneath the door." He explained, but as he got closer, he noticed the tears in my eyes and the moister on the bed.
"Did you wet the bed?" he questioned and then the tears started dripping down my cheeks faster as I slowly nodded my head.
"Shhh, no need to cry, Lyf." Wally smiled, kissing me on the top of my head, making me go stiff.
"Y-you aren't upset?" I inquired softly.
"Of course not. Stuff like this happens." Wally shrugged. "Now, I'll lend you another pair of pants and start a load of wash. Meanwhile, you can wash up. Does that sound good?" he questioned and I slowly nodded.
We made quick work as I scrubbed myself off in the bathroom while Wally started washing the sheets. He also made sure to hand me a new pair of shorts, which I quickly changed into.
Once done, Wally made the two of us some hot chocolate and we sat on the couch to drink.
"So, did you have a bad dream?" Wally inquired as we drank.
"Yeah. I did." I nodded, shivering a bit even though the hot chocolate made me warm.
"What about?" he inquired. I fiddled with the mug in my hand for a bit, but Wally seemed content to wait for my answer.
"I can't remember. I just remember my mom… smiling. I hate it." I whispered, feeling my shoulders slump as I started to close in on myself.
A woman smiling didn't sound very scary, but for me, it was terrifying.
I'm so pathetic. I thought with a frown.
"Lyf," I felt Wally place his hand on my shoulder, but it caused me to jump. I wasn't expecting him to touch me, so I got scared.
The thought of my mother grabbing my shoulder to turn me around so she could aim at my face better crossed my mind.
However, when Wally grabbed my shoulder, it was just to make me turn around so he could hug me.
"It'll be alright, Lyf. I won't let her get you. You're safe here." Wally said as he rocked me back and forth in his arms. It was a comforting and relaxing feeling.
I clutched onto Wally tightly and I could hear his heartbeat when I leaned my head on his chest. It was a soothing to hear his heart beat a steady thump-thump thump-thump. I blinked my eyes several times, but found it hard to keep them open.
Soon enough, I was slipping into sleep with Wally holding onto me as I did.
