HEY GUYS I AM SO SORRY THAT IT TOOK SO LONG FOR ME TO UPDATE BUT LIFE KIND OF GOT IN THE WAY (WELL MY ASSESSMENT BEING PUSHED FORWARD TWO WEEKS KINDA THROUGH ME) BUT HEY HERE IT IS. PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK
Arriving at my house Henry and I decided that there was no point going back to his apartment when the poor girl seemed to be having a little trouble with Henry and introducing her to Abe might be what pushed her over the edge. Henry carried my things and the bag of clothes to the door before unlocking my house. It was a little odd having him do that, though I was used to him opening doors and knew that it was just a part of who he was, it was odd because he respected the fact that this was my space and my place to get away from the world. I needn't have worried too much as always he was with me every step of the way it made me happy knowing that Henry was there supporting me and making me feel better. Making my way up to the spare bedroom with Sophia I decided to let the young girl sleep before washing her and getting her something to eat. As I tucked her in, I thought about how sweet and innocent she looked and thought about how much of a monster someone would have to be to do something to a little girl.
I was greeted by Henry who was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, and as soon as my feet hit the bottom stair he pulled me in for a hug.
"We're going to find him Jo. We'll get justice for Sophia, you'll see" he said and I nodded a little, not really wanting to get my hopes up for Sophia's sake. Cases like these, they needed hard evidence and proof and sometimes even with that the court system still let a person like that escape without being charged. I knew the amount of evidence and work that needed to be put into this case but I also knew that this little girl needed care and love, something that she seemed to be lacking. Having grown up in a similar situation to Sophia I could relate a little I guess, my mother had been the one to look after me and make sure that I was able to live the life I deserved, but when my father lost his job when I was five years old everything changed. He turned to drugs and alcohol and no matter what we did he was never there for us. It wasn't until my mum was diagnosed with cancer when I was nineteen that she decided to leave my father, a little late to be honest but they had been so in love and she had always prayed that he would change. That hadn't happened until after she had passed away five years ago, she lived just long enough to see me and Sean marry and get back from our honeymoon before she passed, that had been a tough way to start our marriage but it had been what had made Sean and me stronger. Though I doubt even I had anticipated what would happen after that, losing Sean had been tough but then it had also lead me to Henry, the love of my life and now it had lead me to Sophia.
We were in the kitchen an hour later when we heard the scream that came from upstairs, I looked at Henry pleading for him to stay down here
"Go to her" was all he said and I did, but not before sending him an appreciative smile. Making my way up the stairs and into the spare bedroom I looked at the young girl who was sobbing uncontrollably, her head in hands as she sat hunched over and I could see her visibly shaking. Hearing the sobs I felt something tug at my heart strings and made my way over to her, sitting on the bed, gently placing my hand on her back and whispering to her that she was safe now. She pulled back a little while later and she looked into my eyes a pleading look in her eyes as she tried to see if I was telling her the truth.
"Sophia, I promise that I will do whatever I can to make sure that you are safe and that your dad never harms you again" I said, she searched for any signs that I wasn't being fully truthful with her and she must've have decided that I was telling the truth and willing to keep this promise because she nodded. I sat in thought for a minute before remembering that her scream had been what had alerted me to the fact that she'd woken up again so I asked
"Sophia did you have a nightmare?" and she nodded, nodding to myself I asked
"Do you want to talk to me about it?" I asked and she shook her head before she stopped herself nodding slowly as she made her way closer toward me
"It was about daddy, and how he had beaten me and how mummy had tried to stop him. Watching as he told her that she was not to protect me when I had been bad and needed to be punished" she whispered barely audible, as it was I had to strain to hear what she said.
"Oh Sophie, I am so sorry sweetie" I said pulling her into a hug, and her arms automatically wound around my neck, her head nuzzling into my neck.
I stayed like that for a couple minutes more before pulling back and asking if she would like a bath, when she nodded enthusiastically I took it as a good sign that she was willing to come and have a bath in the presence of someone who was still a virtual stranger to her, and I felt truly honoured that this little girl who had been so tortured was trusting me so much. I grabbed the pair of purple spotted pyjamas out of the bag and a change of under clothes and we carried her into the bathroom across the hall. I put the plug in the tub and turned the hot and cold taps on before grabbing my favourite bath soaps and pouring them in the tub, grabbing my shampoo and conditioner down from the shelf I put them on the vanity next to where I was sitting. With the temperature at an acceptable warmth I helped Sophia out of her dirty clothes before putting them in the washing basket that I kept in on the other side of the vanity. Before she got into the bath I noticed the scars that were on her skin and cursed the man who had done this to such a beautiful child, seeing the physical evidence only made my need to find and catch this horrible man stronger than before. I noticed that I was staring and blinked before helping her into the bath tub and let her play with the duck that I had been given as a prank gift a couple of years ago. I started to put the shampoo in her hair and rinsed the suds out before I did the same with the conditioner before I got the comb out and started combing her hair, apologising every time she winced when I caught a knot, but as I got more and more knots out she became less aware of what I was doing as she played with the rubber duck and made it swim through the water. When I was satisfied that I had removed most of the knots I helped her wash her skin before I let her play for a little while longer with the duck in the bath, that is until I heard the tap on the door and Henry calling out
"Jo, I've got dinner ready" looking at Sophia as she heard this her face split into a look of happiness, eagerness and a little bit of fear.
"It's alright sweetie I'm not going to leave you alone. Come on we've got to get out of the bath so we can get dressed and have some dinner" I said and she smiled for the first time since I had meet her. And what a beautiful smile it was.