Chapter 7.
*TOBY'S POINT OF VIEW*
After being told to get out by Katie, I sat in the waiting room with my head in my hands in shock. I didn't mean to upset her; I really didn't. I understood that she was under a lot of stress right now due to being in hospital but I could also understand why she tried to hide her arms so much.
Suddenly her covering her arms up all the time made perfect sense.
But she didn't need to hide it from me. I think she is the most beautiful human being I have ever laid eyes on. When she smiles it feels like the whole world is smiling too.
I care so much for her. I haven't known Katie for very long at all but she makes my days a million times better. She is sweet, cute and innocent. Not like other girls.
She was unique.
And I loved that about her.
After days of being on a saline drip (they got essential nutrients through her body quicker than any other way) Katie was finally able to leave hospital.
Despite our argument, Katie pretended nothing ever happened. She acted like she did with me before and seemed so naive and oblivious to what happened. Inside me I just wanted to ask her questions about her arms, understand why they were that way, but I didn't want to fall out with her or invade her privacy anymore than I had done.
I insisted that I drove Katie home. The distance from the hospital to her place was slightly lengthy so she fell soundly in to peaceful sleep in the car ride. I wanted to sit and watch her but of course I had to concentrate on driving. I've never seen someone look so peaceful before. It was elegancy to my eyes.
But that peacefulness didn't last very long. Before I knew what was happening Katie was screaming. "STOP! STOP!" she shrieked, waving her arms about hectically. I immediately jumped at the sound of her shouting and looked around me panicked; thinking she was trying to warn me of some surrounding danger. Only there was no danger.
Due to her shouting Katie had woken herself up and had quickly turned to crying uncontrollably. Without hesitation I pulled in to the nearest lay by and turned the engine off. "Katie, what is wrong?" I asked desperately, wanting to calm her down again. "I...I had a bad dream". She stuttered out between sobs. "Tell me about it sweetie" I spoke softly to her; going over to hold her hand. Since she had been in hospital we have been used to holding hands as I'd always hold hers whilst we spoke as she led there in her hospital bed with a terrified look on her face. The first time I tried it she snatched her hand away; second time round she let me but trembled. Now she was fine with it.
"No. I don't want to talk about it" she cried even more. I didn't want to push her for an answer. It had always been obvious she was too much of a fragile girl to push for answers.
Without any control over my body I automatically reached my other hand to her face and placed it slowly on to her cheek; taking its shape. Katie began to tremble but didn't turn away from me.
"You're safe with me Katie" I told her sweetly but with a meaningful look on her face. "I promise nothing bad can happen to you whilst you're by my side I won't let it". This seemed to reassure her and she gave me a shaky smile and wiped her tears away.
"Toby...I don't want to be alone in my house tonight. I-I don't think I can take being alone right now. Will you stay with me?" Katie asked hopefully.
I would have never of expected something like that from her. To me Katie was a fragile piece of broken glass. Something had to have come alone at some point in her life and smashed her to smithereens.
But now Katie wanted to be fixed again. Piece by piece.
"Of course I will stay with you tonight" I promised her.
And on that note, I drove on.