Here is chapter 2. I can see that people have followed the story or reading it but I only got 1 review. Please let me know if you want me to continue. Just a review saying anything!
"That's a lovely photo" Faith said, and Ellie nodded.
"That's a really lovely photo" Faith said as she looked down at the young woman that she had met quite a few times.
"My mum couldn't look after me. She was busy with her work. She did what was best for me. She loves me though" Ellie said, and Faith nodded.
"I'm sure" Faith agreed, "how old were you when you went into care?"
"From birth" Ellie said "I was a difficult baby though, so no one wanted me. Then I grew up and I was, well, just me. No one would ever want me"
Faith looked at the young girl. How could someone be so misunderstood? No one had even put the effort or time to get to know the poor girl. She had been failed.
"You know what, Ellie" Faith said, and Ellie turned her whole body to look at Faith. She barely ever looked directly at anyone, but she trusted Faith.
"I like you, I really like you" Faith said "And I think that if people took more time to get to know you then they would feel the same"
Ellie smiled and then shrugged. She didn't want Faith seeing the vulnerable side of her just yet. It was too early.
"No one likes me, I bet you are just saying that to make me feel better" Ellie shrugged off mumbling underneath her breath. The wall went straight back up.
"I'm honestly not" Faith said as she took a hold of the girl's hand and squeezed it tightly. Just then, they were interrupted saying that they were ready for them for the x-ray.
The nurse moved Ellie into position before leaving the room. Faith watched on from the observation area and noticed just how anxious Ellie looked, especially when she didn't think that anyone was watching.
"Good girl, Ellie. Keep staying still. You are doing a fantastic job" Faith encouraged from the side. Ellie did exactly as she was asked which allowed the x-ray to happen very speedily.
"Right, onto the CT now and then it'll be back down the stairs" Faith said and very surprisingly, they were able to get in straight away.
"Now this one is a bit different." Faith explained showing the machine to the girl.
"You will lie on the bed and the bed will move into the machine. The machine will be turned on and it will spin around you taking pictures of your head" Faith explained "Again, it is very important that you stay very still whilst this is happening"
Faith gently lay the girl down on the bed. She could see that the girl was a lot more nervous about this one. She wasn't so sure.
"I'm just stepping out the room now" Faith explained as she moved to the observation area. Ellie managed very well until the machine was turned on. Suddenly her legs started moving and she tried to get out of the straps that were holding her down.
"No, I don't like it. Make it stop" Ellie started to cry as she thrashed about even more.
"Ellie, you are safe. I'm right outside. I just need you to stay still. Please sweetheart" Faith tried but it was like Ellie wasn't hearing her anymore.
"Go and see if Doctor Nash is free to come up" Faith said to another nurse as she stepped into the room with Ellie. The bed had been removed and Faith tried to keep the girl calm by stroking the girl's head. It seemed like the girl was in a trance.
"Good girl" Faith said, "I've got sent for someone. Someone who I think might be able to help and speak you through the CT scan"
"Not John, not John" Ellie rushed.
"Who is John?" Faith asked confused.
"My carer, please just not him" She said again.
"No, it's not him" Faith confirmed.
"I don't want to see John, don't let him see me" She begged.
"Okay, we'll speak more when we are back down the stairs" Faith said softly, and Ellie nodded. They both jumped as the door of the observation area opened and Stevie stormed in.
"Cadogan, you wanted me" Stevie shouted. Faith grabbed the girl's bag from the wheelchair and walked over to Stevie.
"Doctor Nash is going to speak to you, Ellie but I will be here too" Faith explained.
"She flipped when we put her in the CT scanner, but I thought you might be able to help" Faith said looking through the girl's bag to find out the photo she was looking for. "This is her mum"
She handed the picture to Stevie who froze.
"She needs you" Faith said putting her hand on Stevie's back. She hadn't planned on Stevie finding out this way but the girl needed someone and she knew that Stevie would be there for her.
"Ellie, I know that you are scared but we need to do this scan. You are the bravest and feistiest girl I have ever met. You even give me a run for my money. I know that you aren't scared of this scanner. There is nothing you are scared of. Nothing, that you can't do. We are here for you Ellie" Stevie said as the bed went into the machine again.
"Good girl Els, it's getting turned on now. Just stay still exactly like you are doing. You've really held your own today, sweetheart. You've not needed anyone, but I want you to know that people are there for you. You are not on your own, Ellie. I know you said that no one cares but we do care. We've only known you for an hour or so but already we care. Faith and I both care, Ellie" Stevie said and by the time she had finished talking, Ellie was being taken out of the CT scanner.
Stevie and Faith walked into the room
"Come on missy, into the wheelchair and we'll take you back down the stairs" Stevie said as she encouraged the girl into the wheelchair. She gave her back the bag and smiled as she noticed her instantly pull out the photo and hold it to her chest.
The journey back to the ward fell into a soft silence as they passed the waiting area, Ellie hid her head to the side and instantly tensed. Both Stevie and Faith noticed this and glanced at each other, it was something they needed to keep an eye on. They settled Ellie into the cubicle before walking back to nurse's station.
"What do you think about the picture?" Faith asked softly and Stevie shrugged.
"I don't know, I really don't know. I'll need a DNA test to be sure. I don't want to say anything until that's checked. I can't get her hopes up" Stevie said. Faith nodded. She would follow Stevie's lead.
Stevie disappeared to do a quick check of her other patients before returning to Faith.
"Right, can you come with me?" Stevie asked and Faith agreed.
"So, what do you think about the hoodie issue?" Stevie asked and Faith shrugged.
"Well her arms are bare but she's hiding something. I don't know, I suppose it could be to do with her developing breasts and being embarrassed. I'm sure she has a vest top on underneath her hoodie" Faith said and Stevie nodded. That did seem like a plausible reason, but Stevie just wasn't sure. She really needed to explore it especially now. They walked over to the cubicle and entered.
"Do you want your carer here whilst we go over the results?" Stevie asked realising that Ellie had not once asked for her carer or have they been present at any point. The girl ferociously shook her head.
"Alright, it was only a suggestion. Right, well, your CT scan came back clear so I will get a nurse to stitch the cut. Your wrist appears to be a simple fracture and shouldn't need surgery. We'll put it in a cast and then you will get an out-patient appointment in a week to see how it is healing" Stevie instructed, and Ellie nodded.
"Now, I do want to speak to you about why you won't take off the hoodie or now the gown" Stevie said, and Ellie sighed. Why can't people just leave some things alone?
"It's a concern and something that I will have to bring up to your social worker and carer" Stevie stated.
"No, please don't" Ellie begged.
"Then I need you to tell us what the issue is" Stevie said trying to reason with the girl. Ellie sighed and threw her arms on the bed beside her. Why was this so difficult?
"Ellie, is this something to do with the changes you are going through?" Faith asked, "You know starting your period early means that you have gone through over changes. Perhaps developing breasts. I'm sure that can be hard if you don't have anyone to talk to about it but we are used to it."
"No, it's not that" Ellie said blushing "Honestly"
Ellie begged. She was getting stuck and she didn't like this situation. She looked around the room but she didn't have anywhere to escape to. She held her breath and tried to calm herself down. She was too far in now, what could she do? They were going to find out, she would get into so much trouble and still she'd have no one.
"What is it then?" Stevie asked "You know you can trust us don't you"
Ellie bit her lip nervously. Could she let them in? She didn't have much more of a choice now.
"Let me help you" Stevie said moving closer to Ellie. Ellie knew that it was now or never. She couldn't keep this in any longer. She slowly lifted her right arm and tried to move her hair out the way. She didn't have a spare hand to untie it. Stevie took this as an indication and gently untied it, letting it fall down Ellie's arms.
Both Faith and Stevie had to hold in a gasp as they looked at the marks on Ellie's upper chest. 3 very distinctive bruises.
"How did you get these?" Stevie asked running her hand gently over the marks on her upper chest. Stevie glanced worriedly at Faith. She could only think of one way that the young girl would have gotten these marks.
Stevie softly moved the vest top slightly so that she could check down the girl's top. She noticed that there were two more bruises on her breasts. Stevie sucked a breath in, the poor girl. She was only 12 years old, she had only just started budding, not even proper breasts and the marks were horrific.
"Can I?" Stevie asked holding the bottom of the girl's vest top. Ellie nodded nervously tears filling in her eyes. Stevie lifted her top and found more marks and bruises along her stomach with two clear large bruises on her hip bones.
"Ellie" Stevie managed to get out, the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Something overwhelming came over her, something that she had never felt before. Stevie stepped forward and pulled the girl int other arms, allowing the top to fall back down.
Ellie had never felt anything like this before as well. She hadn't felt safe like this before. The tears and emotions that she had been holding in all day finally surfaced and when they started she just couldn't get them to stop.
Instead of pulling away which was her normal reaction. Ellie tried to get closer to Stevie, she wanted to get as close to her as she could. Stevie felt this movement and wanted to do everything she could for the girl. Stevie turned around so that she was sitting on the bed with the girl. She managed to awkwardly push herself up to be sitting upright on the bed and pulled the girl on top of her.
Ellie sobbed into Stevie's chest. Faith placed her hand on the girl's back. She felt helpless but what did make her feel better was that her best friend's comfort was clearly what the young girl needed. It was a sense of comfort that Faith would not be able to give the girl herself. It was something else.
"It's the truth, I can feel it" Stevie said "The picture, it's definitely her. She's my niece"
Please leave me a review, even just to say you are reading.
Did anyone guess it was Stevie's niece?