December was here and Christmas was fast approaching. For the first time, Poppy was getting excited about it. She'd saved her allowance to buy little presents for everyone, which she'd wrapped and tucked safely under her bed. Both she and Olivia were more aware of Rachel and Eddie being an item, and he spent most nights at their house. But amongst all the excitement, Rachel was worried about Poppy. She knew what was coming in just a few days and the emotional turmoil Poppy was going to be going through. And then it hit.
It was a Saturday morning and Poppy was supposed to be staying with Katie and Mark for the weekend, but Rachel had cancelled for a week for Poppy's unknown state. Poppy used to go and see Jessica and Chris on Saturday's, but she had recently refused and her visits were getting few and far apart. Rachel knew that seeing someone in a coma was hard for anybody, especially a child, however, she had a feeling that there was something else. Poppy came down from her room slightly later than usual and slipped straight into the living room leaving Rachel in the kitchen. "Do you want any breakfast, love?" Rachel called, making her way into the living room.
"No," Poppy replied.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Poppy whimpered as she wiped a tear from her cheek with her sleeve.
"Oh, Poppy," soothed Rachel as she came and sat next to Poppy on the sofa. "Do you want to talk about it?" Poppy shook her head and burst into a fresh set of tears. "Sshhh, sshhh, it's okay. It's okay Poppy. Everything's going to be okay." Rachel held Poppy close, gently stroking her head. Poppy turned to look at her.
"1 year Rachel. 1 whole year. Nothing will be okay." Rachel looked into the little girls red, tearstained eyes. Full of desperation, lacking in any hope. She'd forgotten how to live, but to merely survive. Rachel felt obliged to help this little girl in any way she could. That began by helping her today and mothering and supporting her in the way that her own mother and father had failed to do so.
"It will Poppy. I promise."