"Who is she moms?" Mariana whispered standing in the kitchen, her two brother stood on each side of her. "She's safe." Stef reassured her three children. Lena poured two more cups of coffee and handed one to Stef. They had been up all night watching this shivering girl lie on their couch for hours and crying. At one point Lena went to readjust a blanket on top of the girl to keep her warm and she only cowered away whimpering "Please. Please no!" Stef and Lena stayed their distance the rest of the night. The girl finally fell asleep at dawn.
"What are we going to do Lena, we can't just keep her until she decides to talk. It could be kidnap." Stef whispered standing in the entry way to their living room. Lena watched as the girl finally looked peaceful. "Did you see the cut? Or the bruises that looked like handprints? We can't just report her and send her back, we need her to talk to us first." Finally the girl began to stir. "We'll see what we can do love." Stef stood there trying to understand this girl's story.
"Would you like something to eat?" Brandon was standing in the living room when she finally opened her eyes. His moms had gone upstairs to rest for a few moments. The girl looked at Brandon quizzically. "Can she hear? Maybe she's deaf?" Jesus suggested. The girl jumped up from hearing another voice. She shook her head, "Nope. She can hear." Jesus whispered. A quick half smile flashed across the girls face, it disappeared as quick as it had come. Looking around the room as if she was searching for an exit the girl acted if she had been a captured animal.
Brandon began to take charge once more, "Mariana go get moms, they'll want to talk to her and we can all go out for a few hours." Mariana began to race up the stairs. "She's awake." Lena looked at her daughter, and was surprised at how she was handling the whole situation. "Did she say or do anything?" Stef asked already walking out the room. Mariana shook her head, "She seems scared. Do we know her name? Brandon, Jesus and I are going out for a few hours we'll be back." Mariana was already on her way down the stairs before her moms could answer. "Brandon, Jesus let's go." Mariana said quickly as she came down the stairs. The three children left worried about their moms but knowing they would be alright and handle the situation.
"Stef, How are we going to deal with this? She doesn't seem to respond well to people going to close to her and she only talked when she was screaming." Lena was talking faster and faster trying to plan. "Shh. Love, take it easy, we'll keep ourselves far enough and just ask her few things like what her name is, why she was here last night and if she needs any food or blankets." Stef reached for Lenas hand, "I suppose thats the best we can do." Lena sighed. This was not going to be fun.
"Hey there sweetie, I'm Stef and this is Lena. What's your name?" Stef took the lead in this conversation which Lena was grateful for, she didn't know what quite to say. The girl stayed silent, though she did seem to sit herself up. "Can you talk to us? We won't hurt you. We just want to help, but we need your name." Stef tried again. The girl shook her head, no? How could no be a sufficient answer for her name? It would take small steps with this girl, thats what Stef and Lena had to keep in mind.
"Are you hungry?" Lena asked, she took a step towards the couch the girl was lying on. Yes, she shook her head. "Please." She whispered. It was a start, the girl was talking to them.