"So, now to the serious talk, what happened at the hospital, with all the details."
"The doctor made me an x-ray, full body, and he analyzed it and came to the conclusion that someone was beating me."
"o.k., and then what?"
"He talked to Eric's parents and us and said that I should report to the police."
"How can he know what you should or should not do?"
"His excuse was that he had seen plenty of cases like this."
"Yeah right."
"What next?"
"He said that I was lucky he hadn't said it to the cops right away because that's what he was suppose to do."
"What about that 2 weeks thing?"
"I wasn't there when he said it."
"Eric?"
"My parents were, I was with Calleigh, they told me that the doctor said that if Calleigh haven't told the police by next week he would report it himself."
"When do you have to go?"
"Friday."
"o.k., we'll go with you."
"You will?"
"Yes."
"Thank you." She whispered hugging Aillin.
"Anytime little one, anytime."
Eric looked at Calleigh as if checking up on her.
"About what you said, if we report the cops, then she'll go to child protective servecies?"
"The doctor said so."
"What if we adopt her?"
"I think that until all the process was done Cal would have to be with them."
"All right."
"Are you really thinking about telling the cops?"
"I'm afraid it's the only way."
"What if I don't want to?"
"Calleigh…"
"It's my life, I'm not a kid, don't I have a saying on it?"
"Calleigh, by the law you're still a kid."
"I can drive a car, I can work, I can be accused of some crimes and be charged as an adult, and I can't decide what to do about my life?
"Calleigh, you know that"
"No, I don't know, you don't know, and that stupid doctor doesn't know!" Calleigh interrupted
Eric putted his harms around Calleigh hugging her tight.
"Cal, baby…"
"Sorry."
"It's o.k."
"I have to tell the cops, I know that, but I don't want everyone to know, I don't want to go live with someone I don't know."
"I know that sweetheart."
"Would you do it? Would you adopt me? Would you take me as your daughter?"
"Yes, in a blink little one, you know that."
"Then could we report it to the cops, but only after talking to them about you adopting me? Only after you're sure you can do it."
"All right, what about this, tomorrow we go to the police station and we talk to them o.k.?"
"Already?"
"As faster as better."
"I… I don't…"
"Hey, if you don't want to then it's o.k." Eric calmed.
"No. you're right, tomorrow."
"All right then, but I work tomorrow."
"What time then?"
"5."
"We'll pick you up."
"You don't need to."
"Yes we do."
"Hum, Cal?"
"Yeah?"
"May I go?
"You better."
"Thank you."
"We should go to bed, it's late."
"Little one…"
"Please, I just need to change the sheets of my bed, and then you can sleep there."
"Should I ask why you have to change them?"
"Hum… ah…"
"God Calleigh."
"I haven't said a thing!"
"You don't need to, go change those things, and turn the mattress too please."
"Won't you help me?"
"No way I'm touching that."
"C'mon, I help you."
"Thank you."
"It's half my fault after all."
"Eric!"
"What?" He laughed.
"Just come."
"You do realize that you ain't staying in that bed right kid?" Aillin said to Eric, who was tangled with Calleigh in the couch.
"It's a couch." Calleigh interrupted.
"Sir, as you know me and Calleigh have already done this and much more, and I love her, I respect you and I respect her, so I won't do anything else other than sleep tonight."
"You think you're very smart don't you? Then let me tell you something, either you get out of that bed right now, or I will forbid you two from being together."
"Aillin."
"So, what do you say?"
Eric looked down getting out of the embrace and sitting in the floor right next to the bed screeching a harm caressing Calleigh's hair.
"I thought so."
"Eric, come back t this couch please."
"Don't worry Cal, I'd rather stay away from you for one night that from now on."
"Eric…"
"Now leave, I'm not a kid, I know you'll jump to that bed as soon as I leave."
"Yes sir. Good night."
"Eric…"
"Goodnight Cal, I'm sorry, but-"
"Eric!"
"Cal, let me finish please. Good night, you got to sleep, and I'm sorry to disobey you sir, but for all I know this can be the last time I see her, so I would like to spend every minute I can with her."
"Are you saying that you'll not leave?"
"Yes sir."
"Are you crazy or do you have a death wish?"
"Neither."
"Great, now, if you two dare to do something else other than sleep…"
"We can "be quiet, you won't even notice if we do something."
"Cal!
"What?"
"Hey kid, don't even bother, she's way too stubborn to let you win this argument, besides, I was just joking, but really, we don't want to feel awkward, so please keep it for a time when we're not here."
"All right."
"Hey little one." Aillin greeted hugging Calleigh as she left the café.
"Hey."
"Are you o.k.?"
"Humhm."
"You're shaking sweetheart."
"I… I'm nervous."
"Understandable. Where's Eric?"
"He was talking to one of the kid's he teaches mum."
"Oh."
"Can we wait for him?"
"Sure sweetheart."
"You're a wreck Calleigh."
"I know." she chuckled nervously.
"C'mon, calm down a bit, it's not like you were walking to the electric chair or anything."
"I know, it's just… I've kept this for so long, and tell everything to strangers is…"
"Weird?"
"That's a euphemism."
"Hey, what about this, after we do it, we'll go eat an ice-cream like we used to."
"Strawberry with sparkles?"
"Yes sweetheart."
"All right."
"There you go."
"You know I'm still a wreck right?"
"Yes, you're figure is almost blurred."
"It is?"
"A bit."
"Hey, sorry I'm late."
"It's o.k." Calleigh sighed hugging him.
"Are you o.k.?" Eric asked kissing the top of her head and retribution the hug.
"I'm really nervous."
"I can feel you shaking."
"I know."
"Are you sure you want to do this? If you don't…"
"I need to."
"All right then."
"Let's go?"
"Humhm."
Eric walked besides Calleigh, an arm around her waist as Maella hold Calleigh's free hand, the one that wasn't holding Eric tight to girl's body.
"Ma'am, sir, what can I do for you?"
"We're here to talk to a cop."
"I need to know why sir."
"We need to report something."
"What?"
"Do you need to know that?"
"Yes sir."
"Child abuse."
"All right, how old is the child?"
"Why does it maters?"
"Is the child over 12 years old?"
"Yes."
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"A girl."
"Is she with you?"
"Yes, can we talk to the cop now?"
"I need you to wait a few minutes."
"o.k."
"then I'll call you, I just need a name."
"mine or the child's?"
"yours."
"Aillin Flack."
"Hum, could you spell it please?"
"A-I-L-L-I-N."
"Thank you sir."
"How long is it gonna take?"
"Only a couple minutes sir."
"o.k."
"are you feeling all right?"
"Hum, could you tell me where I can get a soda please?"
"Sure, do I need to call a doctor?"
"No, no, it's just to calm the nerves."
"Oh, I see, there's a machine around the corner."
"Thank you ma'am."
"Sure."
"Ai… Mr flack, please go to officer number four." Someone called at the speaker.
"That's us c'mon." the man said grabbing Calleigh's hand.
"Ma'am, could you tell us where office 4 is please?"
"Third door in the right."
"Thank you."
"Good luck."
"Thank you."
"So, Mr. Flack, who is it?"
"That would be me." Aillin said shaking the officer's hand.
"o.k., I understand that you're here to report chil abuse?"
"Yes sir."
"And who is this child?"
Calleigh raised her hand hesitantly looking down.
"Hum… how old are you exactly?"
"Sixteen."
"o.k. name?"
Calleigh Duquesne, D-U-Q-U-E-S-N-E.
"Thank you. Who are you reporting?"
"Her parents."
"And what's your relationship with Calleigh?"
"We… we lived down the street from her house, we used to help her whenever she needed. We used to be the ones talking her to the hospital."
"o.k. so you knew what was going on?"
"Yes sir."
"And since when has this situation being happening?"
"Since she was 2."
"And you never reported it?"
"We tried once, they said that we didn't had enough evidence."
"When was that?"
"When she was 5."
"So only three years later."
"Sir, they started to beat her when she was 5, until then they only yelled at her and closed her outside the house."
"Only?"
"If we reported it then her parents would've killed her."
"All right, I need to speak with you alone Calleigh."
"w-why?"
"It's routine."
"Can't Eric stay?"
"I'll assume that's you." The officer said looking at Eric.
"Yes."
"How old are you?"
"17."
"What's your relationship with Calleigh?"
"I'm her boyfriend."
"You can stay then."
"Why can' we stay?!"
"You're adults, therefore you represent a threat."
"What?!"
"It means that if you asked her to hide something, while you're next to her she'll do it. It's procedure, sorry."
"Be quick."
"I will."
"The couple left the room."
"So Calleigh, I want to hear your story."