Chapter 4
It has been two days since that evening when my mum and that man turned up at the hospital. 1 I was leaving the hospital with Dani and Lucy today and staying with them. Dani was shocked to read the letter that was left on the table. She told me there was nothing she could do as a judge signed the letter. 2 I cried all day. I was heartbroken; not only had I lost my father, but I was about to lose the only people I knew. At the end of the month, I will be moving in with my mum. I didn’t even know where she lived. Dani tried to tell me, but I didn’t care. My mind wandered, and I came up with a plan that my mum had no say in, and my mind was set. I had one more year, and when I turned eighteen I was out of there. I would leave my mum and move further away. I sat on my bed while Doctor Nadia gave Dani my tablets. She told me what I should do and wanted to see me before I left at the end of the month. I didn’t say anything as we left the hospital. I walked through the hospital in a daze and headed to the car. I sat in the back of the car with Lucy, who stayed quiet. She knew I was in my head, but she knew I needed time to process everything. I stared out of the window as Dani drove away from the hospital. We lived twenty minutes away from the hospital. Dani pulled into the street, and my heart began to beat fast. Dani and Lucy lived three houses from me and on the other side. I closed my eyes as Dani drove passed the house and turned onto her driveway. As soon as the car came to a stop, I opened the door and climbed out. I turned to face my house, and there it stood. The house I lived in all my life. I knew I had to go over there, but I couldn’t. I knew the dishes were in the sink from breakfast as we were rushing to get out the door as we were running late that morning. I remember Dad telling me he was picking me up and needed to talk to me. I had football practice, so it was after that. “Are you okay?” “asked Lucy as she stood next to me. I never took my eyes off the house. “yeah,” “I said weakly. “I need to go over there; I need a few things.” A tear slid down my face. Lucy placed her hand in mine. “we can go over when you ready,” “she said. I looked at her and gave her a small smile. “thanks,” “I said. Dani walked behind us and sighed. “you can go over tomorrow, Leah,” “she said. “I will pop over to get what you need. Write a list, and I will get it once I get you settled.” I looked over my shoulder and gave her a nod. With Lucy holding my arm, I turned around and walked with Lucy, guiding me into the house. I walked in and Lucy marched me up to her room. Once we were there, I glanced around and couldn’t help the little laugh that escaped my lips. Lucy and I used to sleep over at each other’s houses every weekend, but we slept top and tail when we were younger. Lucy’s bed had pillows at either end of the bed and two blankets placed on either side. “Just like we did when we were younger,” she said. “At least we have a double bed this time and more room.” I nodded. Lucy walked over, guided me to the top of the bed, and got me in. I settled myself and covered my legs with the blanket. I didn’t have many injuries, except my head and a huge thick cut on my arm. Dani told me what had happened. People couldn’t get to my father as he was pinned, but they smashed my window to pull me through. No one knows how I got the cut, but Doctor Nadia seemed to think it was when my hand was scrapped over a shard of glass as they pulled me through. I needed to keep it covered for another few days, but it should heal with time. I might even have a scar there. Great, a reminder of the night I lost my Dad. Lucy asked what I needed and she wrote a list for her mother to collect from my house. I asked for clothes, PJs, a hairbrush, a toothbrush, toothpaste, my phone, and a charger. Dani left, once Lucy gave her a list. But before she left, Dani made us some food. Lucy and I watched a film while eating some popcorn. “You okay?” Lucy asked as the film started. “Yeah,” “I said. Lucy stayed quiet for a moment but let out a sigh. “Can’t believe you are only here for a month and then have to leave to live with your mum.” I stared at the Tv and didn’t say anything; my mind was racing. “Do you know much about her?” she asked. I looked over at her and shook my head. “Nope,” “I said. “She left my Dad and me eight years ago. I had no contact with her whatsoever.” Lucy frowned. “how did the doctors get hold of her then?” she asked. I stared and remembered the conversation with Doctor Nadia. My father had her number in his phone, and they rang her as she was under Leah’s mum. “Apparently, the doctors were looking through my father’s phone and came across her number; they rang her and told her what happened,” I said. 1 Lucy stared at me as my eyes returned to the screen. “wow,” “she said. I nodded. The film was one of our favorite children’s film when we were growing up, Willow. When the movie ended, Lucy got up to put another one on for us. Dani came upstairs after a few hours with my things but walked over to me once she had placed everything on the floor. She held out a photo frame and handed it to me. I stared at it. It was of me and my Dad. 1 A lone tear slid down my cheek. The photo was a recent one of us; he placed it in a photo frame a few weeks back and gave it to me to put with my collection on my dresser. I looked at Dani and gave her a weak smile. “thank you,” I whispered. She nodded. “Thought you would like one over here with you; it might help you,” “she said. Dani leaned down and kissed my head. She looked at Lucy and then back at me. “Don’t be too late tonight, you two,” she said. “The funeral is in three days, you both need to be rested.” I nodded. Lucy smiled. “Okay, mum,” “she said. Dani looked at me and smiled. “I know you don’t want to leave with your mum, but she is the one living relative you have. I am sorry, sweetheart that you can’t live here with us.” I didn’t say anything. “Oh, I forgot to mention,” “she said as she sat on the edge of the bottom of the bed. “Lucy has to go to school, but the teachers and students were asking after you,” “she said. “Some teachers told me you did all your exams and passed with flying colors, so you don’t have to go in.” I looked at her, stunned. I did all my exams last week. We were only meant to go back to school until we got the results, but how did Dani get my results faster than the other students? My face must have been easy to read as she answered the question. “Your teacher, Mr. Adams, knew your father well. He wanted you to know beforehand if you weren’t ready for school. You could stay at home.” I didn’t know what to think. “You don’t have to decide,” “Dani said, looking at me with a small smile. “Does that mean I have to move in with…” I started to say, but Dani cut me off. “Your mum doesn’t need to know. I’m not going to tell her. I want you to get well before going wherever she lives.” I nodded. I can’t thank Dani enough for that one. I didn’t have to go to school either. I was your average girl in school, I had friends and even dated a few boys. I was not too fond of the party scene. Lucy was the same. We both clicked, and have been inseparable ever since. I was going to miss her when I leave. I didn’t have to go to school. But what the hell was I going to do in the meantime? I leaned back and noticed that Lucy had picked “he Labrinth’’to watch, anything childhood classic. 1 But there was one thing that I would have to sort out, but I didn’t want to. I looked at Dani. “What do I do about our house?” I asked as a lump formed in my throat. Lucy paused the film and looked between her mum and me. Her mum shrugged. “I guess we could go through everything and check the documents to see if the house is already paid for. If it is, you could rent it out while you live with your mum; you will have a house to return to if you decide to leave her when you turn eighteen.” I stared at her; that sounded like a plan in the making, I thought. Dani shook her head and looked at the Tv. “We will work it out,” “she said. “I will be off work for the next couple of days, and we can figure out everything after the funeral.” I nodded. Dani leaned down and kissed my forehead, leaving the room. Lucy and I got back to the film, but my eyes went down to the photo frame I was still holding. My eyes landed on the man I had loved my whole life, and now he was gone. I miss him so much. A droplet landed on the glass of the frame and another. I was crying once again. Lucy noticed, but never said anything. She pulled me into her as I rested my head on her shoulder and cried silently while she watched the film.