Never Let Go

Chapter 8: A Little Star

"Good morning Maya."

She looks up from her bowl of cereal and shows a little, weak smile. I place down her medication and notice that she no longer has bandages around her arms. She has so many scars... and there's a little tattoo on her wrist, but I can't make out what it is because she sees I'm looking and quickly hides them under the table.

"Hi." She says quietly as she looks down at her cereal.

"How are you?"

She doesn't answer straight away and stirs the cereal with her spoon.

"Fine." She mumbles.

I nod and show a little smile.

"I'll see you after group therapy." I turn around and leave her to eat her breakfast.

****

I stare into space with thoughts running round my mind about Katie. I really don't want to become paranoid or jealous because that's not me. I love and trust Katie, so her being unfaithful shouldn't even be in my mind, but Wes has planted that little seed, and now I'm questioning things. Have I been a complete idiot?

"Hi, Michael!"

I snap out of my thoughts and turn around, seeing Polly with a big smile on her face.

"Hello, how was group therapy?" I smile.

"It was ok. I can't find any red crayons and I need a red crayon for the picture I'm colouring in."

"I'm sure there's one some where. I'll help you look for one."

"Thanks!" She jumps and turns around.

I search the tables with her, and once we find a red crayon I sit with her while she colours and chats about random things, going from one subject to another.

I look around the room, making sure everyone else is alright, and see Maya sat at a table on her own.

"I annoyed her. I don't think she likes me and she definitely doesn't like rainbows."

"Pardon?" I lower my eyebrows.

"The new girl. The one you were looking at. She said her favourite colour is black, but that's not a rainbow colour! Black is a dark, sad colour."

"Oh..."

So, that's what Polly was talking to Maya about the other day. Polly can't help the way she is, but she can be a bit full on sometimes, and if you aren't used to that it can be a bit overwhelming.

"And I asked her if she was a Leprechaun." She giggles. "Because she has ginger hair, but I like her hair though! It's curly, like yours. I don't think she liked me calling her ginger." She makes a face. "I thought me and her could be friends, and you need friends in here. She's always on her own."

I smile slowly.

"That's kind, Polly. I'm sure she would like to be your friend, but you know what it feels like to be new. It's scary, isn't it? She just needs to get comfortable here first."

"Yeah, you're right!" She smiles. "We'll be friends soon."

"Your colouring in looks good." I smile and stand up.

"Thanks Michael." She grins, looking proud of the flowers in her colouring book.

I pick up a colouring book and a pot of colours, and walk over to Maya. She looks up at me as I stand by her table.

"I thought you might like to colour? You don't have to, but it's there if you do." I smile and place them down.

She sighs and looks at the book.