risk// 5SOS

4

Calum

"You have blood on your shoes. Why do you have blood on your shoes?"

"Because I had to deal with an emergency today. Don't focus on that," I said, kissing Gia's head, "You totally skipped saying hello,"

"You have blood on your shoes,"

"I know, but that's part of my job sometimes,"

She stood beside me, rocking back and forth, twisting the sleeve of her top. I held my hand out but she shook her head, running back into Clarissa's office.

Patiently, I waited, knowing space would do us well, and soon enough, she came out with Clarissa. The office at her school was full of white noise, with the occasional person coming in and out. Especially at this time of day, no one was here, and it was intimidating, even for me.

"Good afternoon, Mr Hood,"

I stood and shook Clarissa's hand, sighing.

"Gia was fantastic today! We had our snack, and we had a little chat, didn't we? But now it's time for you to go home and do some relaxing,"

"But the blood,"

"I work in a hospital, angel, where people come for help when they're hurt. It's only because I helped someone,"

"Did they live?"

"I helped them, okay? If we go home then we can have some food, and maybe play a board game,"

"Okay. Thank you Clarissa,"

"I will see you next week,"

This time, she took my hand and we went out to the car, where we both sat in silence, letting the day sink in.

After therapy was usually the quietest she ever was. I never asked her about what they talked about, but if she ever approached me then I welcomed the conversation. Sometimes she asked for me guidance, but she was pretty independent when it came to deciding what she needed to talk about.

At the end of the day, it was an hour for her to be guided through her thoughts without judgement, and to keep herself from bottling feelings up.

"Dad, please can you change shoes next time?" she said as we took them off.

"Absolutely, angel. I am so sorry, I forgot to take a spare pair. I will wash them straight away,"

"Thank you,"

"No problem,"

"School was okay," she said, following me to the washing machine, and then to the sofa, where she sat beside me and cuddled my side.

"What did you get up to?"

"I made a painting. Can you ask me what my friend said, please?"

"What did your friend say?"

"He asked me if I could bring him a sandwich, because he always sees that I have a good lunch,"

"Well... does he not get a lunch of his own?"

"Sometimes he has some crisps,"

"Mkay, I can make a sandwich, but I am giving it to your teacher to hand to him," I said, worried that this may be a ploy to get more lunch, "Deal?"

"Yes please, his tummy was rumbling so loud today,"

"Did you tell your teacher?"

"Yeah,"

"Good job, that can be hard to do,"

"They said they would ring home and ask Rider's parents to give him lunch,"