Chim - Freedom When I'm With You

* Chapter Eighteen *

Cheryl's POV:

I've been at Kimberley's for about half an hour now, I made meself an omelette and then I put the fresh flowers in a vase. I wash up what I used for me tea and decide to have a nice hot shower.

I strip and instantly relax as the hot water hits me skin, rubbing the shower gel all over meself and loving the smell. It smells just like her. Fifteen minutes later I get out and put on some fresh pyjamas that I found in the bag that Nadine and Nicola packed for us this morning. This is the cleanest I've felt in days.

I walk over to Kimberley's dressing table and dry me hair and moisturise me face, the bruises are starting to fade away slightly... hopefully this can be a fresh start for us. I finish drying me hair and go back downstairs to make meself a cuppa with two sugars, just the way I like it.

I walk into the living room and see the box of tissues on the table, I debate whether I should read the rest of the plan that's inside... I bite my lip and grab the box making me way over to the sofa. I place the blanket from the back of the sofa over us, it's a little chilly and I snuggle back into the sofa feeling cosy.

I see Kimberley's hand writing all over the tissues I'm pulling out and I can't help but feel emotional, she really wanted us to know how she felt and she planned the whole thing. I decide against reading exactly what she had planned, it's not fair and maybe she will want to tell us once she's on the mend. I place the box of tissues on the coffee table and flick the TV on instead taking a sip of me tea.

I lower the volume and decide that I should probably call me Mam. She answers after a couple of rings.

"Hi Mam!" I say in the cheeriest voice I can.

"Cheryl!" She exclaims. "What's been going on pet?"

"Mam... it's really hard to explain but I'm going to make it short. Ashley has been beating us for years, I managed to get away to Kimberley's and then he found her and hurt her too. She's had surgery and should be able to come home at the end of the week."

"Oh Cheryl, I knew something wasn't right between you and Ashley, I just never thought it would be something like that. I just thought it was the usual arguments husbands and wives have. I'm so sorry."

I break down, sniffling down the phone. "I know Mam, I wanted to tell you but I was scared he would hurt us more."

"Where are you now love?"

"I'm staying at Kimberley's, I can't go home yet... as long as she's ok by the weekend I can pick her up and I told her I would look after her for a bit. I can't face going home."

"And you're safe now?"

"Yes, Ashley has been arrested and is in custody."

"Good." She says with a harsh tone to her voice. "I never liked that man."

"Mam?"

"Yes love?"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell yous."

"Cheryl, I understand why you didn't. I just saw the news and had no idea what had been going on."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Stop apologising, I will come and see you in a few weeks. You could look at getting a new house or something yeah? I can help you move?"

"Ok Mam, that sounds good." I answer with a small smile.

"Right Cheryl, I'm gonna get going, Garry is calling us to make his dinner. Typical bloody man he is!" She says making us laugh.

"Ok, love you Mam... and Garry too."