Journey to Love

Chapter 19

Anita's hands trembled as she grasped the Stone's stairwell bannister. Dread coiled around her bones like a snake, as each step brought her closer towards Layla's room and what laid behind it. In what condition would Layla be in? 

Mrs Williams knew that she was conscious, had a bruise on her face and that whatever they had found, warranted police cars and an ambulance. Though, Layla's state must have been bad enough for Krystal to call her in. 

Anita guessed that Layla's mother must have been moved to the police car. 

What had been going on? 

When Anita made it to the second story, her eyes darted around, expecting something to be out of place, but it looked exactly like downstairs. Absolutely perfect.

Taking a deep breath in she walked towards the second door on the left and opened it slowly, gaping at what she saw inside. 

The first thing to take her notice was Layla's small huddled form in the furthest corner of the room. Next, she took in the girls room. She ha always assumed that each child she taught had a family who loved them, a warm bed to sleep in and a house that was filled with their laughter and happiness.

But that ideology fell down a deep dark hole as she looked at where a rugged mattress lay. It didn't even have a sheet on it, only a small grubby pillow and a holy plush blanket, both strewn across the moldy mattress. Subconsciously her hand covered her mouth as she noticed blood on the floor and walls. Blood seemed to have been speckled on the wall beside the ripped wrapping paper she had given Layla for Christmas. Her eyes seemed to water as she realised that all of Layla's belongings sat in a cardboard box by the bed.

"Oh, Layla," she whispered to herself, completely dumbstruck on how she could have been treated this way for so long. 

Anita's legs carried her over to Layla's curled-up form and noticed how her body seemed to be shaking. Shaking in either fear or because she was crying, Anita was unsure. Anita knelt down slowly in front of her, giving her enough space not to crowd her, like this morning. She began speaking softly, to hopefully calm her down.

"Hey, Layla. It's me Mrs Williams. I'm your teacher from school, do you remember me?"

Layla wearily nodded her head, keeping her face hidden in her knees. Her hair covering the sides of her face.

"Is it ok for you, if I came close towards you dear?" Layla shook her head, cowering herself further into the corner.

"N-no! S-stay away"

"I'm never going to hurt you, sweetheart. I promise you" Anita tried to soothe the girl, "You have been so strong, and so brave. But you can trust me, Layla. I pinky promise it" Anita held her right hand up, her pinky out. But Layla left her hanging.

"m-my gla-glasses" She sobbed out, pleading, "Can I...Can I please ha-have them back. I'll be good, I promise"

Mrs Williams stilled, noticing what she meant. She was so used to seeing Layla with glasses, she hadn't realised that behind her knees and hair, that was covering her face, she was without her glasses. She turned her head towards the door, ready to turn this place upside down to allow Layla to be able to see again,  she saw Krystal standing by the doorway, silently watching them with glassy eyes.

"Do you think you could find Layla's glassed? They're black".

Krystal gave Anita a single nod before turning on her heels and moving out of sight.

Anita turned back to Layla, trying to take her in fully, to see if she was badly injured anywhere. She only noticed a couple of bruises on her skin. Including her bared feet, which held the abnormal purple and blue discolouring of fresh bruises.