Leaving you

Safe

Addie

I finally found my safe haven...

I woke up feeling dazed, where am I? panic started to set in, did he find me? did he bring me back? Looking around the room came in to view, I was in a bedroom, but it wasn't mine, has he found me and brought me to a secret hideout. A knock on the door, made me jump from the bed and on to the floor. "Addie, its me Clara, can I come in?" I peered over the edge of the bed "ok" I replied. I watched cautiously as Clara stepped into the room. She was holding a tray of food "Aunt Bell sent this up for you, she figured you may be hungry" she told me while placing the tray on the bed. "You been asleep for two days, we have been popping in and out checking up on you. How long has it been since you have got a good nights sleep?" Pulling myself up from the floor, I sat on the bed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to worry anyone" Ignoring her question I picked up a slice of toast from the tray and began to eat it. Thinking back over the last few days, my blank memory finally returned and I smiled at Clara, I finally found a safe place, a place where I could sleep and not worry if I was going to be beaten or dragged around or accused of anything. To finally be able to not just close my eyes and pretend, but to actually sleep for two whole days, I felt great, my body was relaxing and I no longer felt on edge. I didn't have to keep looking over my shoulder. 

"Addie" I heard Clara's voice "you ok?" I looked up at Clara's worried face "I'm fine, I was just thinking" 

"you want to talk about it?" Clara asked sitting down the bed beside me.

"maybe later, would it be ok for me to take a shower?" I looked down at my clothes, how long had it been since I had showered besides the quick washes at bus stops and train stations. Clara nodded, " I will show you, where everything is" Clara got up and walked over to the other side of the room, two doors where there. "this door" she pointed to the one on the left "that's your bathroom, everything is in there that you need, aunty stocked up while you slept." and this one she pointed to the other door "this is your closet, I went through my clothes and popped some in to tide you over until we are able to going shopping, I figured we looked the same size so they may fit" I got up from the bed and ran to Clara, and hugged her "thank you" Clara hugged me back, "we will be downstairs when your ready" she let go of me and headed out of the room. I stood looking at the doors, I went into the closet first, there were rows of clothes, some of them looked like they had never even been worn. I picked out a pair of jeans and a jumper then wandered to the bathroom, where I saw a basket of shampoos, soaps and toiletries, everything I needed was in it, looking up to the shelves I saw a row of neatly placed towels. Reaching up, I grabbed one and then walked over to the shower to turn it on. Grabbing soap and shampoo, I popped them next to the shower and took my dirty clothes off, before jumping in, the hot water felt great against me. 

Stepping out the shower, I quickly dried my self and got dressed. I picked up my dirty clothes and put them in the basket by the door, I tidied around the bathroom and walked out. I headed towards the bedroom door, took a deep breath, opened it and went through to the landing. I could feel my heart beating loudly, why was I nervous, these people had opened up their home and their arms to me, a stranger, someone they didn't know. I gripped the banister tightly, took several more deep calming breaths and stepped down the stairs. Reaching the bottom, I could her voices talking, one was Clara the other was barely audible but it was definitely female. Walking towards the voices I saw it was Bell, Clara's aunt. They stopped talking when they heard me come in. Bell looked at me and smile "come and have a seat Addie, Clara was just updating me on you being awake, at last" She smiled at me, then looked at Clara. "Clara, would grab some coffee for everyone, while Addie and I chat." Clara nodded and got up heading to what I assumed was the kitchen. Bell turned back towards me and sat down next to me. "I just want you to know, Tod, my husband and I, we are going to be here to support you, what ever you need. We want to take care of you." She reached for my hand and held it. "Tod and I we could never have children of our own, Clara coming here was such a blessing for us, I know she has already spoken with you about some of her past, it was a relief to finally get her free from that man. And I want you to know I will do the same for you, Tod and I want to welcome you to our family and keep you safe from what ever or who ever you're running from." I held on to Bells hand tightly "I want to tell you everything" I whispered.