The Silent Girl

47.

'Luke'

'two months later' 

The last two months have been painful.

It has been exactly two months since Ella was brought home from the hospital. But, she is doing better. She isn't spending her life in bed, she isn't in the wheelchair anymore, and she is starting to feel better.

She doesn't talk much. Only when people say her name. Which is why you will always hear Ella's name over and over again when around her. We had to say her name to get her attention.

Today was a hard day, Ella was going to meet with this therapist. Her name was Angel, I'd spoken to her on the phone and she generally sounded so lovely.

I had finally got my drivers license, so Ella and I got in my tiny car and made our way to a café. Angel had to get permission from her dad to get out of office met ups. But, it sounded like Angel thought meeting in a office would be daunting for Ella to be in. Which, he agreed, of course.

"So, Ella" I glance to her, she's just staring at her lap, playing with one of her rings. Buddy was in the back, laying against all three of my seats. I don't look at her for long, precious cargo, and I must not damage her at all. "You're meeting a lady called Angel, she's very nice, she's going to try and help you with your struggles, ok?"

"Will you be there the whole time?" She asks, just above a whisper.

"I should be allowed, for the first few visits."  I tell her, glancing to her again. "Els, you ok?"

"Yep, all good" She tells me, trying to sound confident. Bless her. She was not okay.

We arrived at the café seeing a few people inside. It wasn't crazy busy, Ella did not like people. She didn't know who she could trust and who she can not trust. She never really goes out, usually just walking Buddy in remote location with one of us. She won't go alone.

And we didn't want her to go alone.

"Right, let's go in" I grab my car keys are swing the door open, stepping onto the quiet road, making sure there were no cars incoming before so.

Ella had also got out of the car, getting Buddy from the back.

"Ready, Els?" I ask her, as she grabs the bright pink handle shakily, honestly, this dog is her saviour.

"Yes" She mumbles, as I walk next to her across the pavement. On the front of the café is a sign saying, 'No dogs allowed'. Like always, Ella and I walk past it and into the place.

"Excuse me? Dogs can not enter our café." The women on the till tells us when we step inside the warm and humid area.

"He's a working dog" I immediately say, avoiding Ella having to speak.

"Working dogs are not allowed." She retreats back, an angry look on her face. "And, she doesn't look blind"

"Working dogs are allowed everywhere and she isn't blind. Her dog is a support working dog for mental health. She is coming in ok?" I say angrily, glancing to Ella who was staring at the floor.

"Then, you will get fined fifty pounds, either leave or stay and pay money." She snarls at Ella.

"We'll leave" Ella speaks up, motioning Buddy to turn around. Ella and Buddy leave, I just stare at the café worker for a few minutes before turning as well.

After adjusting to the bright lights, I notice that Ella is standing by the car, talking to a middle aged women who was crouched down by Buddy, stroking his head.

"Hey" I say as I approach, Ella's facial expression was different, she looked confident-

"Hi, you must be Luke" She holds out her hand to shake mine, I return it, shaking hers back.

"Hi yes, are you Angel?" I ask curiosity, looking at her ginger hair flowy from her head. She's not what I imagined. 

"Yes darling, are we going to go in then?" She replies to me, I glance to Ella before speaking for her. 

"We just got kicked out for bringing Buddy inside, I tried to argue but it didn't go great." I say, watching Angel's face seep with sympathy. 

"Some people are just so difficult and do not respect people that need support from dogs, are you okay, Ella?" She asks softly. 

"Yeah yeah, I'm fine" Ella mumbles, crouching and stroking Buddy's back. 

I don't think she was okay...

'end of 47.'

triple update :)

Posted: 24.8.22