Four Page Letters (TeacherxStudent)

The Laura Thing-Pt 4

Rosalynn

Exhausted.
Exhaustion is all I feel as I glance at the clock on the wall. Now reading 3:10 in the morning. The sound of the kettle startling me as I quickly rubbed my eyes and removed the pot from the stove. Distributing the warmed water into the three mugs on the counter as the tea bags floated to the top. I carefully placed the mugs on the tray and carried it out into the living room. I had given Charlotte a quick shower just as Jack said and she and Abby had been sitting on the couch quietly ever since. It was only once we settled in I was able to really see Charlotte. Taking her in fully. Bruising began to form over her left eye. Dried blood had stained her lip and her neck was red. My sweet girl. Broken once again. My heart aches for her. I sat the tray on the table and handed a mug to Abby, then Charlotte. Charlotte had wrapped herself in a throw blanket and was leaning back on the couch. I took my mug and sat on the love seat. I had been giving Charlotte some space. As much as I want to just hold her tightly in my arms I don't want to overstimulate her. I know her mind is a mess. We had still been waiting for Jack to call me. I thought about calling him but decided against it. I don't want to interrupt whatever he has going on. I'm just getting a little impatient I suppose.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Charlotte said suddenly. Abby and I both looked at her at the same time. "I didn't mean to hurt her, I swear. I just wanted it to stop. I wanted her to stop." She lowered her head and I could see the tears falling. Before I could walk over and comfort her Abby spoke, "Char, what actually happened? Can you tell us?" I looked back at Charlie as she took a deep breath before nodding. She then turned towards me, "Are you going to leave me? I'm not a monster, Ros, I swear. I would never do something like this it just..It was an accident. Please don't hate me. Please don't leave me." She began crying harder and I quickly rushed to her side. I held her face in my hands. "Hey." I began wiping away her tears. "I'm not going anywhere. Nothing you say will ever change that. I know you Charlie. I know you wouldn't do something like this unless you absolutely had to. I'm right here baby." I wrapped my arms around her. "Me too Char. 4Lifers remember?" Abby added. Charlotte nodded as she sat up. "Okay." She exhaled. "So umm.. Ros after we got off the phone I laid in bed until I eventually fell asleep. It must've been twenty minutes or so before I started tossing and turning. I just.. I had this feeling like something wasn't right.. Like I had forgotten to do something. But I couldn't figure out what it could be so I just tried my best to go back to sleep. Then I just shot up in bed like something out of a movie because I remembered I didnt set the fucking alarm." "That I told you to make sure you did when we got off the phone." Abby said. "I know.. I know. But then I got on the phone with Ros and it got late and I was tired and just.. forgot." Abby nodded. "So I got up and went downstairs to set it. I did that then figured I'd grab something to drink while I was down there. I walked in the kitchen and turned on the light and that bitch was sitting at my table.

********

Charlotte

*flashback*

As I flicked on the kitchen light I immediately jumped back when I saw Laura at my table. "Sorry, did I scare you?" I clutched my chest. "How the fuck are you in my house? You need to leave. Now." She stood from the chair, causing it to fall over behind her. She began walking towards me. I slowly took a few steps back. "Did we forget to set the alarm tonight?" She asked me. A wicked smile plastered on her face. I sighed. "Laura please. Just go, okay? I don't want any problems." She laughed. "We already have quite a few problems I'd say. I'm sorry I missed that little "meeting" with you and the misses. Something just didn't seem right about that. So, here I am. So let's have a little chat shall we?" She pulled out a chair and pointed at it. I didn't move. I just stared back at her. She suddenly lunged towards me and grabbed me by my shirt and forced me into the chair. I was scared honestly. I couldn't tell whether she was drunk or high but she was definitely out of it. She began pacing back and forth. Constantly sniffling and wiping at her nose. "I need to get out of here."She started. For good. There's a lot of people looking for me. All of my shit is packed and ready to go." She came and stood over me. She put both her hands on my shoulders and began squeezing them. "But imagine my surprise when I went to the bank and found the account pin had been changed." Her grip on my shoulders tightened and I started to feel her nails digging into my skin. She released her hold on me and began pacing again. "If that's what you want I'll give you the-- "You see." She interrupted. "The problem is you keep fucking with me. You think I'm a goddamn joke? We wouldn't even be in the predicament if you didn't change it to begin with." "It's my money! You're not entitled to shit!" I yelled. Suddenly her fist connected with my eye. Almost knocking me out of my chair. I brought my hand to my face while holding it. "You have some nerve, you little shit." I sat there trying my hardest not to cry. Trying not to let her break me. To see me vulnerable.