I've Got You

Chapter 8

I'm standing with my eyes blurred on a dry patch of grass. My thoughts are empty and yet racing all at once. What a contradiction.

I suddenly feel a hand come to rest on my upper arm, causing me to jump and snap out of my trance.

The hand is removed instantly at my startle and then carefully placed back on my arm. "It's just me, Y/n/n." I hear a soft voice from behind me, causing me to blush. That's the fist time she's called me by my nickname. It sounds nice coming from her.

I turn to face her, causing her to drop her hand from my arm. "My mum's calling the police. She said to wait here until she calls me back." I look down at my feet while I talk, mostly to hide the blush but a little in shame too. I shouldn't have text her. She is the last person I want pity from. I could've just left the house on my own. What's wrong with me?

I know Mum's worried. I could hear it in her voice over the phone. She tried to sound calm for me but it kept cracking during our conversation.

Wanda picks up my hands and gives them a squeeze. I finally meet her gaze. "Okay. I'll wait with you."

"It's okay, Wanda, you really don't have to. I already feel really ba-" I'm cut off mid sentence.

"I'm waiting." She absentmindedly rubs my hands with the pads of her thumbs. I nod. She leads us back to the gum tree with our fingers still linked and pulls me down to sit next to her against it's trunk.

I can't help but stare off into space again. It's a habit I've had since I was little that I haven't seemed to grow out of.

I feel calm here, sitting next to Wanda under the old gum. It's around three now. It's a pretty warm day but there is a cool breeze that somehow seems to settle me.

I feel a pair of eyes on me and through my peripheral, I see her open and close her mouth, as if she's going to speak but keeps deciding against it. I finally snap out of my daze and turn to meet her eyes. She blushes when I catch her already staring. I just smile, pick up her right hand which is closest to me and start playing with her fingers and rings.

"You can say it- or ask it, you know. Whatever you're thinking right now. I can tell there's something on your mind." She looks down at the hand I'm playing with. The corners of her lips slightly turn up and her cheeks become more flushed.

"How long has your dad been like this?" She looks back up at me, her eyes soft.
"Oh," I let a second linger with silence as I try to think.
"Honesty, I'm not really sure. I do have this one memory of when I was in grade three though." I take a shaky breath, I didn't realise how tough it would be to say out loud.

"Y/n, wait, you don't have to, it's okay. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." I fiddle with the ring round her middle finger.
"No, it's fine, really it is, I just didn't realise it would be this hard to say aloud." I tell her, voicing my thoughts. She nods in understanding.

"When I was in grade three, Iris was over and... wait, you know Iris right?" She nods, so I continue, "Well, Iris was over for a sleep over when my dad came home early."

I took a quick breath, "Well, umm, needless to say, Iris had to get picked up. I remember knowing this wasn't the first time he was like this, though, because I knew what to do. I think I only remember because it was the first time someone besides my family had found out. Iris wasn't allowed back to my house for months. I was really embarrassed. Her mum was pretty mad, but our families are okay now." I finish.

For some reason, a wave of relief washes over me. I let out a watery laugh.

I look back up at Wanda. To my surprise, no pity was visible in her expression, only compassion.