The Seventh Step

2

I open the door to room 34 . It is quite small with a radio sitting in the corner. I pull the suitcase onto the bed and unzip it. Then i find the note book which the rehab nurses always put in the room, then I find the pen and start writing

Dear Dad
I hope you are ok and survive the next few months , I know you will. I'm staying at grandmas house for the next few week s but I will ,as always try and tidy up the house but you have to promise not to get it dirty because if you throw bottles around it can get dangerous and I could end up with a cut like mum got.I have packed everything you wanted, not including the three bottles of vodka. The photo of mum is under the towel please put it in a safe place and smash the window not the photo frame when you get frustrated. Do me proud. Remember third time lucky. Love you loads
Jess XXXXXX

I put down the pen and sigh.
I plump the pillows on the bed, out of habit more then anything else, and walk out of the room.

The waiting room is almost empty. I sit in the nearest chair I can find, slide my head into my hands and start crying. I must have been sitting there for five minuets before I feel a soft arm on my shoulder.
"What's the matter" the voice belonging to the arm asks.
I glance up and see Leo Tyler through the tears.
"Everything" I sob.
"So your crying about how there might be some truck driver singing along to Christmas songs even though it's only October?"
I laugh a little to humour him. "No, that's not it" I sigh
" why then?" He asks
"Because the post man is singing Christmas songs and it's only October" Leo laughs"no but seriously?"
"I hate it! Having to look after a man who's triple my age is not fun. I want to go the the cinema with my friends, not care for my father! I hate it, I hate it!" by then end of the sentence I start screaming.
"Let's go outside" leo mutters into my ear. He slides a comforting arm around my waist and pulls me up so I'm standing and together we start walking towards the hospital exit.
We soon get to the steps where we sit down and I start sobbing into Leo's shirt. While he lays his head on mine.
We sit in silence for a few moments before I break the ice "why are you still here?"
" my mums a drug addict, and dad, well."
Leo rolls up his sleeves and shows me his wrist which has several round cigaret burns.
"Oh," I say simply.
He shrugs "it doesn't hurt as much now"
I nod and sniff a little "I'm so sorry" I stare up at Leo.
"Don't say your sorry because I know your not. Your just saying it to sound like a nice person."
I laugh at his quick thinking.
Leo takes my hand a leads me up and towards the car. "Let me drive you home" he says.
I shake my head "I'm staying at my grandparents. They live a few streets down from the hospital, I can walk"
"Let me walk with you" Leo says. I nod and we walk out of the hospital.
We walk in silence, not awkward silence, just silence. We soon reach my grandparents house.
"Wow" Leo says, open mouthed. I laugh and stare at the huge house we stand in front of. I nod "when I was born they bought it. Then for my 15th birthday they gave me the whole top floor as a sort of getaway from dad and the memory of mum, I mean it's only a headroom and bathroom but it more like home then any where else."
"Wow" Leo says again. I laugh and walk up to the front door, dragging Leo behind me.
I right the door bell and it swings open.
"Jess dear, oh, I am so glad to see you" I smile and hug the grey haired, friendly eyed woman who is my grandmother.
"And who is this?" She asks
"This is Leo," I say cheerily "his mums in rehab"
My grandmother smiles and gives Leo a warm hug.
"Now come in from the cold!" She sings and we walk into the modern, dream of of a home.
"you getting changed?" My grandmother asks
I nod "I smell of alcohol"
" well have a shower if needs be"
I nod
"Now Leo, cup of tea?"
"Yes please" Leo says and they walk of into the kitchen.
I race up five flights of beige carpeted stairs before coming to my floor. My home.
I walk into the bathroom and wipe of my makeup. The wipe turns black in a matter of seconds. I stare in the mirror and trace my thin lips, chocolate eyes and freckled nose and cheeks. My mother always told me I was beautiful and until she died I believed her. But now all I see is her. Her eyes. Her freckles. And her dead, cold body lying on the hospital bed.
Quickly I tear my eyes away from the mirror and turn on the warm shower. The water rushes over my body, trying so desperately to make me clean but I will always have memories that no 16 year old should have.
I pick up the towel and wrap it around my body. Then I open all the windows to try and clear the stuffy feeling inside the bathroom. The cold air brushes my face and ruffles the blinds. I open the door and start walking towards my bedroom.
"Jess!" I hear a voice call up the stairs
"Yes" I call back.
Leo came bounding up the stairs, but stops suddenly when he sees me, standing there in a towel.
"Leo" I say awkwardly.
"Jess... I was wandering if you would like to come for a walk in the fields just behind the house. I could see them from the kitchen."
I nod "just let me get changed. I'll be quick" I smile at Leo who grins back. I stay there for a while. Never had I seen someone who was quite as beautiful as he.
I walk into my large bedroom. The curtains are wide open, letting the sun spill across the double bed. The wardrobe stands in the corner of the small room. I open it wide and pick out a pair of skinny jeans and a white shirt. On the top of the wardrobe, I find an old hair dryer. The hot air from the dryer skims my face like a summer breeze and drys my chocolate brown hair nicely.
As I walk out of the bedroom, I find Leo leaning against a wall, phone in his hand. I stand there for several moments and examine how utterly stunning he is.
Leo smirks at something on the screen and types a few things in before he lifts his head and sees me. He tucks the phone in his jean pocket and smiles at me.
"Ready?" He asks. I nod.
Leo smiles again, wider this time. He walks over to me, takes my hand and leads me down the stairs.