Sweet Girl

Echoes of emotion

Sat on the living room floor, Bella rubbed Elmo's fur between her fingertips. She didn't understand why she was being taken to the doctor's office, as the last time she'd received medical attention was when she was found; when she was plastered with bruises and infections. She recalled the taste of the rancid antibiotics; banana flavour only vaguely disguising the taste of bitter tablets.

"Okay, sweetheart, are you ready?" Stevie stretched her hand out to Bella who was sat with her shoes still sitting next to her feet.
"Oh." Stevie put her hand to her lips.
"I forgot you don't know how to put your shoes on, honey." She crouched down again, reaching for the black patent shoes she'd kept from her niece, Jessica and put them on Bella's feet.
She stood her up and took her hand, walking toward the front door. Bella whined for Stevie to carry her. Stevie was concerned that Bella would be anxious to get in the car to go to an unfamiliar place. She'd already done the same thing the day before, so she picked her up and briefly stroked her hair, carrying her to the front door.
She set the alarm and the lock and closed the front doors. Lindsey climbed into the driver's side and the engine throttled the ground as Stevie walked toward the car.
She buckled Bella into her car seat and went to shut the door when she spotted the tears in her eyes.
"Don't worry sweetie, I'm coming with you." She smiled, stroking Bella's cheek and closing the door on her.
Stevie climbed into the passenger seat.

Bella gazed out of the window, squeezing her Elmo toy. She watched the rest of the town slide past, the copious amount of faces, all finding her stare somehow.
A car next to them bellowed it's horn, startling her. She gasped, and covered her ears, looking toward Stevie in the front seat, her vision blurring a little with tears.

She glanced up to the small mirror, suctioned to the front window. Lindsey's eyes appeared in the glass square and gave her a reassuring look. Stevie turned around and reached her hand into the back, placing it on Bella's leg.

"Shhh" she smiled, stroking Bella's leg.

"It was just a car, it's okay." She whispered.

With an unfamiliar sound startling her, and her growing anxiety about visiting the doctors, Bella began to feel constricted by her own body. Her rib cage felt tight, barely able to contain her thrumming heart.

She whimpered and stared her bulging brown eyes at Stevie.
Stevie hummed Beautiful Child as she continued stroking Bella's leg.

"Don't cry, sweetheart." She hushed, regretting not sitting next to her in the back.

"Shall we put the radio on?" Lindsey chimed.
Stevie quickly turned around and put the station on low volume.

"Classical?" Lindsey laughed.

"I've read it can be calming." Stevie chuckled, turning her head back toward the girl in the back.

"Is that too loud?" Bella shook her head and clutched Elmo to her chest.

"That's it. You hug Elmo, and I'll get you out soon, I promise." Stevie smiled sweetly.

Stevie immediately clambered out of the car and rushed to Bella, as soon as the car braked. She scrambled to undo her seatbelts and whisked her up into her arms. Bella wrapped her arms around Stevie's neck and settled down slightly. Stevie couldn't help herself from feeling elated by Bella starting to show affection toward her.

"Sweetheart," She pulled her head back to look into the little girl's eyes.

"We're gonna go in now, okay?" She prepared for a colossal outburst.

Bella quietly nodded and rested her head on Stevie's shoulder. Lindsey, who walked ahead, turned around to his girls.

"If you're good, we can get you a treat, later." Lindsey bribed, briskly striding up the path to the clinic.