A week had passed.
Brooke had made her way to Kingswood for her next meeting with Amelia.
Since their last meeting, Brooke had changed a few things.
She threw away her weight loss articles. Deleted some photos from her iPad of size zero girls, and had even taken a step back on her exercise regime.
It wasn't much. But it was a start for Brooke. She already felt better. She had pinned positive quotes around her bedroom mirror, and had enlisted the help of her mum's friend, a dietician, to help her eat healthily, but also gain weight.
Brooke entered Kingswood and made her way up to the ward.
Amelia's bed was empty.
A woman who wore a coat Brooke instantly recognised, stood at the reception desk.
Amelia's mother.
Brooke's eyes filled with tears. Her lips quivered, her cheeks filled with heat.
Nola came up to Brooke. She had been talking to Amelia's mother.
"Meez Brooke..."
"She's gone, isn't she..."
Nola nodded.
"She wanted me to give you thees" Nola handed over an envelope that had been doodled on.
Brooke opened it.
"Brooke. Nice meeting you the other way, I really liked it. I'm sorry if I got a bit uppity with you. I didn't mean to. You are a lovely person, and you are not ugly or stupid in any way. It was nice talking to somebody who has experienced something in their life that has been unpleasant, because they are the people that understand pain the best, and can empathise, (is that the right word?) with others.
I look forward to seeing you next week! :)
Ps) bring some sweets please?"
Amelia :) x x x
"It was going to be mailed to you's, but she fell ill on Sunday night" Nola said.
Brooke held the letter tightly.
Amelia was gone.
A twelve year old girl had changed the way Brooke saw herself, the way she thought of herself, her life and her decisions.
A beautiful little girl. Taken too soon.
Brooke realised that it didn't take epic poetry, lengthy speeches or hours worth of beautiful music. It took a twelve year old girl, who felt pain in every way possible, a girl who never complained, to help her see sense.
Brooke left the ward and returned five years later.
5 years later.
Brooke Fielder, 22
University of Leicester
Children's Nursing graduate
First Class Honours degree
Trustee of the Kingswood Hospital 'Be a Buddy' scheme.Nola Capryonou and Brooke Fielder subsequently became Directors of the Kingswood Hospital 'Be a Buddy' scheme.
It was all Nola's idea. She saw herself in Brooke, and she engineered the programme to help Brooke, as when she was younger, programmes and schemes like Kingswood's weren't around.
Nola Capryonou used to self harm.
Her father abused her in the worst way possible. It was ignored, back then. Twenty five years ago. In Africa. It was different.
Her own suffering was ignored. But she couldn't ignore others.
She wanted to help others, inspire them, motivate them and achieve great things with them.
But without a doubt, Brooke was her finest success.
Her first success, one of many.
Nola and Brooke have since extended their programme to eleven other hospitals around the country.
Have saved countless lives.
And enhanced others.
All for Amelia.
And in honour of Nola.
For Brooke and her endless success.
For each other.
YOU ARE READING
I Found You
Short Story17 year old Brooke Fielder is broken. An eating disorder has consumed her for the past four years, and it looks set to control her future too. Frequent visits to her local hospital result in a unique bond with Nola, a Zimbabwe born nurse, who plac...