Trauma of the Forest (Meadema)

~ Chapter 75: Like 'Home'? ~

Six weeks later

There had been another setback, by now they had lost count of the number of setbacks they had. The prediction of two weeks that Beth would have to stay in the hospital, eventually tripled. Beth had to stay in the hospital for 6 very long weeks, the planned going home was continuously postponed due to complications, nausea that simply didn't go away, losing weight. But now week 25 of the pregnancy had just started, now it was the case that the doctors assumed that she would be able to go through the rest of the pregnancy without any problems, provided of course nothing happens with those men.

And all that time Viv's life has consisted of an alternation of hospital visits and spending time in the police shelter. All those weeks the only thing she has been able to do in the evenings is think about a safe place to go to, together with Kim and Liam. But where? Friends and family weren't an option, there were some empty apartments in the area, but that would be too predictive and far too unsafe. There was also something to be found further outside the area, but there would certainly be little police control.

So there was still no plan, there was still no safe place to go, those men were still walking around freely, there was no trace of those two brothers to be found. But to assume that they had fled, was simply not possible. All those times that they thought that, the opposite turned out to be the truth. So what Viv wanted to prevent so much, what she dreaded so much, had now happened after all. To her great gratitude, she was allowed to take Beth from the hospital today. But where did they have to go? Exactly, she had to go to the shelter with Beth.

It was only 7am in the morning, but Viv was already busy arranging all sorts of things. She had to move, but not to the place she wanted, a safe place, but instead to a double room ten meters further away, in the police shelter. She had agreed with Beth that she would come later today, that she would first make sure that everything was arranged here in the shelter, so that they would be settled right away when Beth comes here. 

Of course she didn't have a lot of stuff here, she could put everything she had here in one box. It was still pitch dark outside, the start of February had only just begun, it was freezing outside, so with an extra layer of clothing on, her shoes tied tightly, she picked up the box and walked outside, to a door about 10 meters further around the corner, together with Kim, who would help her with the transfer.

'So Viv, here you go. Here's the key to the new room. You know how everything works by now, so I'll let you do what you want for a while. If you need me, you know that you can ask for help on the tablet and otherwise I'll see you at 9am to leave for the hospital'. Viv nodded, looked at Kim for a moment and then walked inside, looking for courage to make this room a home.

It hurt Kim, for her too this felt like a powerless move. She had searched so hard with Viv for a safe place in the past few weeks, everything to make sure that Viv wouldn't have to take Beth here with her. She had hoped so much that Viv would soon be able to tell Beth that she would take her home. But home? Yes, Beth was allowed to leave the hospital, but she definitely wouldn't go home. She had known Viv longer than today, could really see from her face that she was probably wiping away some tears in the room, but she gave her space, left her alone for a moment and walked away.

Despite the fact that it really hurt Viv immensely to have to move here, literally ten meters away, instead of to a real new house, she was glad for the opportunity. In this room there was a slightly larger bed, a larger shower cubicle with even a bath, there was a table with two chairs, a small couch and a television. Everything was just a bit more spacious, it felt less cramped, less closed in. It still wasn't big, but at least there was a bit more room to move around, she could at least shower with Beth, get in the bath and sleep more comfortably with her.