Parents

Grateful

Lucy arrived after half an hour and knocked the door. Nyla answered she had mascara running down her cheeks, glass of wine in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

"Oh Nyla come here." Lucy felt awful seeing Nyla like this.

Lucy wrapped her arms tightly around her. Nyla had always been there for her so Lucy wanted to do the same. They went through to Nyla's garden and sat on the deck.

"Have u spoken to him since?"

"No, he's tried to call me countless times but I ignored him." She sighed, again inhaling the smoke from the cigarette.

Lucy took the cigarette from Nyla's hand.

"I am not letting u fall down the same hole I did because of a man." Lucy smiled.

"How the hell have u survived everything Lu? I feel pathetic because you have been through so much more and you're still trying and I'm just shutting down over one small thing."

"No Nyla don't say that, I did shut down and you saw how bad I got. You remember when Angela was on holiday and I was brought home because I was found drunk on the streets. But I will never ever let you feel that level of low because I owe you so much because honestly your probably the person who saved me, you suggested therapy and you were willing to listen to how I was feeling and noticed something more was wrong when everyone else just assumed I was sad and dramatic. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay everything you have done for me and I don't think I've ever told you how grateful I am for you Nyla."

"Oh Lucy your going to make me cry even more. You don't owe me anything because friends help friends."

"Why don't we speak to james together to get to the bottom of this?" Lucy suggested.

Nyla agreed, she dialled james's number and put it on speaker.

J- Nyla I've been calling you, are you ok?
N- I wasn't ready to speak to you earlier.
J- please can I explain, it's honestly not how it seems.
N- go on then.
J- Stacy started helping at the community centre to avoid her abusive partner, I was trying to help her out in anyway I could and I think she mistook the kindness for something more. She did confess that she had feelings for me and I tried to shut it down immediately, I know I should've told you as soon as it all happened but honestly it didn't seem like a big deal. And then last week she kissed me and I didn't know what to do, I told Wesley and if you ask him he will tell you how horrified I was because I knew you would be so upset and rightfully so.
N- ok.
J- is that all you have to say?
N- I believe you.
J- you don't sound sure.
N- james I've been crying since you told me, I'm exhausted but I do believe you.
J- I'm so sorry my love I never meant to hurt you.
N- it's fine I forgive you.
J- thank you
N- what time are you home?
J- hopefully in a few hours.
N- is Stacy still helping out there?
J- no she's been transferred to a different centre.
N- alright.

Once Nyla got off the phone she turned to Lucy.

"Thank you."

"For what Nyla?"

"Coming over, if you didn't then I know exactly how it would've gone down. He would've come home after work and rather than having a civilised conversation we wouldn't screamed at each other and made it so much worse."

"Of course, anytime."

"Have u made up with Angela yet?"

Lucy explained what happened and also the appointment about Bea.

"And Angela really wants me and Tim to have a party for our birthday."

"Why don't you want to?"

"I don't even really know, i just find them a bit overwhelming."