Gracie

Chapter 8 - Punished

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing of Sarah-Marie or as expressly permitted by law or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Copyright department Sarah-Marie Productions. First published, London 2013.

Sarah-Marie Productions is a registered trade mark

___________________________

Liam's POV:

I had been with Gracie for two weeks but had only spent one with her in my sole care. That's when I started to really notice Gracie wasn't moving forward but instead she was taking steps back. Whereas she previously spoke occasionally, now and then, she since stopped completely; if she couldn't answer with a simple shakes of the head then we didn't get any answer. She started to refuse all food even the foods she had once said she was allowed. She was waking more than ten times a night and several of them she wet herself. When I left her alone in her room she would sit in the corner humming. Should I ask her to join me or the others downstairs, she would once more sit in the corner yet again in complete silence. We never stopped trying to pull her out of this semi torpor though. All the lads tried to get her to join in. At the end it was Harry who she eventually came around for.

Harry's POV:

Gracie was thirteen and had a brand new iPhone lying around somewhere in her room; so I sent her off to find it. I decided I would give her a lesson. I waited while she found the phone. As expected on her return she sat on the floor rather than beside me. Liam had already expressed his concern and made clear this had to stop. Naturally, to avoid encouraging her, instead of joining her I thought it would be wiser to ask her to come and join me:

"Gracie sit on the sofa please I can't show you while you sit down there!"

She didn't hesitate but I soon realised why. The way I asked her was a demand rather than a suggestion. However as she had complied I didn't say anything and waited while she shuffled beside me.

"Comfortable?"

Gracie nodded and smiled weakly then started to stare back into space. I didn't make any comment and I just switched the phone on. When it lit up it attracted Gracie's full attention. She stared amazed as it flicked on. I slid the bar opening the phone up to its display screen. I started by showing and explaining the basics of the phone like adding contacts, sending texts, and working the camera. Gracie's eyes never left the phone or my fingers.

"So that's how you take a picture?" She finally asked pointing.

I nodded affirmatively and handed Gracie her phone:

"You try!"

She accepted the phone and opened the camera up then swiftly closed it moving onto add contacts:

"Well who will I add?" She asked comically.

"Your friends!" I suggested.

She nodded before speaking again:

"I don't know their numbers!"

I thought for a moment:

"Next time you see them you should ask them!"

Gracie faintly smiled as if she was saddened that she had no one to add there and then.

"You can add me now if you like?" I offered.