Chim - Traffic

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

"Ok, Cheryl, put your arm here, please." Cheryl lays her cast on the hospital bed in front of her, taking my hand with her free one. "We'll remove the cast and send you for an x-ray, and hopefully you'll go home with two working arms."

       She nods at the nurse's words but I can see her eyeing the saw at the head of the bed. I give her fingers a light squeeze, which she returns as the nurse pulls the machine toward her. As it's turned on, Cheryl jumps, turning her head towards me, her eyes screwed shut. I place the hand she's not holding slowly on her head, combing through her brown curls as the nurse begins her work. Eventually the cast is removed and once the machine is off Cheryl studies her arm, gently flexing her fingers. There is a long scar running the length of her inner forearm, and her newly exposed skin is noticeably paler than usual. After a few moments she stands and we follow the directions to the x-ray department, me sitting in the small waiting room there while Cheryl's bone is photographed. When she returns the doctor accompanying her informs us that everything looks fine with her arm and that she can leave with no further medical treatment. We walk together back to the car, but instead of Cheryl instantly opening her door and getting quickly inside like usual, she stops, worrying me.

       "Are you ok?"

       "Aye, I just want to stop for a moment, if that's ok." Confused, I nod, and she tilts her head back, her eyes closed, hand in mine and I'm reminded yet again how beautiful she is. "The sun feels nice."

       A few seconds after she open her eyes, a few tears running down her cheeks. Silently I wipe them away, and she looks up at me slowly. "Am I ever going to be ok again?"

       "Yes, one day. It's going to take time, and you can't push yourself, but one day, you'll be ok." Again she nods before climbing into the car and I do the same, smiling as takes my hand again.

***

"Happy birthday Nadine!" I say happily into the phone, putting two slices of bread into the toaster.

       "Thanks Kimmie! And thank you for the flowers and jeans, they're both lovely."

       "You're welcome. So what are you plans for the day?"

       We talk about her birthday plans, which include her working and spending the day with her visiting family, until Cheryl comes down the stairs.

       "Is that Nadine?" I nod and she reaches her arm towards me. "Let us wish her happy birthday."

       I say my goodbyes and pass the device to my girlfriend, continuing to prepare breakfast as she passes the well wishes to our friend. After she hangs up she turns to me. "She likes the gifts."

       Due to Cheryl still feeling unnerved when in public, we had ordered the presents online, arranging for the delivery to Nadine's house this morning.

       "I know. I'm so relieved." I say, passing her a plate of buttered toast, which she thanks me for.

       We eat quickly, both of us yawning several times. Cheryl had suffered an unprecedented eight nightmares overnight, they had taken a steep rise since she had been told she would need to give evidence at trial.

       "Ok, we need to leave now or we won't get to counselling in time." I rinse the plates and leave them in the sink to wash later as Cheryl waits by the front door for me.

       We were able to visit Deborah alone today, as I did not have a meeting scheduled with her, which meant Cheryl would not need to sit in the waiting room for me. When we arrive at the clinic she goes into the room as I pull out my phone to occupy myself, waiting for her to return.

Cheryl's POV

"Good morning Cheryl. How are you?" I sit meself on the couch in Deborah's office, glancing around the room.

       "I've been told that I have to give testimony in court, against Daddy." Tears roll down me cheeks that I don't bother to wipe away.

       "Alright, how do you feel about that?" Deborah asks.

       "I'm scared. I re-live everything every day, and since I found out, me nightmares have become worse, which I didn't even know was possible. Going through a trial, it's going to be like I'm going through it all again, and I don't think I can do that." She passes us the tissues before responding.

       "Ok, I understand. Have they given you alternate ways for you to give your testimony?"

       "Yes, but I don't like any of them."

       "Why not?"

       "If I use a video link, whether or not I can see him, he can see us. And if I'm behind a screen in the court, I won't be able to see Kimberley in the gallery, and I can't do it if I can't see her." Me shoulders begin to shake as I try to hold back me sobs. "I just want this to be over."

       "Cheryl, after the trial, it will help you feel like it's over. You want the person responsible for this to be put behind bars, don't you?"

       "Of course."

       "Your testimony will help achieve that. You are stronger than you think, Cheryl. Whichever way you choose to give testimony, he can't hurt you anymore. You need to remember that." I nod, drying me face. "Now, tell me about your nightmares."

***

The next two weeks drag by, and the day before me birthday, Kimberley and I order pizza, inviting the other girls over. We eat and make comfortable conversation, but talk soon turns to the upcoming trial.

       "I can't believe the b*stard is pleading not guilty. As if he hasn't put you through enough already." Sarah angrily picks off the pickles from her pizza slice.

       "I know. It's sick." Nadine adds as she takes a sip of her Fanta.

       "I hope he rots in hell." Nicola sighs, leaning back, looking full.

       "I don't think this is helping, girls." Kimberley takes me hand, watching us carefully.

       "No, Kimba, it's fine." I take a deep breath, trying to keep me voice firm. "I'm going to testify in court."

       Sarah beams, Nadine's mouth drops open and Nicola raises her eyebrows. Kimberley looks at us worriedly, and I already know what she's going to say.

       "Are you sure?"

       "Aye." I nod. After several conversations with Deborah and Kimberley, and constantly going over everything in me messed up mind, I'd decided to give evidence. "I'm not doing it through a video link, or behind a screen either. I don't want to be scared of him anymore. I refuse to let him continue to have that type of power over us. I want to get past this."

       All four of them look quite emotional as I finish speaking, and Kimberley clutches my hand tighter. Once we've finished our food I offer to wash up, taking the plates out into the kitchen. As I'm cleaning the last glass Kimberley enters the kitchen, smiling at us.

       "I love you." She says simply, taking the tea towel from us once me hands are dry.

       "I love you too." Before I can stop meself, I step forward, me arms slowly circling her waist. I move me head to her shoulder and her arms wrap around us, holding us close. I sigh in relief, me heart pounding at the first hug I've shared with her since before all this began. We stand like this for several minutes, just holding each other, and when I pull back we both have tears in our eyes, our arms still loosely around each other as Sarah announces her departure loudly. We go and say our farewells to the girls before heading up to bed.

       "Stay with us tonight, please?" I ask once we've changed into our pyjamas. Kimberley nods, climbing into bed and within ten minutes, we're both asleep.