Tridents, butterflies and absolute freedom. (Book 5)

Prudence

Lily

Hopefully I'd be discharged today...hopefully. I was getting really fed up of being in here now. It'd been 3 days already.

"Lil,"

"Yeah?"

"Do you reckon they'll let you out today?"

"I hope so."

Finn nodded "Me too."

I was waiting for test results to see if the operation had done anything to my spinal cord because then I wouldn't be able to get up at all. My dad stayed with me last night then Finn could go home to the kids. I lost all feeling totally in my legs halfway through the night with no explanation as to why and we were both terrified. My dad decided not to tell my mom about it and I decided not to tell Finn. Not at all.

Me and Finn frowned at each other as we saw Francine come up the corridor with an envelope.

"This better be good news."

"I know." He stroked my hand "It will be."

She opened the door and smiled "Good news!"

"Please say that means I can go home?"

She nodded "In a few hours, yeah, you can." She handed me the envelope "See you then!"

Finn carried me into the house and dragged the wheelchair I'd been loaned behind him. The dog ran up and down the room at my triumphant return home.

"I hate this." I growled. A wheelchair just felt so degrading.

"I know," he agreed sitting me down on the sofa and letting me snuggle into the crook of his arm "It's not permanent at least?"

"Yeah." I sighed

He kissed me hard "You'll be ok soon."

"I know, it's just soon feels like a million miles away."

"We'll get there."

Instead of college at 9 tomorrow, I had physiotherapy. That sounded thrilling.

The dog barked as mail tumbled through the letter box.

"I'll get it." He mumbled. "Move." He said to the dog as he scooped it all up.

He sighed "Bills, hurray!"

"Wow, exciting!"

"I know." He paused and continued to sift through "What looks like a couple of late anniversary cards from 4?" He mumbled chuckling and then he stopped sharply "Lil, there's a letter here for you?"

"Oh?"

He handed it to me. It had the Panem justice seal on.

"You don't think?" I said slowly

"They can't have gotten the go ahead?"

I opened it.

"I have a court date."

"What?!"

"I have a court date." I said again

"But-" he shook his head "How?"

"I'm being charged with manslaughter."

"BUT-"

"That's what it says Finn."

He took a deep breath as he sat down and calmly took the letter off me.

He nodded "So it does." He paused and mumbled "I am going to find the best freaking lawyer I can because this is ridiculous."