Calliope
She was overwhelmed.
She was scared.
She was embarrassed.
She was frightened.
She looked like a beat puppy.
She was gorgeous.
Even with the bandages and the scars on her back from the whippings would never leave. She was way too thin, but she's gained ten pounds over the last two months, so that's good.
When she sleeps, I sleep in the chair beside her bed. I lay my head on her thigh and grip her hand, sure she wouldn't leave without waking me up.
She was doing better. She had to gain 27 more pounds to be her old weight. She didn't panic when she saw me anymore. She panicked whenever a doctor with red hair would come in, and she had trigger words that would send her flying into panic attacks.
There were days where she would have a two hour conversation with you, and you might even get a smile if you do it right. There were also days when she would just cry. Silent tears streaming out of scared eyes.
Today was the day I take her home.
Richard and Catherine are taking Sofia for the next three months while Arizona heals.
Me? I wasn't doing well.
If they wouldn't let me in her room, I would sit outside on the bench in the hallway all day. I wasn't eating. When I did eat, I threw it up.
I didn't sleep, the bed was cold.
I didn't smile. I didn't do anything like that.
All I cared about was Arizona. She's my world.
"She's ready." says Nurse Theresa, pushing Arizona out in a wheelchair. "We tried on the prothetic today, and it fits like a glove. It's strapped behind the chair. I think she's a bit tired right now, so don't push her into the prosthetic very much. She'll do it on her own in her own time. Apply this cream to her back every night and every morning. It's for the whippings and for the burns. The scars are permanent but this soothes the sting. She's not okay. She will be. But right now she's not. Don't expect her to jump into life happily. Try to get her to sleep in the same bed as you, just so that she doesn't get used to sleeping alone and then freak when you try to sleep with her. No sex. There's a psychiatrist, and she is to see him twice a week. Tuesday's and Thursday's from 1 - 5 at the hospital. Check ups once every two weeks to see how her arm, leg and ribs are doing. Her arm and leg should be perfectly okay now, no casts anymore. The ribs are bruised and they will hurt, but it won't be too bad. She's scared. She doesn't trust you. She doesn't trust anyone. She will. And it should be you."
