Kidnapped - Life on the Outside (We Have Stories Too #2)

Chapter 3

I hold her hand as we walk through the halls of the teens section of the hospital. Its around 11:30pm and Jacey spent most the day sleeping, so she's wired with energy, and excited to see new things. As we passed different rooms I can see that some other teenagers were sleeping while others were playing video games with some friends. On our trek we end up finding a large room with two big flat screen Tv's, and 3 – 3 seater couches. There is also some X-box 360's and games that are compatible with it. There is also a wall full of bookshelves and board games. I look over and see a couple of other teenagers most of them younger then me. "Do you want to look for a book to read?" I ask the toddler.

"Yeah!" She says clapping her hands together, drawing the attention of some of the other patience, I smile weakly at them, they return with a smile as well. I pick up my child and walk with her on my hip to the bookshelf and we browse through the books. There is plenty of novels, some of them I have read, like The Hunger Games, and The Fault In Our Stars, but there are only 3 child friendly books that wont take hours to read. It makes sense because we are in a 'teen ward' where most if not all the occupants are teenagers. I then take the book and my child and we sit down on the couch. As I read the book Jacey chews on her finger pointing at the pictures and questioning about words she doesn't know the meaning of. When were finished I hand Jacey the book and tell her to go put it back in the shelf. I watch her as she walks over to the self her hospital gown just making it past her knee's. Before she tries putting the book back into the self I walk over there and help her knowing that it would be difficult for her to put it back herself.

Some of the girls who are playing a board game that I think is scrabble look at my daughter and myself. "Is she your sister?" The younger of the two asks, she has blonde curly hair that's down to her shoulders – I would say she looks around the age of thirteen, but really I wouldn't know unless I ask her.

I debate saying that she is just my sister but decide that that is a stupid idea and should just tell the truth, "No, she's my daughter."

"Wow, how old are you?" She asks glaring at the baby, as she twirls a letter piece in between her fingers.

"Seventeen, how old are you?"

"Thirteen. Aren't you a little young for a child?" She asks, the other blonde keeping quiet across from her.

"Yeah, I am, but I am her mother and it is what it is. She's a happy child and I couldn't ask for a better child then her. Plus, who are you to judge my life and my child?" I question, feeling a little bit picked on by these people. I look down at my daughter who's grabbing at my pants, wanting to be picked up. I pick up the toddler and steady her on my hip, making holding her more comfortable for me.

"I'm sorry, I really wasn't trying to be mean. I just don't have a filter sometimes," she says, bowing her head.

"Sorry, I over reacted. Its been a long time since I had a conversation with someone who wasn't a baby." I laugh awkwardly, "So what game are you guys playing?"

"Scrabble," the other blonde says, they're both in pajama's which looks so much more comfortable then the hospital gown and pants that I am wearing.

"Oh, well that's fun," I say, I've never been one for Scrabble, I just never found the game entertaining. "Okay, well I have to put this one to bed, its getting late," I say to the girls, "It was nice taking to you guys," I force a smile.

"Oh Okay, well talk to you later," the shy blonde says, as I start to walk out they continue their game of scrabble. When I make it back to our room I check the clock, it's midnight. I really, really love being able to be able to tell time, and tell what day it is; it feels like a miracle.