Graceful| Grace Helbig-Sequel #Wattys2017

Chapter 24

It finally reached lunch and me, Wilson and Eve were all hanging out around the back of the field. Me and Wilson were lying next to each other, facing up at the clouds telling stories while Eve sleeps.

"So how come you put your little one up for adoption?" Wilson asks, as we have been talking for ages.

"I just felt like I couldn't look after him properly. He needs to have a proper family. Not some fifteen year old. I know people think I should like face up to my actions but the real reason I put him up was because...he would look too much like my dad. The truth about his dad is that his dad is my dad. My dad got really abusive ever since my mom lost my little sister Aida and he raped me and got me pregnant, with Seb." I explain.

"Oh, ok. But still you could have maybe kept him." Wilson says. This one little comment pushed my buttons. I have had looks and comments all day and to think someone would be nice to me. I stand up quickly, grab my bags then the car seat and walk away from him.

"Hartley. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you I'm sorry." I hear his voice get quieter and quieter as I moved further away from him. I enter the school and everyone was crowing around us. They were bashing into the car seat. For Eve's safety I take Eve out of her car seat and she was getting heavy. I pushed the car seat to the side and also ditch all my bags. The banister was close. Eve starts to cry, causing everyone to pay attention to us.

"This is what you've all wanted, isn't it? You're all in on it together to try and take my baby away from me." I say placing Everley over the school banister.

All of a sudden Mrs Daily, Mr Pond and Wilson were on the stairs staring at me.

"No-one's trying to take your baby away." Mrs Daily says.

"Hart! Hart, give her to me, please." Wilson says racing towards me which makes me put her further over the banister.

"No! Wilson, OK, everyone, keep quiet. Hartley, look at me.
I know you might think that we're all against you but we're not." Mr Pond says calmly, as everyone goes silent.

"Stop it.
Stop saying that.
Shut up, shut up, shut up."

"Who's saying things to you, Hartley? We're the only ones here."

"Just leave me alone, please." I beg.

"Are you hearing voices?l

"Yeah. Horrible ones." I cry.

"What are they saying, Hartley?"

"Slagging me off. I love my baby." I say bringing Everley back to me.

"I know you do. Hey, we all know that."

"No! You're in this too." I say putting Eve back over the banister.

"No, Hartley! No! No, I'm not.
I'm not one of the voices, am I? Hey? But I think I think we can stop them. We can stop you thinking all those things.
Because we know that you don't mean it.
Just, just like you don't mean to hurt 'your' baby.
We know that you love Eve."

"I do."

"That's right.
I think you might be ill.
But if we get you to a doctor, if we get you to the hospital, they can help you.
They can stop you thinking all these things and they can make those voices go away.
I promise you.
Hartley come on you don't mean this."

I bring Eve back into me and hug her tight as I sob. Mr Pond and Wilson race towards me and help me.

"It's all right. It's OK." Wilson says kissing my head. Mr Pond and Wilson help me into Mr Talbot's office. Wilson took Eve from me and held her as Mr Pond helped me.

I got a car ride home by Wilson's mom. I walked into the house with help from Wilson and his mom, who was holding Eve.

"Mommy." I say, sobbing and rushing into her arms.

"Hatty. My little girl. What's wrong?" Mom asks.

"I...I..I"

"She isn't well. She needs to see a doctor. She hung Eve over the school banister. She isn't well. She thinks Eve is her own. Please get her to a doctor now." Wilson explains.

"Here is Eve." Wilson's mom says, placing her into Hannah's arms.

"Look after yourself Hart." Wilson says, kissing me on my head and leaving.

"Let's go. Come on baby girl. Let's go." Mom says, taking me by the hand and leading me into the car and strapping me in. Mom gets into the drivers seat and drives to the hospital.

We walk into the sterile hospital and towards the Emergency unit.

"How can I help you?" The receptionist asks.

"My daughter she needs help. Go sit over there sweetie." Mom says as I walk over to the waiting room. A few seconds later she was back.

"Come on sweetie." Mom says taking my hand. She leads me into this room.

"So Hartley. I've heard you have been hearing voices. What have they been saying?" The doctor asks.

"Slagging me off. Saying I would be a crap mom, to my beautiful baby Eve." I explain.

"Ok. Well you are ill. I was wondering whether you can come and stay with me just till your better?"

"Is it safe here. Is it safe for me and for Eve?"

"It's safe. So would you like to stay here?"

"Yes...yes please it's safe."

"But there is one thing. You can't keep Eve with you here." The doctor explains.

"No..mom tell him about how Eve needs to stay with me. Tell him...TELL HIM!!"

"Hartley. You are ill. I can't help you anymore. You need to have help. I can't help you anymore." Mom says, her voice cracking.

"Right. Hartley, you have post-partum psychosis. We are going to need to section you. If you are not going to go freely." The Doctor says, bringing a lot of people. They all grab me and pull me away from my mom.

"Mom...mom...mom...mom"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I love you Hatty." Mom sobs, as I get carried away.