the three of us {chim}

Piece 24

Cheryl's POV

I was worried for her, I watched her stay awake all night. Kimberley was sound asleep on the other side of my wide awake daughter. She wasn't steadily breathing like usual, her breaths are rapid and short like she's gasping for air.

I hold Camille close, last nights events never escape my mind. She won't let me in, she won't tell us what happened.

I was sure that the nightmare was horrendous, it was absolutely terrifying.

When I heard her screams, I ran. I didn't stop shaking her until she woke up. She was terrified at me touch, she backed away from me. She didn't trust me hands.

I was dying inside, I don't want her to be depressed. Camille won't sleep, and it scares me.

"Hey." I whispered, hoping to get her to rest a little bit.

"Hi." She whispered back cutely.

"You should sleep." It's like I said her trigger word. She was hypnotized to the word 'sleep'.

"I..I can't." I saw the tears rush down her cheeks, I was quick to wipe them away.

"Please don't cry, babe." She nodded her head and took a deep breath. She laid her head on my chest and I could feel her wet eyelashes blinking against my skin.

We sat like this for hours until Kimberley woke up. She reached over and rubbed Camille's back, it brought a smile to her face.

"Good Morning, sweetheart." Kimberley's raspy morning voice sounded through the silent bedroom.

"Morning." I could see past the faint smile she was putting on. I could see the frown hiding beneath the wings.

"Are you okay?" Camille nodded, but neither of us are convinced.

"C'mon. We'll get some breakfast." Camille got out of bed and headed down the stairs.

"I don't know what to do." Kimberley whispered in my ear as we followed Camille's footsteps.

"We'll see how today goes. Maybe it just scared her a bit too much." Kimberley nodded and we watched Camille lazily sit in the barstool.

Kimberley and I started on the breakfast, Camille never takes her eye off her hands that are sitting on the counter.

Kimberley pulls out one of the large knifes to cut up the peppers going into the omelets.  Camille's whole body flinches and shakes immediately.

"Camille?  What's wrong?!" I quickly ran to her, pulling her into my arms.

"Please just...please...don't ask." Camille buried her face into my jumper, watching Kimberley put the knife back and walk over to her.

"Sweetheart, what's going on?  We need to know what to do.  I don't want you to block us out, we would never judge you, we just want to know if you're really okay." I watch me daughter as Kimberley's sweet words calm Camille.

"Cheryl can you please go get my phone.  I need to call my Dad." I don't question her request and go get her phone from her bedroom.

Camille's POV

"I need you to promise not to say anything or judge me in anyway.  I just want you to listen to me, okay?" Kimberley nods, I sent Cheryl upstairs to retrieve my phone.  It will take her a couple minutes to go throughout the house all the way up the stairs and back.

"You can tell me anything.  I promise." Kimberley holds my hands and faces me, sitting in the barstool beside me.

"I know you saw the scar.  I know you told Cheryl and I know that you're scared of it and what happened to me." I gulped watching Kimberley's face drop in sadness.