her⁕mileven

13

Chapter 13: Happiness all around

Eleven
I'm so happy. I forgot what happiness felt like. I felt loved and I felt safe. I felt so happy to be back with Mike, and I know things will be better now. After a while, Nancy, Mike and I finally pulled away from our hug, I sat and finished off my food. It was starting to get dark now and I saw Mike and Nancy quietly talking to each other. Nancy looked over at me and smiled. I smiled back and looked up as they started to walk over to me, smiling. Nancy knelt down in front of me and my gaze followed her eyes so I was looking down at her now.

'El, I'll help you get ready for bed now. You can have a shower and borrow some of my pyjamas, I'll help you with the shower and then you can snuggle down in bed, you must be tired.'

I looked at her, confusion clear on my face but slowly nodded. Mike had mentioned a 'shower' but I'm not sure what it was. However, I trusted Nancy, and I did want to get into bed. So I reached out and took her outstretched hand into my small one.

'See you in a bit!' Mike said smiling as he gave me a small hug. I quickly hugged back and he whispered in my ear. 'Don't worry El, you're just going to clean up and get ready for bed. Nothing bad.' We pulled away and I gave him a small smile and nod as I continued following Nancy.

Nancy helped me with my shower and I felt warm and clean. It was a nice feeling, I had felt cold and dirty for a long time, and it was somehow satisfying to watch all the dirt and grime wash away from me. Nancy let me pick out a pair of her pyjamas. The ones I was wearing had little teddy bears dotted over them and they were pink, the top buttoned up and the trousers matched.

As I was changing, Nancy and Mike also changed into their pyjamas and we all went and sat down and watched what they call the 'television' together. Suddenly, we all heard a noise coming from the front door and Nancy looked and Mike and nodded at him supportively.

Mike
As El was finishing her good, Nancy pulled me to the side.

'It's great El is back, and I'm thrilled, but what are you going to tell mum? You can't carry on hiding her in the basement, it's not fair on her anymore.'

I realised what she was saying was completely reasonable and I thought about it for a second. I slowly began to nod my head.

'I'll talk to mum when she gets home, I'm sure she'll understand, El has to stay here. For now, at least. She needs me...and I need her.' I said, saying the last bit quietly and breaking eye contact, nervously looking down.'

Nancy nodded at me happily, smiling at me. She pulled me in for a short hug before we walked back over to El, who had by now finished her food.

We all sat down on the sofa, El in the middle and watched a film. El was leaning on me, her head in my shoulder, and she had her hand in Nancy's. This moment felt perfect. For the first time in ages I felt happy, truly, genuinely happy.

It wasn't long before we all heard the key in the door lock. Nancy gave me an encouraging nod and I slowly eased away from El and rose to my feet.

I walked out the living room and saw my mum and Holly. She set Holly down and looked at me smiling.
She could sense my nervousness and her facial expression changed to worried.

'Mike, are you okay? I want you to be able to talk to me, you can tell me anything. I want to be able to support you and help you with anything you may be going through.'

I smiled and nodded. I took a deep breath and then started talking. I didn't even hesitate for a second in telling her, I was determined to be able to let El stay here.

'Do you remember the girl, she helped save Will.' She slowly nodded, allowing me to continue. I took a deep breath. 'She's back, I found her today. I was hoping she. could stay with us, at least for a little while. We really need each other and she feels safest with-'

'Michael.'

She cut me off. I looked up at her and gulped. She started to smile a big, happy smile at me.

'Of course she can stay, she helped you and if she's going to be happier and safer, then she can stay for as long as she needs. But, she can't stay forever, she will need to find a proper home, okay?'

I nodded and gave my mum a huge hug. El could stay for as long as she needed, and I was going to make sure that was as long as possible.

I walked back into the living room, the smile not leaving my face. Nancy already knew what this meant and leapt up from her seat and enveloped me in a tight hug. El slowly rose to her feet and we pulled her in too.