Lilly

Chapter 7

It was only three days later Lilly returned home from school, and saw a familiar car parked in front of the house. She dreaded seeing it, but she'd known it was coming.

"What's she doing here?" Sherri spoke with more force than she probably meant to.

"She's taking me away." Lilly knew what was about to happen. Sherri said nothing to Lilly's matter-of-fact statement.

As they climbed out of the car, Lilly took her backpack, and walked to the front door, feeling like someone headed to their death. She jumped a little as Sherri put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

"Mrs. Bazemore, I've been directed to take Priscilla to her next placement a little sooner than planned," Mrs. Rafferty said.

"Can I help Lilly pack?" Sherri asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Absolutely," Mrs. Rafferty replied.

"Sweetheart, we will still fight for you, no matter how long it takes," Sherri said, when they got to her room.

Lilly said nothing, knowing she'd lose what little control she had if she tried. Instead, she went through the clothes she had, leaving the nicer things the Bazemore's had bought her, only taking the stuff she'd wanted when the fairytale ended. It had come to its end as she expected. Now, she had to return to her world, where she now knew she belonged.

"Why don't you take these things?" Sherri asked of the nicer clothes she'd picked out. Lilly ran the two steps to the corner where she dropped in a heap and pulled her knees to her chin. She cried , unable to contain the emotion as it exploded from inside her.

Sherri went to her, wrapping her arms around Lilly, who unfolded and grasped onto Sherri with all of her strength. She buried her face into Sherri's shoulder, letting all of her emotion flow out in a torrent.

"I'm not sure if I'll have them long, so it's better not to take them at all," she said, when she could speak again.

Sherri knew her history, and the reasoning for the clothing choices she'd made before coming to them. She'd worked hard to assure Lilly she would stay with them, thus not needing to keep those clothes any longer. In the time Lilly had been with them, she'd, worn the nicer clothes more often. In the last few weeks, she'd stopped wearing the sweats, stretchy skirts with tights and baggy tees altogether. Here Lilly was, back where she'd started, and Sherri knew there was nothing she could do. She now understood why Lilly had insisted on the clothes she'd chosen, and it was like a knife in her heart.

Once Lilly had everything packed she planned on taking, which was little, she picked up her bag and walked out of the room. She didn't look back, resigned to her fate.

"Thank you for being nice and giving me a nice place to stay for a little while." She kept her voice steady, despite the emotions roiling inside.

"Lilly, we're not giving up on you," Leonard said, his face set. "Horace will keep you safe, until we get you back," he then added. Mrs. Rafferty looked at him. Lilly also looked at him, but her's was curiosity, while the caseworker's was suspicion, or worry.

"Let's go, Priscilla," Mrs. Rafferty said, somewhat impatient.

Lilly looked at them for a moment, then turned around and followed her caseworker out. She couldn't make herself hug them again. She knew it'd be the last time she ever did.

"Priscilla, or do you prefer Lilly?" Mrs. Rafferty asked.

"Priscilla," was all Lilly said.

"We've been getting more reports of you being involved in drugs again, and there are rumors of other questionable activity. Would you care to tell me what's going on?" she asked.