Baby momma

Chapter 5

"These should fit you." She hands me a clean set of neatly folded pyjamas, which I hesitantly take from her with weary eyes.

After everything I've been through these past five weeks, I don't think I can trust anyone ever again.

"Thankyou." I quietly whisper. My voice still slightly sore from crying.

"Would you like a cup of tea? Some food perhaps?" She offers me as she walks towards the kitchen. I glance over at her and shake my head a little, to which she just smiles and waves her hand dismissively.

I remain in the same spot, rooted into place. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. So I wait, for a few minutes until the old lady comes back. Her home is warm like the cafe she works at, it feels homey.

"Here you go sweetie, the bath is almost ready." She tells me as she places a mug down in front of me on the coffee table. She puts a plate down with has a large slab of lasagne on, along with mash, veg and gravy.

It smells amazing, and causes my stomach to roar with hunger. But I was still weary.

"Why are you helping me?" I ask the lady quietly, glancing down at my filthy hands self consciously.

The woman eyes me for a few moments before speaking, her tone soft. "Because you need it. I can help you, so I'm going to."

Are her words. Simple and yet unquestionable.

"Eat, take a shower, and relax in the bath. We will talk in the morning." She smiles comfortingly at me, and stands up from the chair she was sat on. She vanishes down the hallway as I assume she's going to bed or something.

My hunger getting the better of me I place the clean clothes to the side, and grab the plate. Using the fork I scoop the food up and shovel it into my mouth, barely chewing it before swallowing it and repeating the process.

I eat until my stomach feels like it's going to pop, and then I gulp down the warm cup of tea.

Feeling rude if I just leave it here I take the mug and plate and wonder off to the room I saw the lady come out of when she brought it to me. Once I find the kitchen I rinse off the plate and mug, and quickly scrub them with soap and water before setting them to the side.

Feeling a little awkward I quickly head back into the front room and grab the clean pile of clothes.

"Everything you might want or need is set on the bathroom sink. Third door on the left, if you need anything just give me a shout." The lady smiles as I turn towards her, jumping slightly at her sudden voice.

I awkwardly give her a small smile. "Thank you."

Walking past her slowly I follow the directions she gave me and easily find the bathroom, noticing how her home smells like cherry. It smells amazing.

Closing the bathroom door I glance around the room, taking in the bath filled with bubbles, the sparkling clean shower, the tidy ness of a simple bathroom. It all feels so new. Maybe it's because I haven't stepped foot into a proper bathroom in almost six weeks.

A part of my brain warns me to not take a bath, or even a shower, because once we go back on the streets it's going to be so much harder. But a part of me wants to enjoy this, even if it is only this once.

Going with my heart and not my head like I've done many times this year, and I strip out of my clothes, placing them to the side unsure of what I'm supposed to do with them.

Once I'm naked I take the razor from the top of the pile the lady mentioned, along with body wash and shampoo and conditioner, and I head over to the shower to scrub the filth from my body.

The second the water hits my skin I realise my arms are bleeding. When the man shoved me against the wall he'd cut the backs of my arms open on the wall. It's not too deep, so I didn't worry about it.

A dark purple bruise sits on my cheekbone along with a cut filled with mud, and a large lump with purple bruising sits on my forehead, except the one on my forehead has a huge cut in it.

Sighing I look away from the mirror, no longer wanting to see my underweight body or beaten face. Tilting my head back I begin scrubbing my hair thoroughly with shampoo, basking in the clean nice fresh smell of the beauty products.

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With the bath cleaned out and dry I put the towels in the laundry basket and straighten out the pyjamas. Setting all the toiletries she'd given to the side of the sink I take my dirty clothes in my arms, and walk out of the bathroom. My body weak and worn out, completely relaxed from the bath.

I practically stumble into the living room, my eyes half closed.

"You look exhausted." The lady laughs softly. I tiredly nod my head not fully there in the head.

I feel her take the dirty clothes from my arms and lead me to the couch, which I now realise is set out with blankets and two pillows.

"You didn't have to do this.." I trail off with exhaustion in my voice, the lady just sits me down and helps me lay down on the extremely comfortable couch.

I lay my head on the fresh smelling pillows, feeling tears prick my eyes.

"Thank you..so much." I whisper hoarsely, my emotions getting the better of me. I feel the lady stroking my damp hair back from my face, like loving mother does to her child. Something my own mother never did.

"You're more than welcome, get some sleep sweetie." I hear her voice say before everything fades away, and darkness consumes me.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I didn't worry about being hurt, or taken. I didn't worry about frostbite, or getting sick. I didn't worry about drunk men, or psychopaths.

It was just blissful, silent sleep.