After showering and slipping into compression shorts and a big t-shirt, I braided my hair, exhaling at my reflection.
I heard a quiet knock, pulling me out of my stare, making me look to the door, seeing it being pushed open.
"Hi sweetie" my mom breathed out, looking at me through the mirror.
"Hey" I responded quietly, feeling her hands rest on my shoulders.
"You're okay, you're comfortable, right?" She asked, making me clear my throat before giving a small nod.
"You're safer than you'll ever be here, that's a promise" she spoke, kissing my head gently.
"You can trust them, they won't hurt you"
"I need time."
"You've had two years baby" she spoke quietly.
"You have to start putting yourself out there, you want to go to college, what are you going to do when it comes to that?" She questioned.
"Online" I spoke, knowing my future was planned out perfectly around this.
"My sweet girl" she exhaled, kissing my head.
"I'm so sorry that I ever let this happen to you."
"Me too" I mumbled back, suddenly feeling tears coming into my eyes, and perfectly timed, Luke entered slowly, Calum following.
I tried to swallow my tears, feeling the lump in my throat.
"Everyone okay, everyone comfortable?" Luke asked.
"Yes- I think everything is perfect" my mom smiling, kissing my head again
Calum.
She kept her head down, never looking to us, just listening.
I just wanted to hug her.
I wanted to hold her and assure her that we weren't going to hurt her.
But I probably wouldn't even get away with a hand on the shoulder.
"Hey Cal" Kate spoke quietly, gaining my attention back to her.
"I need to set Vanessa up an appointment, she hasn't got a check up in probably three years" she laughed out, and that certainly made Vanessa look up quickly.
"Maybe we should talk about this later-" "no" her mom interrupted me
"She needs a check up, she has a heart murmur, her health comes before her fears"
I made eye contact with Vanessa through the mirror, and she looked completely helpless.
"I'll set her an appointment for this week"
