The Dark Knight Of The Soul

Chapter Seven

Ellie pulled up outside at 10:30am, I saw her from my front window and waved to let her know I was on my way. I ran to the kitchen windows and back door again, making sure I had locked them, I grabbed my bag and then closed the kitchen door behind me, as I walked down the hallway, Ellie tapped lightly on the door. My heart was pounding, maybe it was all the rushing around and final checks I had to carry out. I opened the front door and said breathlessly, "ready." I locked the front door and walked with Ellie to her car. To be honest, I was grateful she came to the door. I felt a little silly for being so anxious, after all, I was only walking ten metres from my house to the car. Ellie smiled warmly and asked me to take some deep breaths. he reassured me as I my breathing settled. "I used my chart today, it's the first time I've left the house since you came last week," I spoke rapidly, consciously telling myself to stop being so silly.

Ellie asked how I had been since we last met, we chatted about my week and I told her I had completed the small booklet she gave me. 

"Oh wow, all completed already." Her smile was bright and her eyes were warm. "Did it help."

"Yes it was really helpful reading through the anxiety and four windows."

She smiled as we pulled into a small car park. "Here we are," she announced as we stepped out of the car, "you feeling ok?" she asked.

I nodded. I was feeling a little nervous but knowing Ellie was here was enough reassurance for me.

"It's a small group of about eight women. We've developed the group for women. My colleague and I are trying to build this into a well-being day for women only. This afternoon there is a scrap booking group and we're both trying to locate some volunteers to keep the centre going all day."

"What other groups are you hoping to create," I asked, intrigued.

"Well, there's this one in the morning," Ellie pushed open the heavy wooden door, almost falling in as the door loosened quickly. "I think I need to have a word with maintenance about this door." She wedged it open with a door wedge that was tucked behind the door frame. 

There was a small notice board as you entered the building, newsletters of local brownie, girl guide groups and sports clubs scattered over the board. "At one in the afternoon, there is the scrap booking group, two of the women want to start a cooking or baking group here as there is a kitchen and some of the others are interested in photography."

We walked together down a small corridor and into the room at the bottom. The community centre was an old building and the radiators reminded me of my old junior school, where the wide, oil filled radiators dominated the wall. The room was small and cosy, a large window let the light shine through into the room. Ellie put her bag in the corner of the room and started to pull out some bean bags that were stacked at the back. She shaped them into a circle and pulled the blind across the large window.

An Asian woman appeared at the door and smiled at me. Then two more women walked in nervously. I wasn't sure where to sit, so I sat next to one of the women. She turned to face me and smiled, "Is it your first time here," She asked and I nodded nervously, I could feel my heart start to pound and my hands sweat, I hope she doesn't want to shake my hand formally.

"I'm Angie and this is Mary." Mary said hello and Angie continued chatting. "I've been coming for the past two months now. I wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied.

"We're trying to get Ellie to help us form a baking group. Do you like baking," Angie asked.

"Yes I do," I answered nervously. "What sort of things did you have in mind to bake?"