Opal's Story

I'm proud of you.

TRACYS POV

I kept stroking through her hair until soon I hear her softly snoring, I smile and leave the room putting a do not disturb sign on the door

Mike bumps into me on the way out and looks annoyed

'Don't shout. I've just got her settled' I whisper before heading to the office

He goes to speak but I stop him, knowing he would scold me for not telling Opal off

'Listen. I told you to be quiet because she was having a panic attack. I thought you, of all people would have noticed that' I say

'Sorry...I had no idea' he says

'Don't apologise to me. Apologise to Opal, you towering over her really didn't help at all' I say before leaving

I go into the living room where all the kids are and hang back listening to them talking about what happened

'Poor Opal' Tee says

'I hope she's okay' Lily says

'I wish we'd done more to help her settle in' Toby says

'It reminded me of Tracy' Harry says

'It reminded all of us, but she's okay now...I hope' Sapphire says

'I didn't help it. I shouted at her about Elektra' Carmen says

'Don't feel guilty, that was months ago. Point is it all turned out fine' Lily says

'But it shouldn't have had to get that far for it all to turn out fine' Sapphire says

'We know it shouldn't have. And you all regret what happened but Tracy knows she can talk to us no matter what' Liam says

'At least we know what to do now if that happens to any of us...or Tracy again' Johnny says sadly

I enter the living room and they leap up at my arrival

'Is she okay?' Lily says

I nod

'She's fine, a little traumatised but she's gonna be fine' I say

'I don't suppose you heard any of that?' Sapphire says

I nod and they all look guilty

'It wasn't any of your faults...it was mine for not speaking up, which, and I cannot stress this enough you must do. Don't stay silent like I did. Talk to me, Mike or Gina, don't suffer alone' I say before leaving

I go and check on Opal she's still asleep bless her

'Tracy' Mike says

'What?' I ask

'You need to see this.' He says

He goes to show me something, just as we hear shouting downstairs

'What is going on!' I ask

I'm unaware they woke up Opal and I don't realise until I hear a scream from upstairs

OPALS POV

I wake up to the sound of shouting

'NO!!' I scream

But I'm okay. I'm not there anymore.

Tracy bursts through the door a worried look on her face

'What's happened?' She says breathlessly

'Just a nightmare' I say trying to keep it together

'Come here' she whispers giving me a gentle cuddle

'Sorry if they woke you up, problem with the telly Mikes sorting it now' she says

'They didn't...but the shouting. It made me think of things, things I don't wanna think about ever again' I say

'I know, but it's okay. You're safe now. And I swear I won't let anyone hurt you again' she says, holding me close

'Promise?' I say

'I promise' she says looking at me with a smile

'Tracy?' I say

'Yeah'

'Could you come with me to see the others?' I say

'Of course' she says smiling

I take her hand and we head downstairs together, the kids stare at me and smile

'Hi, I just wanna say I'm sorry I didn't get to introduce myself, I'm Opal and I'm really sorry for before, truth is I was nervous' I say smiling

'It's okay' choruses around the room and a couple of 'I understand' except for one person

The pink girl, I didn't know her name because she refused to say it

I walk over to her and give her a smile

'I'm sorry for pushing you before, I was upset but that's not an excuse' I say

She looks up at me and smiles

'It's okay, none of us have ever really settled in our first day. I'm Carmen by the way' she says

'Well, it's nice to meet you Carmen' I say

All of a sudden she gives me a hug and I accept it, as the kids gather round I take a deep breath, normally this would scare me but they're all so kind

I look over to Tracy who's smiling deeply

She mouths something which I catch onto

I'm proud of you.