Inked In Love

Twenty four

Twenty four

"No"

" Hey, princess, listen to me," my mother spoke through the phone. Her own emotions showing through with her voice.

I gripped my desk tightly "No, this is wrong because I spoke to her over the phone last week and she was happy, laughing and writing her next song" I said, I refused to believe the words coming out of my own mother's mouth.

" she did that honey, but she was still suffering on the inside" suffering? She should have loved every moment of her life and now she's in a coma after trying to end her life.

My poor Aika.

My grandfather took care of the children growing up in a toxic world with no freedom and people watching over your every move. Aika was the youngest daughter of one of the children my grandfather looked after.

The last time I was there I spent hours with that little girl helping her draw animals with a colouring set I gifted her for her birthday. She learnt how to swim in my own arms. She was happy, the happiest little girl I knew.

Just like a child should be.

After that phone call with my mum I decided to take a meeting with Ryan. With the next competition in a few weeks I had time to book a few days off to go and see her.

I needed to see her.

I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't have the chance to see her.

Ryan sat behind his desk, his hands holding my own. " This is a no brainer Elle, take a week off go be with her, Tina will manage everything and Jenny will take care of the team" I nodded my mouth not finding any words.

"Would you like me to tell the team?" he asks. I hesitated but I found it better if I spoke to them personally so that they don't have any confusion as to why I'm leaving for a few days.

"no, I can do that," I said, getting up from the chair.

Ryan stood by my side as I walked into the classroom where everyone was called to meet.

I felt nervous as I stood in front of them. Knowing how much they appreciated me as their coach and now I was leaving them. But it's not like I had a different choice.

"you've all done some really good swimming over the last few weeks. I know that you're all nervous about the upcoming meet which is why I hate to leave you with " my speech was cut off instantly by Scott.

"What the fuck coach, you're leaving us," he blurted out. I smiled to myself, did he think it was that easy to get rid of me.

" No I'm not leaving you I just need to take a few days off to deal with some family matters" I would definitely consider this girl like my sister.

Scott slowly sat down, visibly he was relieved and that warmed my heart knowing that he was going to rage if I did leave the team which I never planned to do.

"I know that if I stayed here I wouldn't be able to do my job properly and I can't risk that"

I felt Ryan let his hand rest on my shoulder almost as if to say he was there, that he supported me.

" Don't worry coach, I'll handle everything here" Jenny said coming up to me. Everyone started to give me hugs. I knew that this was their way of showing me that they cared, any other circumstance I would hate to be hugged by them but right now it is kind of what I needed.

I knew that I couldn't leave without speaking to Theo first. Last night he called me saying that I was right and that he needed to speak to me face to face.