Lost Love

Nightmares

Sonny was in her room keeping to herself like she always did. She had just come home from school and was working on her homework. She was laying on her bed writing stuff down when she heard her parents start yelling. She heard her name mentioned and immediately felt a strong feeling of dread. She got up to try and hide but she wasn't fast enough. She heard her father come stomping angrily up the stairs. Before she could get anywhere her dad burst through the door and was standing over her. The next thing she knew he had her by the throat. Sonny tried to fight him off but he was just too strong for her. The last thing she saw before everything went black was her father's angry face.

Nic was sitting in a chair next to Sonny's bed at the hospital. Conrad had been trying to get her to come home for a bit but Nic refused to leave. Sonny had ended up having to have surgery. While trying to intubate her Conrad had been able to see that her trachea and her larynx were damaged. Which explained why they both were unsuccessful at intubation. Nic and Conrad both knew she had been choked. They had both seen the finger marks on her neck when she had first came to the hospital. Everything had seemed fine. Sonny wasn't complaining of pain or shortness of breath. The surgeons had been able to repair the damage but there was a chance that Sonny would be unable to talk. Sonny was breathing on her own again but she mostly had been asleep since the surgery. She was kept on pain meds which made her sleepy. Nic was currently holding Sonny's hand and talking to her to soothe her. Sonny seemed to be having a nightmare. Every once and a while Nic would feel Sonny tense up. As Nic felt Sonny tense up and squeeze her hand again for the third time she said. "Shhhh sweety. I'm right here. Conrad will be back soon too." Sonny seemed to relax at the sound of Nic's voice. Conrad was back at the house getting Sonny's room ready. After the surgery Nic and Conrad had met with the woman from social services to apply to adopt her. The adoption wasn't final yet but they had been given temporary custody of Sonny. With her injuries being what they were the people they had met with from social services, thought it was best for Sonny to stay with Nic and Conrad. Nic felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw that it was Conrad calling her. "Hey Conrad. How's everything going?" She asked keeping her voice low. "Everything's pretty much set up. I'm just making her bed." He said. Nic nodded. "Ok. Will I see you soon?" She asked. "As soon as I'm done I'll be on my way to the hospital. I miss you." He said. Nic smiled. "I miss you too." They talked for a few more minutes then ended the call. Nic went back to watching Sonny. Conrad walked in a few minutes later. He had brought lunch for Nic. Conrad kissed Nic happily and they sat down to eat lunch together.

A few hours later Sonny started to wake up. Nic and Conrad were sitting next to her bed. Conrad saw her hand move a little bit. "Nic." He said then pointed. Nic looked at Sonny as her eyes opened slightly. Sonny looked up at Nic. Her vision was a bit fuzzy so she rubbed at her eyes. Once her vision cleared she looked over at Nic and Conrad. "Hey sweety. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?" Conrad asked. Sonny shook her head no. They both knew there was a chance Sonny wouldn't be able to talk after the surgery. They wouldn't know for a while. For now they just wanted her to rest. Nic gently sat down next to Sonny on the bed. "Sonny you had to have surgery. Your trachea and larynx were damaged because of the abuse." Conrad explained. Sonny went to touch the bandage on her throat. "No sweety." Nic said. Sonny put her hands down. She was thirsty but she didn't know how to tell them. She pointed at the water that was sitting nearby. Conrad poured her a cup and held it out to her. She reached out and took it watching him nervously. She took a drink then leaned against Nic. Her stomach growled but she didn't want to eat. Conrad had brought some chicken noodle soup for her to eat. They knew that at least for a while she wouldn't be eating solid foods. Nic brought her food tray over and Conrad set the container down on it. Sonny shook her head no and pushed the food away. "Come on sweety. You should eat a little." Conrad said trying to encourage her. She was getting frustrated because she couldn't actually tell them what she wanted to. She pushed the food away again and rolled over onto her side facing away from them. "Let's just give her some time alone." Nic said. Conrad nodded. He took Nic's hand and they went and sat outside the room. Conrad just sat there silently holding Nic's hand. Nic could tell that something was bothering him. She kissed his cheek then turned his face towards hers. Conrad looked into her eyes. "What's wrong Conrad?" Nic asked. She could see the hurt and sadness in his eyes. "Nic how is this going to work? She's afraid of me." He said. "Conrad she just needs time." Nic said. Conrad nodded. He was about to say something when the woman from social services came over to where they were sitting.

"Is everything ok?" Conrad asked seeing a not good look on the woman's face. There was a police officer with her. She sat down next to them. "I don't know how to say this. But we went to Sonny's house and found her mother passed away. The police don't have a cause of death yet but they suspect that Sonny's father killed her. Nic hid her face in Conrad's chest. "Has anyone told her yet?" Conrad asked. The woman shook her head no. "The police want to talk to her. No one is sure if Sonny was in the house when it happened. They can tell her mother has been deceased for a couple days." She told them. Conrad closed his eyes. He wanted to just hold Sonny in his arms and never let go. "Is she awake now? We will go talk to her." The woman said. Sonny was laying in her bed playing with the stuffed animal Nic had given her. Conrad and Nic waited outside while the woman and the police officer went to talk to her. Nic was crying in Conrad's arms. Neither of them knew if Sonny could handle anymore bad news.