Out of the Darkness - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 11

Min met Teddy and Kath at the ER once they were done at the university and it was whilst they were waiting for her results that the University called Teddy to assure him that the five girls involved in what happened to Kath had been kicked out of the University immediately, their scholarships revoked. It would be safe for Kath to return to University the next day and she wouldn't have to worry about something similar happening again. It was also a relief to the family to know that Kath's hand was perfectly fine, Pamu had done a good job in removing the glass and all that needed to happen was a fresh gauze and bandage.

"I can't believe you actually want to go back there," Min said as Teddy drove them back home, Kath sat in the backseat holding onto her white cane.

"The problem is gone," Kath mumbled.

"You're letting her go back?!" Min exclaimed to her husband and Kath sighed, wincing as she flexed her fingers on her left hand.

"One more chance," Teddy said, although it was clear by the tone of his voice that he wasn't happy about it either.

"Sure, because it's not like I'm twenty-two and a legal adult," Kath mumbled sarcastically.

"Yes, well, Kathryn, you're also a legally blind adult. You need support, whether you accept it or not." Teddy snapped and Kath closed her eyes, trying to block out her parents' argument about whether they should let her go back to University or not. Instead, she thought of music to try and block it out. She thought of her project for her music program, her EP. She'd done some work on it already, and she played through what she had so far in her head over and over again. All she could do to distract herself was think of music.

She wished she'd never contacted her parents at all, their protectiveness was bound to only get impossibly worse.

As soon as they arrived home, Kath collapsed her white cane and placed it on the table by the door where it was usually kept.

"Kath, we need to talk about this," Teddy said and Kath looked in the direction his voice came from.

"No, we don't. I'm going back there tomorrow, you said I could go back... either you drive me, or I call the University and ask for transportation - I'm sure they have an accessible bus available." Kath said, before walking up the stairs and she made her way to her bedroom, running her right hand across her wall until she found her keyboard and she found the back of the chair, sitting in it and she felt around for her headphones, placing them over her ears and although it caused her left hand pain as she played, she turned the volume up on her keyboard and started to play - it drowned out the sound of her parents continuing to argue downstairs.

=

"I can't believe her Dad spoke to her like that," Pamu said, standing outside the main building of the University the next morning, looking out over the parking lot.

"I'm sure she'll be here soon," DJ said. "Did anybody catch what he said in the elevator?" DJ said, looking at the two girls, who were staring at him in confusion.

"What?"

"He said something about Pablo? Something happened to Pablo?"

"That's her guide dog, she told me about Pablo... that he passed away last year," Marlann said and DJ ran his fingers through his hair.

"It sounded to me like something more happened to the dog than that," DJ said and Pamu sighed, shaking her head.

"We shouldn't be stood here thinking the worst - he was most likely just upset that if she had the dog still, something like that wouldn't have happened. The important thing here is that she's coming back and those bastards are gone." Pamu said and DJ nodded with Marlann.

They all smiled when they saw Kath step out of the car as Teddy pulled up in the carpool lane, the three friends rushing to her.

"Kath!" Marlann called, pulling her in for a tight hug and Kath hugged her back, smiling when she felt DJ hug her next and then Pamu.

"What's the damage, then? Am I still a good medical student?" Pamu asked teasingly.

"You got all the glass out and I didn't need stitches," Kath said, laughing when Pamu cheered.

"Hey, we were planning on having a movie night tonight, ordering a pizza or something - you wanna come? It'll be in Pamu and Marlann's dorm." DJ offered, noticing Teddy stood outside of the car listening on.

"It's a school night," Teddy said, his tone more scolding than an observation.

"Oh, we know - but Wednesday is the day all classes end early because it's when the sports teams play... guests have to leave the dorm buildings by ten, so it won't be overly late. I'll even drive her home." Marlann offered and although Kath was completely blind, she could feel his eyes on the back of her head, burning into her.

"Can I go, Dad?" Kath asked. "You'll only be working from home anyway and Mom has that meeting tonight anyway," Kath added.

"Fine." Teddy agreed reluctantly, although it was clear he was biting back what he really wanted to say.