Sacrifices
of the Soul, Chapter 91
by SIPort
Eve, TC, Chad, Whitney
and Simone were all aboard the Crane Jet. They had gotten clearance from
the doctors to take Simone back to Harmony, and were on the plane as soon
as possible. The plane ride was uneventful and quiet, for no one had anything
to say to each other.
A limo met them at the
airport, and they all went to the new wing of the Harmony Hospital.
Eve recognized the nurses that met them at the door.
” Hello, Dr. Russell. Coach Russell. Everything’s ready in Simone’s room.
The workers you sent to prepare her room have been hard at work. “
” Workers? What workers?”, Eve asked. She looked over to Chad, who
shrugged his shoulders. They made it to Simone’s room, and as soon as they
opened the door, there was Kay, smiling, holding a teddy bear with balloons.
Kay rushed over to Simone. “ Simone! Welcome home, Simone.” When Simone didn’t
respond, Kay looked to TC and Eve, who gave her sympathetic looks.
TC helped Simone into
her bed. Eve saw that TC was taking care of Simone, and she went to Kay.
” Kay, you did all this?” The entire room was decorated with Simone’s favorite
things from the house. Her pictures and posters.
” I…I used the key Coach left at our house in case of emergencies. I..I just
wanted Simone not to think of this place as some cold hospital room.” Eve
hugged Kay. “ Honey, it looks wonderful. It’s everything she loves. You truly
are a terrific friend.”
” There’s fresh fruit out here, and there’s
fresh food, made by Miguel and I, in the small fridge. I wanted whoever was
staying with Simone to be comfortable.”
” Thank you, and thank Miguel for me too.”
” Doctor Russell…she doesn’t talk?”
” No, Kay. Not for now. She’s not talking.”
” Wh…what happened to her?”
” We don’t know quite yet what happened to her. But, that’s why we brought
her home. So, she could be surrounded by love and support. And that means
you too. Even though she’s not saying anything, I know for sure that she
can hear us. Somewhere, she knows that we’re here, just waiting to keep her
safe, and assure her that she’ll be ok. She’ll get better.”
” She has to, Doctor Russell. She’s my best
friend in the world. I love her to pieces.”
” She loves you too, Kay.”
” Doctor Russell, what happened to that
creep Hakim? My father wouldn’t tell me.”
” He’s dead, Kay.”
” Are you sure?”
” Yes. They’re sure of it.”
” Good riddance then. I hate the day Simone met that piece of garbage.”
Eve hugged Kay. “ Me
too, Baby. Me too.”
Theresa was reading the
latest assignment for English when she saw a rose come before her face.
” Hey pretty lady. Miss me?”
Theresa jumped off the
couch and into Chad’s
arms. He gave her a strong kiss that surprised even himself. The two enjoyed
themselves for a few moments, until they came up for air.
” You know girl, if I knew I’d get that kind of reception, I’d go away more
often.”
Theresa punched his arm.
“ Don’t even kid about it.”
They sat down on the
couch. “ So, how’s Simone?”
” The same. But, she’s home now. And, we
can take of her.”
” Chad,
I think it’s wonderful how you went and found her.”
” She’s my little sister.
No way was I leaving that up to cops. They didn’t know her. They don’t love
her.”
” And, you DO love her, don’t you?”
” Yeah, I do. She’s my little sister. I feel this strong sense of protectiveness
about her. I don’t want anything bad to happen to her, and yet, you know
for her to be like she is, she’s been through bad stuff, Resa.”
” Chad,
you tried. You really tried with Simone.”
” But, did I try hard enough.”
” Stop it. Stop second guessing yourself. In the moment, you were wonderful
with her. You fought Hakim, LITERALLY, for her. You did what you could. And,
even after Simone left, you took action and went and found her. You did what
you could. You couldn’t have been a better big brother, Chad. What’s
done is done. Now, you have to work helping Simone get better. Just like
you helped your mother get better.”
” Thanks. I needed to hear it. So, how are you?”
Theresa smiled. “ Fine. Chad, I got my first grade’s
back.”
” And?”
” All A’s and one A minus. Can you believe it?”
Chad touched Theresa’s cheek. “ Sure, I believe it.
I knew that you would kick ass at whatever you decided to do. “
” I have to admit, I doubted myself. I didn’t know if I had what it took.”
” That’s because you lost yourself for awhile.”
” In Ethan..”, Theresa said sadly.
” Yeah, in Ethan. But, those days are over, right?”
” They are definitely over. Because, I’m over Ethan.”
” Theresa, you don’t have to tell me that because it’s what you think I want
to hear.”
” I’m not. I’m saying this because it’s the truth. I was a silly little girl,
with silly dreams. You’re reality, Chad. For all my ‘love’ for Ethan,
nothing in my life has been as easy as being with you. I can breathe with
you. I’m not looking over my shoulder, or checking what I say, or thinking
what you think I should say. I’m just Theresa.”
” That’s right. You’re just Theresa. And, I really like being with ‘just
Theresa’. I think she’s wild, fun, crazy, beautiful and sexy. “
Theresa blushed. “ What about Whitney?”
” Whitney is my sister. I feel for her because I see her turning into a bitter
harpy before my eyes, and I’m sorry for her. But, she doesn’t want my help.
Or my sympathy. Or my friendship. I accept that. She’s NOT the woman in my
heart today. That’s you. Only you.”
” Only you. I like that. A lot. No other
woman. Definitely a new experience for me.”
” One you can get used to.” Chad pulled up his backpack.
“ I got you some gifts.”
Theresa opened the boxes.
“ Chad,
these are terrific. You shouldn’t have.”
” Yes, I should have. You deserve these and much more. Get used to it, Theresa.
I plan on treating you like the Queen you are.”
“ I can’t wait”, Theresa
smiled as she went in for another kissing session.
TC and Eve stood back
as the doctors studied Simone. Once they were finished, the motioned for
TC and Eve to go outside.
” Well Doctor, how is our daughter?”, Eve
asked.
” Eve, there’s nothing physically wrong with your daughter. It’s all psychological.
We’re going to begin daily sessions with both myself and Dr. Reid. Your duty
will be to talk to your daughter. Talk to her about your past. Bring picture
albums. Read to her from books. Watch her favorite movies. She has to become
comfortable with you in order for her to feel safe enough to come back from
her retreat. Bringing her into the present is most important. She has to feel
loved. That this is a safe environment.”
” I understand.”, Eve replied, thinking ‘ all too well’.
” Well, I’ll be back tomorrow for my first session with Simone. If there’s
anything you need.”
” We have it under control.”, TC replied. Eve and TC went back into Simone’s
room. Her private nurse was sitting at her bedside.
” Nancy, TC and I are going to watch a movie with Simone. Why don’t you come
back in a couple of hours?”
” Are you sure?”
” Yes. Just keep your cellphone turned on, and we’ll call if there’s any
problem.”
” Ok. You enjoy your movie.”
Eve searched through
the DVD’s that Kay had brought from home.
“ The Wizard of Oz?”, Eve asked.
” I think that’s a great choice.”
Eve, TC and Simone watched
the movie. As the end credits played, Eve leaned over and kissed her daughter.
“ Baby, you are home. We’re here. We always will be.”