THIRTEENTH CHAPTER:

It’s been over a year since she started annoying me with her rude comments and dark presence. Last year I did everything to shut her out or to get rid of her from my mind. But today, now in this moment I feel lost. Without her pushing me or taking action for me, how am I going to move forward? I even want to hear her curse again.

The first time she showed up, she had a really dirty mouth and had a crude way of thinking. That’s why I thought I had a splint personality or crude wolf. It took a while for her to cool it with the curse words till now where she rarely curses. Though she always has opinions but at least now she knows to kept it to herself unless I ask her.

I tried to keep this to myself, to keep quiet, but I couldn't. I started crying and not the loud wailing, bubbling crying. But the quiet, slow gasps for breath with tears running down my checks sobs as I called to her. *Nadia! Please Nadia.* I hid my face in Sarah’s shoulder and pleaded again and again for Nadia to answer. Sarah didn’t say anything, just squeezed me tight but my father must have noticed my trembling .

“Are you laughing?” my father demanded, as he jumped to his feet. When I didn’t answer, he started stomping to me. “What is so funny? Come on tell us all the joke!”

I didn’t look up and see what happened, not that I really wanted to see them fight. He was still my father, even if I feared him or hated it when he hit me. I just wanted Nadia more and kept reaching out for her.

“Mr. Cogswell stop.” Sis Maeva shouted, as I heard a scuffle and felt the bed get pushed aside. I knew Crispin had gotten up from the bed and I could hear Ericson telling my dad to stop, but they were being overshadowed by my father’s shouting.

“SHE’S, MY DAUGHTER! I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TALK TO HER!” he shouted over and over. “MOVE BOY OR YOU WILL LEARN…” whatever else he said was gobbled up by more shouting. I wasn’t sure who really was shouting as I think more people came rushing into the room.

I almost looked up until the bed was shifted again. Sarah just about pulled me onto her lap except my legs hurt too much to move and I did shriek out when she tried to pull me more onto her. So she adjusted us where we were laying in the bed with her over top me, as she told me to keep my eyes closed.

“We have you. Don’t worry about him, they are not hurting him. They are just going to move him too somewhere else.” Sarah whispered into my ear and rubbed my back. Even as she told me I could hear the scuffle moving away and my dad’s voice getting muffled before the door shutting, most likely after Sis Maeva followed them out. I could hear her giving instructions and calling for security.

“As soon as we can you will be moved to another room. And I’ll even call Mama Lola, Mama Ang, and Ms. Hart so your friends will know where you are. Hey, can you look at me?” Sarah asks while brushing my hair off my face. Looking up I see her inhale, at seeing my tear-streaked checks and red rimmed eyes. “What’s wrong Meri?”

I opened my mouth to speak but the sobs I was holding back came bursting out. Sarah didn’t say anything as she cradled me in her arms and again squeezed me tight as she hummed a soft melody to me. It felt like forever, but it was probably only a moment before Crispin and Ericson were back.

Crispin was at my side as he joined his sister in comforting me though he was more just hugging us as he leaned over us. “Meri it’s ok! Nadia just needs to rest. She’ll be back.” Crispin said as he kissed my head.

“Oh Meri is that what happened?” Ericson asked as he squeezed my foot, I looked to him. His clothes were ruffled, and his hair was a mess but other than that he looked unharmed. “She’s not gone only resting, like Crispin said! And sorry about all that but it could not be helped. As well as your father but he’s going to be sporting a couple of black eyes and many bruises. Now I must go buy Crispin a new shirt” he leaned over as he looked Crispin over, “and some pants as well.”

I don’t know why but that just got me going and I started laughing. Sarah seemed to be caught off guard by my mood swings, but she was soon joining in. She even patted my shoulder and pointed to Crispin. In the confusion he had stepped back and gave us the opportunity to see what Ericson was referring to, as he spun around to see the damage to his clothes.

Crispin’s blue polo shirt was pulled and stretched at just about every seam, so it was barely hanging on and in fact started falling apart as he twisted around. Though it was his pants that were really bad, as they had a huge rip. Though we only noticed that when he turned around as he tried to see what was wrong with his pants. Crispin’s pants leg on the right was sporting a rip from ankle to the left side seam right up to under his belt.

“How did that happen?” It took several breathes but I was able to say that in between my cackles. Crispin at first acted nonchalant about his clothes till we heard a cough at door. That’s when he scrambled to cover himself, which just happened to be my privacy curtain. Though in his rush, his pants must have given up the fight to hang on, because they were now around his ankles as he twirled in the curtain.

“Oh boy that is a new look you’re sporting there Mr. Hawthrone!” sis Maeva noted as she looked away. I just couldn’t believe what was happening as I held on to Sarah as I laughed. I was in pain given my legs and arm were still hurting but this was too much.

“Sorry Detective Drew. I don’ know what happened!” Crispin yelled out. He was so swaddled in the curtain that his yell was muffled so I was worried about how he would be able to breathe in there. I opened my mouth to ask but he beat me to it. “Hey, Uncle Eric, you said you were getting me new clothes. I’m alright so can you go.”

“Yeah, I am going to the store now, Detective Drew if you don’t mind, I have something to ask you.” Ericson said as motioned to the door. At first, I didn’t want my sis to go but after seeing Ericson’s smirk. I finally understood that he was giving Crispin space to save face. I smiled as I waved to my sis, who responded with a wink and tilt of her head to the curtain that was Crispin.

“Yeah, that’s a sound plan and call me Maeva by the way.” Was her reply as she stepped back and walked with him. Now my hope was to see her tomorrow and for a longer period of time.

Sarah after a moment unraveled herself from me and pulled the bed straight, or back over to position to the side of the couch instead of in front on it. That’s when I noticed the room. The breakfast we had been eating is all over the floor along with the hospital tray and the side table. It looked bent, well in truth it was broken; it fell apart after Sarah picked it up. She piled it in a corner of the room with the dishes and tray. The couch Ericson had been using last night is on its side by the window, that is till Sarah turned it up right.

“How much was damaged in those 5 minutes?” I asked I stared at the broken couch. The cushions were ripped, and a leg was missing or broken off, I couldn’t see it anywhere.

“Meri don’t worry about any of these. It can all be replaced or repaired. We are just happy nothing happened to you.” Crispin yelled out.

“For once my meathead of a brother is right. We are just happy you didn’t get hurt.” Sarah said as she finally returned to my side and handed me the remote to the tv. Though I couldn't use it as it had been ruined. So, I just laughed as I showed her.

Only after a few minutes did Crispin unravel himself so he could stick his head out. “Well, if one of you can please…”

“Mr. Hawthrone here are some clothes for you.” A nurse says walking in holding several sealed bags of blue hospital pajamas sets.

“Oh Ms. Theresa, thank you!” Sarah uttered as she looked at me then to her. “Yes, that’s right you weren’t there when Ms. Theresa helped get us past that awful receptionist.” She clarified to me as she walked around the bed and approached the nurse.

“Hello Merida, it’s been a while. Last time we saw each other was at my party when I got my license to become a nurse.” She said reminding me of that party Lucy made me go to 9 or 10 months ago. I do remember it but I was still recovering from my attack back then, so I wasn’t really in the party mood. I kind of remember her but I also had barely participated in anything back then. “It’s ok Merida, I’m just happy you are doing better these days. You really had Angela worried over you for so long.”

That really surprised me. I know Mama Ang tried to get me into therapy, but my family refused, well my father actually. He said it was to expense and didn’t think I needed it. But she never said anything after that, so I thought it was over. But now I learned she’s been worrying about me all this time.