We’ll be in touch,” she informed him offering a wave goodbye to Sinu as her and Jennifer helped Camila out of the room. The detective watched sadly as Camila’s dad followed them, staring back down at the picture on the table that Camila had picked out.Camila’s dad drove them home; her mom huddled with Camila in the back of the car, her arms wrapped protectively around her daughter who didn’t speak. Once back in their own house, Camila’s mom helped her upstairs and into the shower whilst her dad spoke to her grandmother downstairs, who had stayed at the house to look after Sofia in their absence.Sinu helped Camila, who had said nothing since they’d left the police station, to wash, enveloping her in a large towel and hugging her tightly in her arms, desperately praying for her to snap out of the near catatonic state she’d fallen in to. Sinu helped Camila into her pyjamas and guided her into her bedroom and under her duvet before sinking into the bed beside her. She pulled her daughter into her side and Camila shifted position slightly to bury her face in her mom’s chest. Sinu kissed Camila on the forehead soothingly and encouraged her to sleep, continuing to hold her tightly and not letting go until she could hear Camila’s soft snores. Sinu had stayed with her a little while longer, watching Camila sleep soundly until she finally decided to vacate the room and left her daughter to rest alone, closing the door slightly behind her.It was a few hours later when Sinu, sat downstairs on the sofa with Sofi entangled in her arms, heard a gentle knock at the door. She handed her youngest daughter to her husband to hold whilst she got up to answer it, not surprised to find Lauren, looking distressed and anxious on the other side. She invited her inside immediately, gesturing for Lauren to enter.“How is she?” Lauren asked as soon as she’d stepped foot over the threshold. Sinu closed the door behind the youngster and placed a hand on her shoulder to guide her into the kitchen. “Is she alright?”“She’s sleeping,” Sinu told her, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table which Lauren took gratefully. Sinu sat beside her and placed a hand on top of Lauren’s reassuringly. “She was very much out of it when we got her home.”“What do you mean?” Lauren asked concern etched in her voice.“She was just very vacant,” Sinu informed her. “It’s been a really long day, what with all the trouble at school as well.”“That wasn’t her fault,” Lauren protested. “It was…”“I know,” Sinu reassured her again. “Miss Lovato spoke to me when I came to pick Camila up. She’s told me that she is going to deal with the people involved accordingly.”“Did they find the driver?” Lauren asked her curiously, already aware of the situation at school.“They think so,” Sinu replied. “They’re waiting for some warrants and tests to come back.”
“That’s good right?” Lauren asked. “I mean, they’ll finally know who did this to her. She can…start to put it behind her.”
“I hope so,” Sinu said smiling at Lauren’s words.
“Good,” Lauren said nodding her head. “That’s good then.”
“Do you want to see her?” Sinu asked her knowingly.
“Can I?” Lauren asked slightly surprised. “I mean, is that alright?”
“Yeah,” Sinu said squeezing her hand firmly. “Perhaps you can get her to say something. She’s not spoken since we left the police station.”
“Stress…” Lauren said her thoughts trailing off.
“Maybe,” Sinu agreed standing up and heading to the fridge to pour a glass of juice. She stopped by the cupboard to pull out a bag of chips before placing them both on the table in front of Lauren. “See if you can get her to eat or drink something,” Sinu encouraged her.
“Ok,” Lauren agreed picking up the two items as she stood from her chair. “I will I promise.”
“I know you will,” Sinu told her sincerely, grateful for the younger girl and her kind temperament, especially when it came to Camila. “If you need anything we’ll just be in the lounge alright.”
Lauren nodded her head in response, “Ok,” she agreed following Sinu out of the kitchen and making her way up the stairs towards Camila’s room. Sinu watched her from the bottom of the stairs for a moment before disappearing into the lounge.
Once on the landing, Lauren used her foot to push Camila’s bedroom door open, her hands otherwise occupied. She placed the drink and the bag of chips on Camila’s desk after entering the room, before carefully making her way over to the bed where Camila lay on her side, her eyes open and staring out of the window at the grey sky beyond. Lauren climbed onto the mattress beside Camila, laying her body against her girlfriends’, spooning her. She draped her left arm across Camila’s waist and buried her chin in to the crook of Camila’s neck, snuggling against her.
“Hey,” Lauren said softly, her voice quiet. “It’s me…”
đang được dịch, vui lòng đợi..
