Campus Corner (Open)

[celestialdragon]

I smile back. "I know what you mean sweetie. If you ever need to talk, I'm here, alright?" I say. I pat her back with my good hand. "You'll be fine if you just keep your chin up, okay?"

I look over at you, but my eyes smooth past yours and they go to where everything had happened. My eyes get a far away expression as I remember.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I see what is happening and immediately tell you to clock out. "Don, take Lynn home, please."

He says he still has to prepare the bank drop. I tell him that I will do it, and that I wanted him to get you home.

 

[celestialdragon]

I go home with Don, and I let myself in. I curl up on the couch and rock myself until you get there, crying softly.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I get home fast as I can after I get everything closed down. "Baby?" I call as I come in the house. "Hey there," I say when I see you. "You ok?" I ask, sitting beside you and wrapping you in a warm hug.

 

[celestialdragon]

I shake my head and relax into you. "Just seeing the spot that it happened at. . . it brought it all back again," I whisper. I wrap my arms around you and crawl onto your lap and bury my face into your shoulder.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I rock you in my arms as you start to cry hard. It strikes me that you really haven't cried since the attack. "It's ok, you're safe," I whisper over and over as you do, eventually sobbing silently. I can tell my baby girl is exhausted.

 

[celestialdragon]

The rocking and your words soothe me and soon I relax, my tears gone, but feeling drained. I rest up against you, grasping your shirt fiercely with my good hand. I just let you hold me and relax.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I rub your back and then lightly pat your butt. "Baby, do you want to go to bed? You're tired, I can tell."

 

[celestialdragon]

"No, I don't want to go to bed," I tell you. I really don't, I'm afraid to go to sleep right now.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Well, do you want to change out of your uniform and watch a movie?" I keep holding you.

 

[celestialdragon]

I nod and climb out of your lap and go and change into one of your shirts and a pair of sweats and come back downstairs, curling back up on the couch.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Baby are you okay?" I ask, worried about you.

 

[celestialdragon]

I shake my head. "I feel cold," I tell you. "And scared. . ." I try to give a small smile, but my lower lip trembles. "But I know I'm safe. . . So why do I feel scared?"

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"I don't know baby," I say, getting up and going up the stairs.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Where are you going?" I ask, slightly alarmed. I want to follow you but I feel frozen.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Getting you a blanket baby!" I call from upstairs. "Be right back!" I go to the hall closet for a blanket and pull one down, biting the inside of my cheek while I think. I wonder if I need to take her somewhere?

 

[celestialdragon]

"Okay!" I call back. I really do feel cold, and I pull my arms through the sleeves of the T Shirt and wrap them around my knees.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I come back with a thick blanket and hand it to you. "Baby, I think we need to take you to the clinic to get checked out," I say gently.

 

[celestialdragon]

"No!" I say, adamant. I wrap myself in the thick blanket. "I'll be fine." I bite my lip, almost expecting you to raise your voice.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I sit beside you and wrap you up in my arms again. "Lynn," I say in a soft voice. "I want you to not be scared, and I want you to be okay, baby. I'm just very worried about you right now, and it scares me a little bit." I kiss your forehead and notice a cold sweat.

 

[celestialdragon]

I look up at you. "I don't like the clinic," I tell you. "It's not very welcoming, and it's so cold and clinical. . ." I curl up next to you. "I'm going to be okay. . . "

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Baby?" I ask, looking at you skeptically.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Yes?" I ask, looking up at you.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"I think you need to see the counselor again. Maybe use all your visits."

 

[celestialdragon]

I nod. "I'll make an appointment first thing in the morning, okay?" I promise.