Going Home

Philip didn't know what to do other than take the now sleeping Gabriela home. Sighing he picked up his 'little kitten', carrying her princess style, began to walk her home. He was now grateful that he had trained long and hard in martial arts or it would have been a problem carrying her all the way home after their fight. With his lightweight kitten in his arms, anger began to rise up in him as he recalled her reactions to him. 'What did "they" (not even knowing who "they" were) do to you? Is this why you moved in with your Grandmother, who lives way out in the countryside? I hope Ms. Amy doesn't stop me from being with you. This wasn't my fault, but those that caused you to have this trauma.' Holding her close to him, he continued the walk to her house with his mind filled with questions about her past and how he could help her overcome this, to be her support, not as a brother, but as someone closer to her.

***

Philip placed his sleeping kitten on the bench on the porch, before going to knock on the door. He took a deep breath, then knocked a few times. He waited patiently for Amy to answer. Amy opened the door, surprised and worried when she didn't see her Grandbaby with him. He quickly, in a low voice, as to not wake his kitten up, "She is asleep." pointing to where she was. Amy let out the breath she was holding and asked him to bring her up to her room. After tucking her in, they both went downstairs.

Amy: "What happened?" worriedness could be heard in her soft voice.

Philip: "Everything was going well. Gabriela is a real strong fighter." not really wanting to explain everything else that had happened, afraid he wouldn't be able to see Gabriela again but also need to know how he could help her.

Philip: "We, at the end of the sparring match, I pulled Gabriela up a bit too fast, causing her to crash into me. Our lips touched for just a moment, then she ran away. When we were leaving, she didn't have much energy so I gave her a piggyback ride to the nearby park and walked the trail until I came across a bench. She woke up as I put her on the bench. Sitting beside her I noticed her start to panic for some reason and went to hug her and tell her everything is ok, that I wasn't going to hurt her, but she just kept struggling to be free, screaming for me to stop, that she wouldn't let me touch her. I eventually, let her go and kneeled on the ground before her, quietly. Gabriela was about to run off but then turned back to look at me. She woke up from whatever she was going through when our eyes met. Hesitantly and slowly, I pulled her into an embrace again and began rubbing her back again. Repeating 'It's ok, no one is going to hurt you, I will not hurt you. It's ok, no one is going to hurt you, I will not hurt you.' she cried in my arms. After she stopped crying, she apologized to me then fell asleep again."

Amy: She had put her head in her hands, as she silently listened to everything.

Amy: Looking up, "My Grandbaby had been beaten and sexually abused before coming to live with me. She didn't have any friends either as they bullied her. She had to live with that at such a young age and for such a long time." sniffling as she continued, tears slowly rolling down her cheek as she tried to hold them back.

Amy: "I.....she.....I thought she was ready to go to school. I should have waited. Thank you, Philip, for doing your best to befriend my Grandbaby. I will talk to the school to work something out for next year. She is smart, I might just have her homeschooled."

Philip: Standing up he walked to Amy's side and said in a pleading tone, "Please, let her continue going to school. We are in the same grade and live close to each other, I will look after her."

Amy didn't know what to say to him. 'look after her? She came back like this because of you!!'. Philip explained he was sorry for the kiss, he will be more careful in the future.

Philip: "Please at least ask 'lit.. cough...Gabriela what she would like to do. I will be waiting for her here Monday morning to pick her up. If she doesn't come out, then I will leave her alone."

Amy: Her face finally softened as she realized, he doesn't want to hurt her, he actually likes her. Letting out a sigh as she now was also feeling exhausted from their brief conversation.

Amy: "I will ask her if she will like to continue going to school or be homeschooled. You better go home now."

Philip thanked Amy and agreed to leave, since not only was he hungry not having any lunch, but his whole body finally felt the pain of their fight as well as carrying her a few blocks to her home.

***

Gabriela woke up not too long after Philip had left. Stretching before getting out of bed, memories of all that had happened that morning started to flood in. "What have I done", she said out loud. Lazily getting out of bed, fixing her hair, that had come undone while she was in the middle of a break down with Philip. Her head lowered as she was lost in thought, 'What does he think of me now? He probably thinks I am completely insane now and won't want to walk with me anymore? Walk with me... school!! Wait, calm down, no one pays you any attention at school now right? What if he tells everyone that he was wrong and I am some crazy person? Will the bullying.....raising her head she smelled something delicious as she headed towards the kitchen. Hearing a stomach growl, Amy turned to see her Grandbaby, "Come, sit down, lunch is almost ready."