Let Me Live

Chapter 18: Ariah

Ariah’s POV.

Sleeping a lot. Wolf say she is getting stronger. Say I get stronger too. Strange people here. People touch but no hurt. Titan say no one hurt me again. Me still scared. Like people who see me. New doctor man is kind but makes me sleep. Say body needs rest. Hate tube in nose but Titan say have to leave it in. Titan is here a lot. Make wolf happy. Make me calm. Ryker comes a lot. He no mad that I bit him. Says me is fighter and that is what fighters do. He is funny and makes me laugh. Can see more of Titan’s face. He has very pretty face. He is too big. He holds my hand in his and makes me hand hide! Titan says many people working to make me feel better. Not hurt so much now. Doctor say sores are getting better. Ryker comes and helps me move say to help make muscles grow. Woman with pretty face comes. Say she is Titan and Ryker mommy. Say she will help take care of me. Sleep again. Too sleepy.

Titan say more days pass.

Doctor say wounds have almost healed. Say I can stay awake more now. Titan stay a lot. Feel stronger. Titan reads to me. Is helping me to learn letters. Doctor say can start to eat food soon. Still get tired. Titan comes one morning. Say I have to get in water! No like water! Water hurt! I say no! Titan no get mad. Say need to be clean. I mad and tell him go away. Wolf get sad. I sleep.

Morning come. Titan not come back. Wolf sad. I sad. Doctor comes and takes heavy white off arm. Say I can move arm now and have to get in water. “NO!” He go away. Ryker comes with big bag. Sets big bag on floor and kisses top of me head.

“Good morning little sis.” He smile at me.

“G- good morning.” I say back.

“How are you feeling today, sweetie?” He say. He help me to sit up in bed.

“Ok.” I say back.

“Just ok? Oh no, we’ll have to see what we can do about that.” He say. He try to sit on bed but he is too big and he fall off bed and yells! I smile and laugh.

“How did I know, me getting hurt would make you smile?” He stands and gives a big smile.

“What’s bothering you, sweetie?” He looks at me. I frown.

“Titan say me have to get in water. Me no like water. It hurt.” I say. Feel water in eyes.

“Well it is very important for you to get clean and water helps with that but I understand that you’re scared.” He holds me hand. Feel some better.

“Let’s not worry about it now. Let’s do something you like, arm dancing!” Ryker say. Me love arm dancing! Ryker makes fun sounds called music come from thing called phone. Then we wave arms all around! Ryker happy heavy stuff is off other arm and no more pins sticking out. Say I can start dancing with that arm now. Arm dancing fun but make arms tired and heavy.

Ryker say we can stop. Titan comes. He smiles at me. Not look mad.

“Hello Ariah. Hey Ryker. You guys all finished arm dancing?” He says words and looks as Ryker. Ryker say yes.

“Ok. Listen Ariah, I want to talk about you getting in water again.” He say words and looks at me. I growl at him.

“No. Water hurt and me no like it.” Mad at him again.

“Ariah honey, you need to get clean. It will help you feel better.” He say words.

“Doctor say me no need get upset. Water make me upset. No feel better. No need clean.” I say back.

“Damn, she just shot your argument to s**t. Two points, little sis.” Ryker say with smile and holds up hand for high five. I like high fives. Titan gives mad eyes at Ryker.

“You’re not helping. Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Titan says mad words at Ryker.

“Yeah, yeah I know, training grounds. Ok Ariah, I tell you what, if you will just try to get in water with Titan, you don’t have to stay in if you don’t want to. If you will try then tomorrow I will teach you funny words that can make people have funny faces!” Ryker say. Titan looks mad at him and closes eyes.

“Words make people have funny faces?” I say words to Ryker. Sound fun!

“You bet. So will you try?” Ryker say. Looks at me. I don’t want to but want to learn funny words.

“Me may try.” I say but make sad face at Ryker. He shake me hand.

“Then it’s a deal.” He say and pick up big bag.

“You’re bribing her with teaching her profanity?” Titan say words to Ryker.

“Worked, didn’t it? Don’t ever say I didn’t help you.” Ryker says words and pat Titan’s back. He walk away. Titan has eyes closed and blows out big air. Think he is mad at Ryker again. He open eyes and look at me. Come closer and sit on bed. Hides my hand in his big hand.

“Ariah, baby, I know you’re scared. Dr. Marshall told me some of the things that happened to you with water. I promise I won’t hurt you and I won’t let the water hurt you. If it makes you too upset, we’ll stop. I’ll be with you the whole time. Ok?” Titan look me in eyes. He is saying truth. Titan not hurt me. Wolf say to trust him. Want to trust him but scared. Titan calm me.

“Ok.” I say words. Try to trust.