Twisted Choice

Mia

'Lucy!! You home!?` I hear Mia calling from downstairs. I must have dropped off after all. The TV is still playing but it's dark out now. What time is it?

18:04 jeez I need to get up, it's been nice to be in my own bed but I'm going to through myself out of whack if I'm not carful.

I drag myself out of bed, reminded immediately that I need to take some pain meds. Wincing I make my way to the top of the stairs.

'be down in a minute' I call. I make my way to the bathroom, I need to remember to be gentle as I pee as the grazing there is still so bad. I feel like I did after I had the twins, terrified my insides will fall out. It has only been a week since the attack. But it feels like a month of this pain.

The stinging makes me wince once more. Unable to sit properly due to my thighs but also unable to hold myself off them, my own piss burning my folds as I balance myself over the Toliet. This is ridiculous, I sigh to myself. I hope when I rip his bollox off he struggles to sit like this too.

I clean up and make my way downstairs slowly. Each step a reminder of this week's mission. Revenge.

I find Mia perch at the kitchen island, sipping a cuppa as if it were a normal Friday.

'hey' she beams at me as I enter the room leaning against the side not wanting to sit again. 'You should have messaged me when you got home, I'd have left work early to be here for you.' she rambles noticing my discomfort.

'No Mia, you've done enough for me this last week. You can't afford to miss anymore work.' leaving work all week early to visit me and be home for the kids has been too much already. I really don't want to put anymore on her than I already have.

'It's fine Lucy, honestly my boss has been really understanding' she confesses. But thats the last thing I need, more people pitying me.

'Do you still want to head out tonight? And do some of that investigating you were talking about?' Mia asks hold her breathe slightly. But I don't want her involved now. How do I tell her, without upsetting her. Without her demanding to come along anyway?

'No' I finally answer as she releases her breathe. Clearly grateful I am going to drop the subject.

'You're actually going to leave it to the police?' she questions, clearly wanting to make sure I'm not planning to go this alone. I don't want to lie. How do I get around this.

'I don't want to involve you in this, but I also don't want to go it alone.' I continue before she can interrupt.

'I don't trust the police will catch the man responsibly alone, or by doing everything by the book. However I am willing to take this next week to rest up some more before I try to reset my life. If I haven't heard anything by the end of this week. Maybe I will go this alone' I state, this is not technically a lie, James has given me this week to find my attacker. Whether I carry on after that is up to me.

Mia sighs believing that I'm not going to do anything stupid. A frown crosses her face before she asks her next question. 'what about daisy and arthur?'

I haven't forgotten them, I just don't know what to say to them yet. I don't want them to see me like this and I don't want them to be in this house whilst I play detective with James. So I tell her the truth.

'George has agreed to have them for the week, whilst I recover some more'

'he has?' she questions in disbelief. It's true that George can be very selfish and put his work above everything else. George always loves to put on people he thinks are weak, he believes it will motivate them to become stronger.

Darla I suspect will be left with the children all week whilst he works, luckily the kids love her and won't make it too difficult. George on the other hand will be evaluating her making sure she meets his expectations, and when she doesn't he will ensure to tell her so and inform her of how she can do better next time.

He is actually the most patronising men I have ever met in my life. I spent years thinking he would change or back off when he saw how capable I was. But he never did, he just got worse until I'd had enough.

'He's trying.' I shrug, he's never had them for the full week in school time before. Only in the holidays, so even if its on Darla it will effect him too, purely because he has to be in control of everything, he doesn't know how not to be.

'hmmmm, I'm sure Darla will manage just fine.' she smirks before heading to the sink to wash up her cup.

'Any news from the town guy?` I question trying to change the subject away from George.

'You'll be happy to know we're meeting for coffee after work tomorrow.' she beams. Oh it is great to see her so happy, this one might be a keeper.

'If he makes you smile this much already, you must tell me about him. Properly this time, not whilst I'm half drunk on morphine.' she giggles before replying to me.

'He's called Simon. He's funny and goofy not too serious, exactly how I like to be. He's just the right size for me to kiss him on my tiptoes. He has messy blonde hair same colour as mine almost we are literally picture perfect... Look' she shows me a picture of the 2 of them from the night out. He is so her type. Attractive, tall, nice broad shoulders, they look amazing together. She clearly likes him as she never agrees to dates, let alone coffee.

'well if the date all goes well, you'll have to bring him over to meet me, make sure I approve' I joke knowing she would never want to bring him home.

'maybe I will' she states taking me by surprise. Mia actually wants to bring him to meet me, this is a first. He really must have made an impression on her.

'what did this man do to make you like him so much?' he has me curious now as. No one breaks through mia's walls, let alone managing it this quickly.

'He just treats me well, was patient when I blew him off after I found out about your attack. Was there to listen to me ramble after our late night chat in the hospital. He asks about you, to make sure you're healing well. He's just an all round good guy and I really really want to get to know him more.' shes babbling now like a school girl with a major crush. I am happy for her though, she deserves all the happiness in the world.

'Well now I must meet him. Anyone who can melt my ice queen baby sister deserves high praise.' I jest again.

'we will see. I'll let you know how coffee goes tomorrow and we will go from there. Deal?'

'deal' I reply excited on her behalf, I can't want to hear all about it tomorrow.

'Right, you best be heading out to grams before she gets worried.'

Mia shoots me a look like I've just slapped her.

'Lucy I'm staying, I am not leaving you alone.' she takes my hand in hers trying to plead with me to allow her to stay.

'You can stay tonight but I do not want grams alone all week, you know how much she struggles' it's true she does struggle but I just want her away from the house whilst me and James try to find my attacker. She nods her agreement, knowing not to argue with me. I am too stubborn for that and she knows it too.