My Dawn

Chapter 12

A few days later, Dawn was feeling better with her ankle and able to run more. She was giggling and having fun as she played tag in the house. Mark heard the commotion and walked out of his office. It was now the holidays and he saw Dawn’s back to him.

“I’m going to get you.” Dawn giggled.

“No.” Laura laughed.

Patrick and Jessie watched from the couch. Mark stood in the doorway watching.

“Oh look, there’s another snake.” Dawn said.

Dawn turned her head to look outside. Laura fell for it and walked closer. She saw Dawn running and she squealed and ran. Dawn and Laura laughed as they chased each other. Patrick looked at Mark laughing.

“Someone’s ankle is better.” Jessie said.

“Go play with them.” Mark laughed.

The boys got up and joined in. Dawn tackled Jessie to the ground. His body made a thud but he looked at her shocked.

“Damn, your strong.” Jessie said.

Dawn laughed.

“And your it.” Dawn said.

She got up and ran away. Jessie went after Laura. Their rules were if there is more than 2, you can’t tag the one that just tagged you. They played for hours while Mark laughed in his office to the commotion. He can’t remember the last time he had heard Laura laugh since his wife passed away. He loved the sound of laughter. His mother used to say laughter was the music of one’s soul. It wasn’t until he saw Laura with Dawn, that he realised what she meant. Laura had been all doom and gloom, like she might have a severe state of depression. But Dawn came to her and she’s been better than her usual self. That’s when Mark made it his mission to keep Dawn safe. Dawn was the lighthouse to Laura’s foggy dark life.

When Mark thought about it, Dawn also reminded him of someone special. So, he knew he had to keep her safe.

“Dad!” Laura called.

Mark was pulled from his thoughts and about to walk to Laura but she burst into the office.

“Yes?” Mark asked.

“Can Dawn and I go to the shops and buy her some new clothes? We never got to because she was injured.” Laura said.

“We can all go soon. Let me just finish the paperwork that’s due today.” Mark said.

Laura nodded. She ran because Patrick tagged her. Mark saw Laura tag Dawn and then Dawn tackle Patrick.

“Your it, sucker!” Dawn said.

Her cheeky tone and her facial expression made Mark lose it. He couldn’t help but laugh at them. Patrick and Dawn looked at him in the office doorway.

“You got tackled by a girl.” Mark teased.

“She’s strong.” Patrick complained.

“Get ready, after I finish paperwork, then we are going out to buy Dawn new clothes.” Mark said.

They nodded and changed their clothes.

Dawn was the first one to change, all she did was add pants to her clothes because she wore a long shirt that was like a dress. Mark finished the proposal for work then faxed it in. He texted his boss that he finished it and is taking the kids to the shop but will be back later if he needs to change anything. He saw Dawn on the couch looking at the fan above her.

“Bored?” Mark asked.

Dawn flinched but nodded.

“How about I get you and Laura your first phones? That way you can listen to music or you can play games.” Mark said.

“Please don’t waste your money on me. You don’t know if I can stay.” Dawn said.

“Whether you can stay or not, we are more than happy to help you by giving you a phone to communicate with Laura.” Mark said.

Dawn didn’t respond. Mark noticed she was about to cry.

“I heard back from the tests Tate had you take. He said besides the bruising, and being malnourished. Everything else is fine. You just need to eat more he said.” Mark explained.

“I try to, but I can’t.” Dawn said softly.

“Why not?” Mark asked.

“Because it’s like my body knows this is temporary. I can’t risk it in case I get taken out and put into another bad place.” Dawn said softly.

Mark wiped a tear falling down her face.

“If they do that, you are welcome to eat here every day and night. You can spend as much time here as you want.” Mark said.

The kids descended the stairs and Mark helped Dawn up. He noticed she held her stomach a little but thought it was her nerves. Mark texted Tate with his observation and said they are going to the shops in case Tate wanted to check it out. Mark helped Dawn into the front as the others got into the back.

“Dawn, how about we let you choose the station today?” Mark asked.

“No, thank you.” Dawn said softly.

“Are you sure? Any kind of music you want, we will listen to.” Mark said.

“There’s no guarantee that the music I like, will be on.” Dawn said softly.

Mark noticed her looking away and winding the window down.

“How about we set up a CD then?” Mark asked.

Dawn shrugged.

“Pick one.” Mark said.

Mark handed a multiple CD storage case to Dawn. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Pick one.” Mark said.

Dawn started going through them slowly, realising he was determined to know what she liked. She found a Heaven and Hell album with Meatloaf and Bonnie Tyler. Dawn Smiled as she looked at Mark.

“Ah, you have the same taste as me.” Mark said.

Dawn laughed as he pulled a face. He grabbed the CD out and put it in. Dawn sat up and smiled. Mark watched as she relaxed to the first start of the song. He laughed at the others looking shocked at it. He took off out the driveway and saw Dawn muttering the words to the song.

“Sing louder if you want. I will sing along too.” Mark said.

Dawn nodded. She had her head near the edge of the window to feel the breeze, her hand doing waves outside the window and she raised her voice. Dawn balanced her hand, feeling the wind push her fingers. She sang bat out of hell still a bit quiet that the kids in the back couldn’t hear. Mark was singing along as he drove. Dawn had stopped singing and Patrick made a gasping sound. Mark heard a loud squawk and they all looked at Dawn. There was a hawk sitting on her hand. She was afraid to move. Its talons were close to her veins in her wrist.

“Take a picture.” Mark whispered.

Laura grabbed his phone and took pictures of the hawk on Dawn’s hand as she stared at it. The hawk looked at Dawn and leaned closer. It scratched her as it walked up her hand. Dawn’s eyes were wide open as she stared at it. The hawk sat on her chest as it watched her closely.