Chapter 13 - "Changes..."

Clara's PoV

It was amazing straight away how much had changed in the course of a year. Avia showed me almost instantly her bedroom and it looked different from the last time I saw it.

They had bunk beds now which was exciting.

'I don't like the top though. It's too dangerous' she protested looking at me, which was such a cautious Avia statement.

Sounds like something I would say.

'Does that mean Evie sleeps on the top bunk?' I asked as she nodded.

'I miss Evie' Avia pouted. 'Do you know when she's coming home?' Avia asked with a gleam of hope in her eyes but I shook my head.

'Sorry sweetheart. She's very sick. I couldn't tell you' I said as she flopped onto her bed.

'Is she coming home? Is Evie going to die?' Avia asked with a quivered lip. The last thing that a mother wants is there 7 year old asking if their 6 year old sister is going to die.

Quite frankly it was heart wrenching to hear.

'I'm not sure honey. But I know that Evie is fighting very hard so that she can come home' I promised her as she looked sad.

Obviously this was something that John hadn't actually explained to Avia because this looked like it was new information to her.

'Have you spoken or asked daddy about this?' I asked.

'No. I don't want to make Daddy sad' she whispered, as she started crying which was even more heartbreaking than the sad questions. 'I don't like it when Daddy cries' she mumbled again through quivered lips.

'Has Daddy told you about what happened?' I asked as she quickly started sobbing and I stroked the brown locks in her hair.

- - -

'You didn't tell her?' I scoffed cornering him in his bedroom where he was in the middle of having a shave.

'Fuck me. That's going to scar' he scoffed as he complained about the small cut that he had caused himself in the mirror with the razor.

'Yeah. I think the massive scar running down Evie's head is going to scar more than a tiny cut'

'Who didn't I tell what?'

'You didn't tell Avia that Evie might--'

'I didn't tell her Evie might what? She's going to wake up Clara. I just know it' John muttered.

'We don't know that John. We don't know that at all' I yelled.

'What in fucks name would you know about this? I couldn't tell a 7 year old what was really going to happen'

'John. I know it's horrible but you can't hide her from the truth. I think she needs to see her. You need to take her to the hospital to see Evie'

'Back for all of 5 minutes and your calling the shots are you? Because no. No Fucking way. Mum or not you are not ruining this for me. She's my daughter and it's my decision and there is no way I am allowing a 7 year old to go to a scary hospital to see Evie that way. She'll have nightmares for weeks' John snapped.

'But she's missing her sister. Because you've told her Fuck all - she's confused' I argued back.

'Look. She's not going anywhere near that hospital. Even I don't want to see my daughter in that state so I dread to think why my 7 year old would want too?'

'She's crying you know. You need to talk to her. She needs comfort from her Dad'

'Shes fine. She'll be fine' John mumbled more to himself than anything else. 'She's a tough cookie. As stern as a brick'

'She doesn't want to talk to you because she's afraid to see you sad. That's why she doesn't cry around you. You need to explain to her that it's okay to cry' I said sympathetic to his situation with Evie.

'How?' He said turning to look at me in the break of tears.

'Sit down with her. Explain yourself. Explain how she's very sick - and why? If you don't want to do it alone I can be there?'

'You haven't given two fucks for over a year. Why would I want your input now?' He snapped.

- - -

'Am I in trouble?' Avia sniffed as she walked into the lounge where John was sitting waiting trying to pull himself together to talk to her.

'No. Your not in trouble. Daddy just wants to talk to you' he said patting his lap gently.

'Is it because I was crying? I don't want to make you sad Daddy' she begged, starting to cry once again.

'Hey. Don't worry. It's okay to cry Avia. I get that your sad about Evie. And I know that I didn't explain it very well, but she will be okay'

'Mummy said she might not. Mummy said she might die' Avia protested.

'I know' he said hugging her close. 'She's very sick. Let's just hope she doesn't die' he said and leant around to wipe her eyes. 'It's okay to cry' he assured her as the facade dropped and a few more tears that he didn't know he had in him came rolling down his cheek.

'Don't cry Daddy' she said wiping his cheek of tears like he has just wiped hers, then she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek before nestling in close to him.

She knew he was sad and wanted to hug Evie. So Avia figured that she would help.

After the catastrophe at telling his 7 year old that her little sister might die - John and Clara headed back to the hospital for the evening because he didn't want his little girl on her own on her birthday all night.

- - -

We arrived back at the hospital at about half past 8 to find Evie was still much the same.

She was still in the bed but someone had washed her hair today and the bandage just was on her head had been removed because there was little chance of infection now.

The stitches and the huge cut was healing quite nicely.

I watched as he sat on the chair and started reading a book to her about farms and everything was perfect and silent - until the monitor next to her bed flatlined.