Lia's P.O.V

This is it. I'm doomed. If the girls at school find out the reason I don't want to go out is because I'm looking after my brother, I'm done for. I would just tell them the truth but I'd sacrifice everything.

I stepped out the room for a minute, trying to catch my ever changing breath. Someone help, please.

I can see mom looking concerned, staring at the wall with Vin laying across her knee.

I called Dad. Hearing his voicemail was enough to bring a little sanity to me.

"This is David Doyle. Sorry I can't take your call right now, please leave a message and I'll get back to you soon." Then it beeped. I didn't hang up for a long time, but then decided to leave a message anyway. He wasn't going to get it but it was worth a try.

"Hi Dad, it's your daughter Lia. I probably sound a lot more grown up now and I have reason to. Mom hurt herself and can't look after me and Vin anymore, so I have to. Everything is going so wrong, I just..."

Everything was cut off by a loud click and a shaky "Hello?" On the other side of the line.

I was shocked and stayed silent on the other side of the phone.

"Hello?" The voice said again. It didn't sound like dad.

"Uh, Hi?" I replied.

"Who's this?"

"Umm, Lia? This is my dads phone." I was realising that this definitely wasn't Dad.

"Oh hi Lia, your dad spoke a lot of you..."

"Who are you?" I cut him of abruptly.

"I'm Sargent P. A Walker, I work at the main office. When your father went away, he had to leave this phone behind and trade for a smaller one that he could use on the active grounds."

"Oh okay..." I didn't really know what else to say.

"I'm sorry he's not with us. I'm sure you've been told."

"Yeah. I miss him, I wanted to hear his voice."

"It's okay to feel like this Lia. In future if your number pops up, I'll leave it to ring through."

"Thank you," I replied, sniffling a little.

"It's okay. Nice to finally put a voice to a name. Take it easy."

"Thanks." I replied again before the phone was disengaged.

"I love you dad." I said before holding my phone to my chest.

The doctor who was working with my mom walked past and into the room, so I quickly followed behind.

"Right, we have the information for your new home Mrs. Doyle."

Mom cut her off. "It's not my new home. It's temporary."

"Okay, sorry." The doctor sounded sympathetic as she handed mom the papers.

"Have a look through here and I'll pop back soon."

"Thank you doctor." Mom called out as she left the room.

She scanned the papers in front of her.

"12 bed stately home in Georgia.. Georgia? That's miles away!"

The strain set the alarms off again so the doctors rushed in.

"You can't send me to Georgia, you can't expect my children to come all that way! There's no way I'm going."

The assigned doctor put her hand up to release the other doctors once the alarms were settled again. She perched on the end of Moms bed.

"Beds are scarce these days, Mrs. Doyle. This is the closest we could find. It does state that transport can be sorted for visitors."

"They'll need to get a bloody plane! You can't expect them to do that. Not with school and stuff."

"Please settle down Mrs. Doyle. You're weak, you'll do more damage if you're not careful. I'm sorry that it's come to this. If you continue getting too stressed we'll have to sedate you until it's safe."

"Okay, I'm sorry." Mom replies, feeling as helpless as ever.

"It's okay. I'll leave you to say goodbye, visiting hours are nearly over."

"What! No! I'm not leaving my kids like that! I need more time." Mom sat up and pushed herself away from the bed. The alarms went mental. All the doctors rushed in, with one holding a particularly large needle and syringe.

Vincent jumped up and into my arms.

"Don't do this to mom! Mom please settle down..." Vincent cried out.

It all fell silent again as mom was placed back onto her bed.

Vincent ran and hugged her, laying across her chest.

The doctor went to place a hand on he shoulder. He was quick to push her away.

"Why did you do that?" He hiccuped. "I didn't even say goodbye. You monsters!"

"I think it's best you two leave," the doctor said, motioning toward the door.

"No!" Vincent screamed.

I stood shocked at the situation. This is it, I'm basically a mom.

The doctor looked at me helplessly for an answer.

"Come in Vin, we have to go."

"No, please Lia, we can't leave her."

"We will ask the hospital in Georgia to call you when she's arrived and settled, you should be able to speak to her then."

"Thank you doctor. Come on Vin." I said, pulling his shoulder back. He tucked his head into my arm, not able to look back at the sorrowful sight of mom.

"Goodbye," I whispered, keeping it together as much as I could.