I'm here for you

1

She felt like she couldn't breathe. Her legs and arms were tied up. Her mouth was left open, but all her screaming and yelling for help did nothing. No one heard her, and no one was coming. She was hungry, dehydrated. Who had taken her? Why? She hadn't hurt anyone, so who had done this? She just wanted to go home and see her family. Her family! They must be missing her. Were they out there looking for her? She knew it was a waste of time, no one knew where she was. She didn't even know where she was. She just knew that she had been on a date with her boyfriend and then she had woken up here. Her boyfriend? Where was he? Was he ok? As she collapsed back into the dark fog that was calling her, she just hoped that this was all a bad dream, and that she would wake up safe and sound in her nice, cozy, comfortable bed

She felt like she was being shook by someone,  so she screamed 

"Caitlin, it's ok. It's me. Mum. Your safe"

Caitlin lay in Carlas lap and started crying. Carlas heart broke, seeing Caitlin like this. She was safe now, but when would her nightmares ever end? Who had done this to her? Would they ever be punished? Would Caitlin ever be able to move on? Carla had noticed a big change in her daughter after everything. Gone was the carefree, bubbly, lively girl from before. Now she was quiet, withdrawn and flinched whenever someone tried to touch her. Carla knew that she had to do something. She tucked Caitlin in, after finally getting her back to sleep, then went back to her room

"Another nightmare?"

"Yes. That's one every night so far"

"She'll get over it"

"Will she?"

"Hopefully. She's having therapy to deal with it"

"But Thomas, how much is the therapist helping her? She never goes out anymore, she just sits inside all day, relieving everything. She won't even talk to us about it"

"What do you suggest we do?"

"We need to take her away. Get her away from here. Being here is not doing any good for her. She is just constantly relieving everything"

"Where?"

"I don't know. Preferably somewhere far. So she can heal and recover"

"I'll see what I can do"

Caitlin sat at the table, looking out of the window. It was raining and she enjoyed the rain. She didn't want to think about it, but it was constantly running through her mind. Why was she targeted? What had she done? Had her boyfriend been rescued? Had they let him go? She wanted to open up to her parents and tell them everything, but every time she went to open her mouth, nothing came out. The images constantly ran through her head and in front of her eyes, constantly tormenting her. She felt like screaming, would this ever end?

"Caitlin, talk to me"

Caitlin just stayed silent 

"Please Caitlin, talk to me. Shout, scream, just please say something"

"I can't mum. I want to, but every time I try, nothing comes out"

"Please try honey. It's killing me, seeing you like this"

"I'm trying mum. I really am"

"I just want my daughter back"

"Mum, I can never be like before. That Caitlin was happy, carefree, no worries in the world. She disappeared the day I got kidnapped. I'm sorry that your stuck with this Caitlin mum, but I can't be that girl before everything happened. I want to, but I can't"

Thomas walked into the room

"It's all sorted. Please pack your bags. We leave soon"

"But dad, where are we going?"

"We are going to visit my friend and his family for a few days"

"But where?"

"Europe. He lives there, and I thought it'd be a nice outing for us"

"So you think taking me to another country will make me forget everything?"

"We have to do something Caitlin. Your suffering here"

"But my therapy?"

"We'll get you another therapist there"

"But I like my therapist here. We're making progress"

"Are you?"

"Mum, what do you mean?"

"You never go outside unless it's to your therapists. You spend all your time inside which is unhealthy. You don't even talk to us about it"

"I want to mum, but it's really difficult"

"Well maybe a change of scenery is what you need"

Caitlin packed her luggage for the trip. What were her parents thinking? Did they really think that her getting away, would make everything ok? Did they really think it would erase everything that had happened to her? Did they really think she would be okay after this? Caitlin was packing her clothes, when she stopped. Her fingers traced the outfit that she had worn that day. She focused on her breathing as the memories came rushing back

"Caitlin, it's time to go"

Caitlin left the outfit behind, as she followed her parents to the car.  She was silent as they drove to the airport. She was silent all through check in, and as they boarded the plane

"Maybe my parents are right. Maybe this will be good for me" she muttered to herself, as she took her seat

Duff duff duff. How was it? Should I continue? As always, feedback appreciated