I'm here for you

29

' No!", Caitlin yelled as she threw her phone away. She continued playing the piano, but this time it was angry music and she was slamming the keys down

' Caitlin, what are you doing?", asked her worried parents as they came home 

Caitlin didn't reply, but just carried on

' Stop" shouted her mum, pulling her away from the piano, " now tell us what happened?"

Caitlin said nothing but just ran upstairs 

' Don't shut down on us. Not now. You have come so far"

Caitlin was lying on her bed, hugging her pillow. The phone call was repeating itself through her head. How could this happen? How could they allow it?

The bed dipped as she felt someone sit next to her. She didn't look up, she had been expecting him knowing that her parents would ring him as soon as she stopped talking to them

' Talk to me. Whats wrong?"

' Ronnie. He's appealing. Saying that I lied for attention. Barry, he's going to get out and ruin me again"

' Hey, look at me. None of this is going to happen. You are Caitlin. You're the strongest person I know"

' I'm not strong anymore. Look what he's done to me"

' Your not strong at the moment. That's because you have been through something traumatic. Not once but twice. What he did to you doesn't define you. Your Caitlin. My Caitlin"

' I'm not doing a very good job of being your Caitlin am I?"

Barry pulled Caitlin into his lap

' You will get through this. And I will be here every step of the way"

' Even when I push you away?"

' Especially then. Because I know that you don't mean it, you're just hurting and are still traumatised"

' But what if you get tired of me and my baggage?"

' Not this again. I told you I'm not going anywhere. Well unless you decide you decide that you don't want me anymore and tell me to go"

' I don't know anything anymore"

' We will get through this", said Barry cuddling Caitlin 

Caitlin stood in front of the mirror, checking her outfit and her makeup to see if she looked alright

' Do I look alright?"

Barry pushed away from the door where he was leaning against the wall. He approached Caitlin and put his arms around her waist and kissed her shoulder 

' You look beautiful"

' Thank you. Let's go"

Caitlin and Barry sat in court as the appeal began. Caitlin wanted to scream and shout as to how Ronnie was portraying everything, but felt Barry squeezing her hand and shaking his head, so she kept quiet no matter how much it hurt and how hard it was. Caitlin went home and screamed and screamed until Barry went and hugged her

' it's alright. I'm here"

' Barry this was just day one and Ronnie did this. Imagine what he's going to be like during the rest of the trial. He's going to get away with it"

' No he won't. We won't let him"

Caitlin squeezed Barry's hand as the jury returned their verdict. She had been sitting through the trial every day, no matter how uncomfortable it was. But Barry had been her absolute rock. He had helped her through the trial every day, especially when it was a tough day. Caitlin held her breath as the jury announced their verdict 

Duff, duff, duff. As always, feedback appreciated