Trouble

I hate seeing her struggle so much

Karen arrived home and shouted a hello. She was surprised not to hear a response so she went to investigate.

"Where's Maisie?" she asked when she pushed open Erin's door.

"Gone," she replied, not looking up as she got on with some revision.

"Why?"

"We had an argument."

"Oh my darling I'm sorry."

"It's whatever."

"What happened?"

"Mum I'm busy."

"Please tell me what's happened."

"Nothing. Let me revise."

Reluctantly she shut the door and left the room.

Erin just continued with her work; that was all she needed to focus on.

Her silence was interrupted when her bedroom door burst open.

"Mum says dinner's almost ready," Ella said as she bustled in and made herself comfy on Erin's bed.

"I'm not hungry."

"She's made pizza."

"I don't want it."

"Erin you need to eat. You can't be revising all the time."

"Well I want to do really well and not just scrape passes like some people."

"Ouch. Okay," Ella said, getting up and going to leave. She was pretty hurt and she slammed the door behind her.

Erin just let out a groan and slammed her head down on her desk; she didn't mean to keep hurting people.

***

It took them a while to be seen at the hospital but eventually they were. The doctor took a look and then she was sent for an x ray.

Maisie didn't say a word the whole time and her parents did all the talking for her.

The x ray came back and showed that she'd fractured the bones in her hand. It was decided that she would need a cast for around three weeks and she wouldn't be able to play football during this time. She then wouldn't be able to box for another six to eight weeks after that.

Maisie showed no response to this but her parents knew it wouldn't be good for her. Sport was always a good outlet and she needed it now more than ever.

Once she'd got the cast on, they headed home.

She still wouldn't tell her parents why they'd argued and the adults decided it would be best to just leave it for now.

"Should we watch some TV?" Peter suggested, hoping it would be a good distraction. She shrugged.

"How about we watch Brooklyn Nine Nine?" Tracy said as she knew this was a show Maisie liked.

"Alright," she replied. Her face was still hardened and the cold look in her eyes was quite off putting. They were so used to seeing her eyes full of lit up excitement that it wasn't nice to see them so dull.

The three of them sat down to watch the show but Maisie wasn't paying much attention, she was too busy stewing in her rage.

None of the jokes in the show made her laugh and she sat totally still.

When the episode finished, she decided to take herself up to her room. She still wasn't saying anything and it wasn't nice to see.

"Night my darling. We both love you very much," Tracy said but she got no reply.