Opal's Story

And she's my friend

TRACYS POV

I wipe away the many tears that I'd shed whilst reading Opals file

That poor girl... nobody deserves to be treated like that

Mike walks in and gives me a cheerful hello but stops when he sees me crying

'Oh Tracy' he says giving me a hug

'It's not fair Mike she didn't deserve to be treated like that nobody does!' I say

'I know and to be honest with you I cried when I read it too' he says

OPALS POV

I head downstairs when I hear crying coming from the office

I open the door to see Tracy in Mikes arms who quickly pulls away

'What's happened?' I ask

'Nothing to worry about don't worry' mike says

'Yeah don't worry Opal what is it you wanted?' She says wiping her tears with a smile

'Well I...' I start to speak before seeing a file on the desk, I check the name

Opal Summers

No... please no!

I'd heard about these, they're these huge wad of papers that keep all your secrets...

You know? Things that I wanted to stay SECRET!

'hey that's mine!' I say starting to worry

She knows all my secrets she knows more about me than anyone else what if she tells the others

I thought I could trust her but I can't I can't trust anyone!

'I thought I could trust you. When I came here I actually thought I could talk to you' I say, my eyes filling with tears

'Opal...I'm so sorry' Tracy says

'I don't wanna hear it' I say angrily

It's all coming back now, my heart starts racing

'Opal sit down' Mike says, a gentle tone to his voice

'She knows everything' I say quietly before I swipe the file off the desk and run out the room

'Opal!' Tracy shouts following me

I sprint upstairs and lock myself in the bathroom

And I can't take it anymore. As I read through my file, blocking out Tracys plea for me to come out I can't help but cry at the memories

'Opal please!' Tracy shouts

'JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!' I scream, standing up too quick, my entire body trembling as I raise my hand to my chest

It's happening again...

I fall to the floor and start uncontrollably crying

I was going to tell her in my own time. I didn't want her to read my private information!

I wanted to tell her when I CHOSE.

And I couldn't do that now...

'Opal. Open the door' Mike says

I want too but I can't because I've lost all feeling in my legs...

All I can do is cry.

'Opal stand back!' Tracy shouts

I edge away from the door as much as I can I was going to get in so much trouble and I was so scared

My first day and I'd made the worse impression

Mike bursts open the door and comes over to me, telling me off

Him towering over me scares me more and unsettles my breathing

'Mike, shut up a second!' Tracy says

She must've noticed my breathing, Mike looks shocked at Tracy before leaving

She kneels down beside me and takes my hand

'You're okay it's gonna be okay' she whispers stroking through my hair

I clutch her close and she tries to help me up

But I can't stand. I fall back to the floor in tears

I see the kids watching me and although they look concerned, I start panicking, thinking they'd all be laughing

Tracy goes over and shuts the door

'They're a great bunch, they're not laughing at you I promise' She says immediately knowing what was wrong

'Come on you can do this I know you can' she whispers helping me stand up she opens the door and the kids aren't there anymore thankfully

'Tracy I can't' I say

'You can, I know you can' she says

Each step was painful but Tracy got me through it

'That's it your doing it! Come on just a couple more steps' she says taking me into the staff bedroom

'There's nowhere else I'm afraid, I won't risk taking you downstairs' she says laying me gently on the bed

'Thank you' I whisper

'It's okay, and I know it may be hard to believe people when they say I know how you feel...but I genuinely know how you feel' she says

I notice tears come to her eyes and I take her hand

'Go ahead. I promise I won't judge you' I say, knowing how it feels to want to cry and not be able too

She accepts this and slowly lets go. And for the first time in forever I keep a promise and I don't judge her.

'I'm so sorry, you don't deserve that, nobody does' she says

'I got through it, at times it was horrible and I just wanted to end it all but I couldn't...because I had my little sister to fight for' I say

'You're so brave, Opal.' Tracy says

'You think I'm brave? I'm sat with someone who I barely know and I'm crying my eyes out' I say

'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' she says smiling

I nod, she's right

'It's just...I'm terrified to be honest, I'm scared that I won't make friends here and I'll be alone' I say

'You won't ever be alone. And you've got a friend here if you'd like one' she says smiling

'Even after reading all of that?' I say

She strokes through my hair giving me a gentle kiss on the head

'Especially after reading all of that. Because a friend sticks by you, no matter what your past is' she says

'Exactly' I say, thinking of my friends at school who cut me out of their group because I was in care I can feel myself start to get upset but I don't cry. Because Tracys here

And she's my friend.