Page 138 of Silent Scream

Lucy lay sprawled face-down on the floor in front of her wheelchair.

Kim bent to her and a pain ripped across her lower back.

‘Lucy, it’s okay,’ she said, stroking the girl’s hair.

She stood and quickly assessed the fastest method of gathering up the child.

Kim knelt down again and gently turned Lucy so that she was lying on her back. The young eyes were filled with panic.

‘It’s okay, sweetheart. Can you give me the sign for yes?’

Lucy offered two blinks.

‘I’m going to lift you under the arms, is that okay?’

Two blinks.

Kim leaned forward and placed a hand beneath Lucy’s neck and raised the top half of her body to a supported sitting position. She knew that Lucy’s muscles could not support her own weight so she pulled her closer so that Lucy’s body was leaning into her own to prevent her from falling backwards.

She placed a hand under each of Lucy’s armpits and hauled her to a standing position. The body was limp and offered no resistance. Although not the weight of a normal fifteen-year-old, the strain on Kim’s injured back almost made her cry out loud.

‘Tell you what, for this dance, I’ll lead,’ Kim said, as she turned Lucy around and gently lowered her into the chair.

Kim moved the footstool so that she was sitting in front of Lucy. She took the girl’s right hand and held it.

‘Are you okay? Are you hurt?’

No blinks. Kim quickly realised she’d asked two questions.

‘Sorry, are you okay?’

Two blinks.

‘Were you trying to get to your dad?’

Two blinks.

Kim squeezed the hand tighter. Jesus, this girl had some heart.

‘He’s going to be okay. He got a bang to the head and he’s got to go to hospital to be checked over but he’s fine.’

Relief filled the teenager’s eyes.

Lucy then motioned her head slightly towards Kim.

‘Lucy, I’m sorry, I don’t understand.’

Kim saw the irritation in her face. She repeated the movement, but more forcefully.

‘Oooooooo,’ she managed.

Kim felt the frustration of this poor child’s torment. Her brain worked perfectly but her ability to communicate those thoughts was a prison worse than she could imagine.

She repeated the motion and the sound together and the intensity in the eyes gave Kim the answer.

The emotion thickened her throat. ‘You want to know if I’m okay?’

Two blinks.