She stopped running and stood there crying until she heard Sheila call her name.
Sheila walked toward her and tried to hug and comfort her, but Hannah pushed her away roughly, screaming hysterically, "They are lying! Tell me they are lying!"
Sheila shook her head as she bit her lower lip and waited for Hannah to stop sobbing.
The sun set and crickets started singing in harmony with the toads that started croaking.
Sheila asked, "Aren't you cold?"
"What difference does it make?" Hannah snapped angrily. "What difference does anything make?"
Sheila shivered.
After a while, Hannah said, with a voice which sounded dead, "Let's go back."
Silently they walked next to each other, and Hannah did not know how she got her legs to take those steps, but eventually they got back to the trailer park and then to the trailer. Charles, who had brought her mum home, was gone.
Sheila followed Hannah into the trailer.
Her mum was sitting on the sofa with a wet washcloth on her forehead.
When Hannah walked into the trailer, her mum reached up to take her hand. Hannah fell down on the floor in front of the sofa, between her mum's legs and she pushed her head against her mum's stomach. Hannah felt nauseous and she thought the pain will never, ever go away. Inside, she was still crying and screaming.
A few moments later, when Hannah looked up at her mum, her mum was fast asleep.
Sheila said quietly, "Let me make you a cup of tea."
Hannah did not reply. She sat there on the floor, next to the sofa, still holding onto her mum's hand. She lowered her head and cried quietly until Sheila touched her softly on the arm, and said, "Come sit with me. Let your mum sleep."
Hannah stood up from the floor and followed her meekly to the table. She sat down at the table, across from Sheila and watched her pour two cups of tea.
Sheila said, "Go on, drink it."
Hannah blew on the hot, milky liquid and then she took a sip. She looked across the table and smiled. "He will be coming home soon. It's all just a big mistake."
"Hannah," Sheila said sympathetically.
"No, you don't understand. My dad has someone looking over him, protecting him and they will never let such a terrible thing happen. It's all a mistake, you'll see."
Sheila reached across the table to take Hannah's hand. "You have got to be brave for your mum now, Hannah. She is not a very strong person, you know. There is going to be a lot of suffering to endure over the next few days."