by Hannah Curtis

Created on: January 07, 2009   Last Updated: October 28, 2010

Katie swung idly on her tyre swing in the back garden, she did not know why but lately in the past couple of months she had started to become tired over the least activity. Today she felt like she barely had the strength to continue swinging herself, so she allowed the tyre to come to a stop and just sat there and let her mind go blank and body relax.

"Kat" Rose's voice startled Katie and she slid out the tyre landing awkwardly on the ground on her arm. "Katie, how did that happen" Rose said chuckling, pulling Katie's legs out of the tyre and helping her stand up.

"I don't know, I'm just tired I guess" Katie replied rubbing at her arm.

"Let's take a look at that" Rose took her arm and surveyed the white freckled arm already sporting a discolouring. "Will you look at this, you never used to bruise so easily, it's so strange". Together they walked arm in arm towards the house, and Rose stroking Katie's arm gently said "I'll tell your parents tonight". She felt Katie withdraw and held onto her waist. "Sweetie, I've told them about all your bruises and whiteness, I'm only your Nanny you know".

Katie scuffed the ground and said "You know I see you as my mum, you're the one who's brought me up since I was one"
Rose squeezed her gently. "Yes it's been a great nine years, you know I love you, but you are your parents' responsibility. And they do love you it's just..."

Katie interrupted her "It's just that I came along at the wrong time, I wasn't part of the plan, daring to interrupt mother's career. They both care more about their high-powered jobs then me. They think that I have the perfect up-bringing; I'm rich, have the best Nanny in the world, private schooling and I have all the best toys, clothes, even friends that money can buy" Katie's voice had gone high as she mimicked her mum's voice, but now her voice dropped back to normal as she quietly continued "They don't see that I would trade all this to actually see them once awhile, have a hug from them etc..."

Rose hugged her as Katie sat down at the kitchen table and changed the subject, unable to offer her any comfort. Rose certainly had no love for Timothy and Maria Tyler, having lived in the same house with them the past nine years, in order that they could keep their anti-social hours of early mornings and late nights. She had to admit that they tried to spend time with Katie at weekends however that one did her utmost to avoid them as much as possible, disappearing up in her tree house for hours on end. Rose

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