Chapter 9

After about half-hour talking on the phone, I hanged up feeling this dead weight being lifted off me. I reached for the TV remote control, I switched the TV on and I was flicking through the stations until I saw him. He was sitting with the other lads. God, he looked good. He had his hair done. Blonde tips on his dark hair. He was wearing sunglasses, which didn’t surprise me. The lads didn’t look at all pleased with Mark at all I could tell. And so could the interviewer apparently. The dumb chick questioned them about causing Mark to look at them. Kian spoke up this time.

“She’s awake.”

I saw Mark’s face change. He kept quiet while the interviewer bombarded the lads with questions about this “mystery person”. Shane gave her a funny look but said that it was his best friend who was currently in hospital after being hit by a car. He waved to the camera yelling my name and giving thumbs up. I chuckled and winced as I clutched my ribs. Damn, remind me not to laugh. Shane could always make me laugh.

“Em babe, if you’re watching this. We’re glad that you’re awake. We love you. Now, you can get the girls off our backs!”

I laughed again as tears started to come back. I was so touched by Shane’s short speech. But I knew my happiness wouldn’t last long. I just couldn’t tell them that I was leaving tomorrow after I get my stitches out. I just couldn’t. I sighed as I switched off the TV, I took off my hearing aid and placed it on the bedside table that was on my right side of the bed and snuggled down the bed carefully. I fell into a restless sleep.

What a awful freaking afternoon I had today! I managed to land a punch on my doctor’s face though! He was taking ages with taking the damn stitches out. I was in agony! He is now sporting a lovely black and blue shiner. I’m so proud of myself. Everyone minus Mark and Lou of course; was coming over in about an hour to visit me. I packed my clothes since I was already dressed. I wrote a note and put it in the envelope it was addressed to both Miriam and Ashley. It was in code but only them would understand what I said in this letter. Shortly, I signed myself out with much disapproval from the nurses and doctors, which I ignored. I then left the hospital with no second looks. I headed to the train station.

It was hours later that I arrived home. I came home to my home city. That was in Aberdeen, Scotland. I had called my mother yesterday. I told her everything that happened and she understood and agreed that I should come home to clear my head. She wasn’t home since she was away for a few weeks but she left the spare key where it always was. I reached up and almost doubled over in pain but I ignored it, reached up, and felt on the top doorframe for the front door key. Bingo. I grabbed it and inserted it in the keyhole. I was greeted with a welcome by Fudge my German shepherd dog. He was wagging his tail, excited because he hadn’t seen me for months. I smiled at him and rubbed his head. I tossed my keys onto the hallway table. I placed my suitcase onto the floor and saw I had messages on the answerphone. So I clicked on the button to hear them.

“Emma, when you get this message – call me. I wanna talk to you. Jaysus this is getting serious.”

I rolled my eyes. It was Ashley on the answerphone. I deleted the message and heard the next one. It was Mir saying the same thing pretty much so I deleted it as well. I couldn’t talk to them. Not now. I needed to clear my head first. I grabbed Fudge’s lead that was hanging near the front door. I looked at him, asking if he wanted to take a walk up the hills. He barked his approval so I attached the black lead to his collar. I grabbed the keys once again and we waked out of the house. I closed the front door and locked it. We then made our way to the hills. It was a beautiful place to be if you ever needed somewhere to think for a long time, which was what exactly I needed.