Before I Saw You(27)

‘Right, let’s get you up and out of this chair. Trust me, it won’t be long until you don’t need it any more.’ He winked encouragingly as he helped lift her up to standing.

‘OK, we are going to continue with the simple mobilization exercises we started last week. Take it slow and we can rest whenever you need …’

It was another humiliating hour of her life, but instead of wanting to crawl into a hole and disappear, Alice found a small spark of resilience igniting inside her. The fiercely stubborn and ruthless competitor she was before the fire had begun to rear her head again. The old Alice was still in there, it seemed. As she forced her tired, stiff body to make the minuscule movements Darren was instructing her in, it dawned on her that this was the only way she was getting out of here, so she’d better find a way to do it and do it quickly.

*

Back in bed, her entire body burning with effort, a little voice crept into her consciousness.

I wonder if anyone’s bothered to contact you.

Has anyone even checked to see if you’re alive?

Is work the only thing you’re needed for?

Her phone! She still didn’t know where the hell it was. In a rush of nervous panic, Alice reached over and buzzed the nurses. How funny – even when she was in the most pain she’d ever felt in her life, Alice had never called for help, but now when it came to finding her most prized possession it felt like an emergency.

A flash of guilt rose up in her when she heard a nurse sprint over to her bay.

‘Alice, is everything OK? Alice, what’s happening?’ Flustered, the young nurse appeared between the curtains.

‘Sorry. I probably should have waited until rounds, but I just realized I don’t have my phone. I haven’t seen it since I arrived. Do you know where it is?’

‘Oh. I see.’ The look of relief and annoyance on the nurse’s face was quite a picture. ‘Let me check … one second.’

Nice to know the old Alice hasn’t disappeared completely. Pushing the help buzzer for your phone … really?

In a few moments the nurse was back, holding a ziplock bag of items: purse, keys, phone. Alice recognized them instantly as hers.

‘Sorry we didn’t give these to you sooner. We had to cut away your clothing when you were first admitted – someone must have filed them away in the process. Here you go.’

An image of someone hurriedly trying to separate her suit trousers from her molten skin flashed across her mind. She felt sick at the thought and instinctively felt for the dressings along her left leg, grateful she had been freed from the mess. ‘Thanks,’ she murmured.

Here was another piece of her that had survived the blaze. Holding the cold metal weight in her hand felt alien. She took a deep breath and hesitantly turned it on.

Nothing.

Brilliant. Literally not one single …

One message. Mum.

Two messages. Lyla.

Holy shit. Three … four … five messages. The sharp ding of the message tone rang out across the ward. Alice tried to switch the sound off, but her fingers were stiff and aching from physio.

‘What the hell is going on over there?’ Mr Peterson called out.

‘Ruby, are you playing on my phone again?’ Jackie said sternly.

‘No! I promise!’ Ruby whined.

‘Alfie, is that you?’ Sharon asked.

‘Obviously it’s not me. If I had that many friends, I would have bragged about it long before now, trust me. Wait … Alice, is that you?’ There was blatant surprise in his voice. ‘Is everything OK?’

Alice was too shocked to care what was going on around her. As she scanned the incoming texts, she couldn’t believe it.

Message from Lyla 24 April 09.02

Holy shit. Arnold just told me what happened. Are you OK? Do you need anything? DO NOT FOR ONE SECOND WORRY ABOUT WORK. I know it’s pointless telling you because you never stop worrying, but hey, I can try, right? I’ve got everything covered. Please let me know you’re OK. Lyla x

Message from Lyla 25 April 15.35

OK so apparently you’re stable, but I know that when you come round you’ll be at high risk of having a heart attack if I don’t send you some form of update re Hunterland Project. Tim has taken it on. I’m watching him like a hawk and will be on his ass constantly. Really hope you’re OK, Alice. Lyla x

Message from Mum 27 April 08.55

Hope you’re well. M

Message from Lyla 2 May 12.15

Dear Alice, it’s Arnold here. I hope they are giving you lots of hot chocolate and taking good care of you. We all miss you. My day isn’t the same without seeing you! Get well soon. Yours sincerely, Arnold.



Blinking back tears, Alice had to laugh at that last line. Of course Arnold would sign off his text as if it was a letter. Her heart felt so full in that moment it was fit to burst. These people she had so often taken for granted and de-prioritized actually cared about her. They cared enough to message her, and it blew her mind.

There were more texts from Lyla and Arnold, checking in and giving updates on life at the office. Then Alice saw the message that made her heart leap.

Message from Sarah BFF 28 May 07.50

Hey Al. ARE YOU OK? I called your work because you’ve been completely MIA recently and I was starting to worry and they told me about the accident. Why the hell didn’t you give them my mobile number!? Holy fuck, are you OK? I’m working on getting a flight to you ASAP. I love you so much it hurts. Sarah x