Before I Saw You(64)

When would she have to go?

Surely she couldn’t stay all night?

Her fears were confirmed when their safe little bubble was burst by the presence of Nurse Bellingham.

‘What have I told you about being on this ward after hours? Am I not making myself clear?’

‘I’m sorry, Nurse Bellingham, it’s just tonight is my last night with Alice, and I wanted to spend as much time with her as possible.’

‘But once again you’re breaking protocol, and if you don’t leave in the next minute I’ll be forced to call security.’

‘As much as I find it hard to believe you’re going to waste precious hospital resources on me, I’ll go … but just give me five minutes and then you’ll never have to see me again. Deal?’

Nurse Bellingham gave one final defiant look, turned on her heel and left.

‘Argh! How can someone be so mean all the time?’ Sarah shook her head in disbelief. Alice could feel the anger bubbling out of her friend. Not exactly the best note to leave things on.

‘It’s fine. Maybe it’s better this way; if it were up to me, I’d be keeping you here all night, and then you might miss your flight tomorrow morning. And that wouldn’t be good for anyone.’

Alice reached for Sarah’s hand. One last chance to feel the lifeline that had been her anchor these last ten days.

‘Since when did you turn so positive?’

‘Since I don’t fancy you being escorted out by security as my lasting memory of our goodbye.’

Sarah kissed her hand. ‘I love you, Alice Gunnersley. And I meant what I said. We will see each other very soon. I’ll make sure of it, OK?’

Alice smiled. She looked at Sarah. Her wonderful, incredible, beautiful friend. How blessed she was to know her. ‘I love you too, Sarah Mansfield.’

Alice finally took a deep breath and let go.

‘Don’t forget … he really is one of the best.’ And with a slight cock of her head towards the curtain, Sarah blew her one last kiss and walked away.

Alice’s heart broke, and immediately Alfie’s hand was there holding hers.





48


Alfie





Alfie didn’t let go of her hand, even after she fell asleep. It had been an exhausting day for everyone, and he wasn’t surprised to find that barely an hour after Sarah left, Alice was out for the count. There was so much he wanted to say to her, so many things to ask, that his mind was still spinning by the time he eventually closed his eyes.

Alfie woke with a start. Sounds of hurried footsteps, beeping machines and panicked orders rang out across the ward. It was disorientating to be woken up suddenly, and it took Alfie a few moments to come round and realize that something was very wrong.

‘Mr Peterson, I need you to try and keep your eyes open for me.’

Was that Nurse Bellingham?

‘I need some help over here, please, he’s not breathing.’

What?

Alfie’s eyes sprang open instantly. Then he heard it: the coughing, the calls for help almost lost amidst the gasping.

‘Mr Peterson!’ he cried out, wildly searching for his prosthesis. ‘Mr Peterson, are you OK?’ The fear was building rapidly inside him.

‘Alfie, what’s going on?’

At first he didn’t register the voice drifting over from behind the curtain next to him. He was too busy searching for his spare leg.

Where the hell is it?

‘Alfie?’ Alice’s voice was bleary, still dusted with remnants of sleep but firmer now.

He paused from his erratic search momentarily.

‘Alice, please, you have to help me. It’s Mr Peterson. He can’t breathe.’ The words were rushing out of his mouth so quickly he could barely understand what he was saying. He had to get her to help.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Alice, I need you to come and pass me my crutches. I can’t find my prosthetic and I need to get to Mr Peterson now!’

‘But … but I can’t.’

Why isn’t she here already?

‘What do you mean?’

Alfie tried to shift his body closer to the edge of the bed, but it was no use. The dread seemed to be weighing him down so much that every move was painstakingly slow.

‘I … I just can’t come round there.’

Alfie stopped struggling; he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.

‘Yes, you can, Alice. Please!’

He heard the familiar rustling of her movements next door. The sound of her sitting upright, positioning herself on the edge of the bed and preparing to stand. Then silence.

‘I can’t, Alfie.’

‘No, Alice. You just won’t.’

There was no time left for arguing. Alfie knew he had to move quickly. He could see the crowd of nurses growing around bed fourteen.

‘Sharon!’ his cry rang out. He didn’t care if he woke anyone up; no one deserved to be sleeping while Mr Peterson was in danger.

Maybe she couldn’t hear him above the chaos of the crisis?

‘SHARON!’ He was practically screaming.

‘I’m coming, honey, just one second.’

Alfie couldn’t wait one second. He managed to haul himself right to the edge of the bed, and was just on the verge of toppling off when Sharon was suddenly by his side.