Page 26 of Unmasking You

I turn my thoughts to the man above, even knowing I have nothing to bargain with. “Please,” I whisper, and wish I had a sign of my devotion to clasp between my hands, but still hoping to connect with the power above. The power that has control over life and death.

“Mr Sutton,” calls the nurse, and an old man slowly rises and walks even slower to meet her.

I go back to my prayer. Sitting there in a hard plastic chair, I pray, asking the universe to keep Shane safe and to make sure he wakes up. “Please, just let him make it through. Please.” I close my eyes and mumble my prayer like a mantra, my lips trembling while my mind keeps flashing back to the moment the car hit him. Then on the ground, pale and unmoving, and so different from the man who drove me crazy just the night before.

The door opens again, and I look up, hoping they’re coming to tell me he’s awake. Instead, the nurse doesn’t even look at me, but walks past just to disappear behind another closed door.

I look down at the floor, noticing the cracks in the worn linoleum, my vision blurred by unshed tears, my thoughts focused on my prayer. “Please wake up.”

My phone vibrates inside my pocket, and the reality outside these walls takes my thoughts away from the man lying in a hospital bed because of me.

Ruby

Hey, lovely. How are you and Queeny?

I look at the message, trying to rein in my tears. I must have created a lake by now. Rising from my seat, I walk out but stand near enough to the door so it doesn’t close and I can still hear if they call my name or Shane’s.

I click on her name and then the green button to call. I pace in front of the door, waiting for her to answer.

“Hey.”

“Rubs,” I croak, my voice hoarse and still infused with tears.

“Jamie? What’s wrong?”

“There was an accident—“

“Are you okay?” she interrupts, and I hear the sounds of her moving around in a hurry. “Where are you? I’m coming, baby.”

“It’s not me—“

“Is it Queeny?”

“No, we’re okay. It’s Shane.”

“Who?”

“Shane,” I say, emphasising it to make her understand who I’m talking about.

“Oh… is he okay?”

“I don’t know. I’m outside the A&E. He wasn’t waking up.” My voice breaks, and another wave of tears fills my eyes.

“Baby, what happened?”

“He saved Queen, but the car couldn’t stop in time and he was hit.”

Shane’s face was void of any emotion but fear, looking at me until he couldn’t anymore because he was flying up and then plummeting down to the ground without a sound.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Th—“

“Is there anyone for Shane Campbell?”

“Yes, me,” I say, rushing back inside and raising my hand for the nurse to see.

“We’re keeping him in and moving him to the ward.”

---