Page 100 of Take a Moment

‘Fine by me. I travel light.’

As he says this, another thought pops into my mind and my body chills. ‘Matt, you do realise I’ll probably never be able to climb your beloved hills with you? I can’t give you your dream future. That worries me because it’s so important to you.’

He looks at me as if I’ve lost the plot completely. ‘You do know I’m not Bear Grylls, right?’

‘Ha ha. Don’t take the piss.’

‘Alex, I’ve got lots of people I can climb hills with. That picture of the future was never a deal-breaker. There are other things we can enjoy together. And some of those Idefinitelycan’t do with those other people – not without ending up with a black eye or in jail.’ He gives me a cheeky wink and I try to bat his forearm playfully, but instead end up panting like a tired dog.

‘Thank goodness for Emmanuel. If she hadn’t stopped by my apartment after work…’ I tail off, unwilling to entertain this alternative ending.

‘That reminds me, I was to give you this.’ Matt points to a plastic bag containing my iPad, clothes and toiletries.

‘Thanks. And thanks for… being you.’

‘I do my best. So, a couple of days then. And once you’re properly better, you can go back to band rehearsals. I hadn’t yet passed on your message to Sammy.’ He looks pleased to be able to tell me this.

‘Oh, Matt, no. I’m going to have to pull out of the band. And the leadership programme at work. I need to start being realistic about what I can cope with. There’s being determined, and there’s self-destructive stubbornness. If I push myself too hard, I leave myself vulnerable to more infections like this.’

Matt searches my eyes briefly before shrugging. ‘That’s a shame, Sammy will be gutted. But I understand how you feel.’

‘Thanks. Now, is there anywhere you can get me a huge chocolate bar? Now that I’ve finally woken up from my craziness, I’m really hankering after one.’

By Friday afternoon, I’m sitting in a hospital wheelchair with my things balanced on my lap, ready for Matt to transport me to his car. It feels a bit weird and I’m a little self-conscious using it. But the alternative was for Matt to lug me to the car park like a sack of potatoes, which was even less appealing. Plus, using wheelchairs from time to time is something I’m possibly going to have to get used to, so I just need to suck it up.

‘That you all sorted and ready to go, Alex?’ the shift nurse asks me.

‘Yes, not sure why we’re still here. Are we going, Matt?’ I prompt him impatiently. ‘I can’t wait to get out of here. No offence, Nurse Colmes.’

‘None taken at all.’ She smiles at me kindly. ‘It’s great to see you looking a bit brighter already. Our aim is always to get you home to your loved ones.’

As she says this, Matt and I share a goofy loved-up grin.

‘So, are we going?’ My gooeyness is short-lived.

‘You may be physically done in but your cognitive functions are clearly recovering already.’ Matt pats my head affectionately, causing me to scowl like a grumpy bulldog – a playful quirk of our newly blossoming relationship. ‘Just two more minutes.’

‘Two more minutes for what? We’ve got everything.’

‘Think you’re going to have your hands full,’ Nurse Colmes says to Matt as she excuses herself.

‘Wouldn’t have it any other way,’ he calls after her. ‘Ah, you’re here. Great. Thought I was going to have to start feeding this one treats to distract her.’

‘Hey! Cheeky.’ I look up at him with a put-on pout and then crane my neck round to see who he’s talking to. ‘Sash? What are you doing here?’

‘Hi, Lex.’ Sasha walks round to face me and hugs me tightly. ‘I left my job early so I’m here to help look after you.’

I automatically grimace at this turn of phrase.

‘Sorry, I’m here to hang out with you while you recover,’ she corrects herself and I catch Matt giving her an approving wink.

‘How did you manage to leave your job early?’

‘I had some holiday left over. Was going to have them pay me for it but then I realised I wouldn’t have any kind of break or chance to do some proper flat-hunting before starting my new job. When this happened, it seemed the obvious thing to come and support— hang out with you at the same time.’

‘Amazing. I’m so happy to see you. Have you got any viewings set up?’

‘Yes, Sammy and I are going to see a couple of places over the weekend.’

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