Page 105 of Prove You Wrong

‘He’s doing well. He insisted we treat him last so I’m sorry about the wait … ’

The relief is impossible to put into words.

I try to focus on what needs to happen next. ‘Mum, let’s get cleaned up and go and find Chlo’.’

‘Just give me a sec.’ Her hands are covering her face and I know she’s trying to compose herself.

Nate has been hovering in the background but he comes forward now. ‘Thank fuck she’s okay,’ he murmurs in his gravelly voice.

‘Nate,’ I fake-whisper, eyeballing him and hoping my mum didn’t hear him swear.

‘He’s right,’ Mum speaks up, lifting her head. ‘Thank fuck!’

Nate grins conspiratorially with my mum. ‘I’ll go and find out where she is.’ He squeaks off in his leathers, hi-vis vest gleaming.

***

Chloe doesn’t look pale, she looks positively grey. And so tiny in the starched white bed sheets. She’s asleep, though I don’t know how with the sound of the beeps going off and so many lines and cables and drips you could weave a tapestry with them.

Steri-strips are holding together cuts on her face, dark rings under her eyes.

Mum sits on one side of the bed and takes her hand, while I copy on the other.

‘You’ll be okay, my sweet girl.’ Mum strokes her forehead, smoothing the hair off her face.

Chloe stirs, eyes blinking open and shut again in the harsh lighting.

‘Take your time. We’re here,’ Mum carries on in a calm tone, reassuring her there’s nothing to fear. As if this were no big deal.

As she talks, I can see her gaze darting around all the paraphernalia. She’d know exactly what all the numbers mean and what all the leads do. She seems satisfied, even though she’s not happy about it.

After a minute, Chloe manages to open both eyes and look between us. She offers a small smile and I almost break in two.

‘Hey you,’ I whisper, moving in for a careful hug.

‘Are you ready to talk about it?’ Mum asks.

‘I hurt my leg.’ She goes to pull at the sheet to show us but Mum stops her.

‘It’s okay, take it steady. Let’s leave that all dressed nicely. The nurses worked hard on that.’

Chloe nods and drops her hand back down again. She plucks at her sheet. ‘I don’t remember the accident. We were driving on the motorway, then we weren’t.’ She shrugs. ‘Is Jamie okay?’

‘I think so.’ I nod, forcing a smile. ‘He’s allowed to go home tonight.’

‘He held my hand while they were … ’ her voice tails off, ‘sorting us out.’

‘He’s a good boy,’ says Mum, squeezing Chloe’s hand.

‘Josie will be relieved,’ I joke. ‘She’s been worried he might be mixing with the wrong crowd.’

Chloe doesn’t say anything but a tear slips down her cheek.

Mum presses her hand to Chloe’s forehead. ‘Is this too much? Are you getting tired?’

‘It’s just,’ Chloe squirms on the bed, ‘everything hurts.’

‘I’ll go and get the nurse.’ Mum heads out of the room.

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