“How long does she have” she had asked tonelessly
Looking quickly at her Yanis had softly relayed the news he had been given
“The doctors don’t know how long, they think a day.. maybe two” he said softly as they moved slowly down the corridor
Lee had felt as though she was in somebody else’s body, as she moved with him, still trying to grasp the news, but knowing that she had to accept the inevitability of it.
“I am going to stay here with her” she finally managed, her voice firm
Yanis had looked briefly at her, before nodding
“I’ll have some things sent over for you” he replied, as they moved together into the room, where Lee once more had taken her seat in the large wing tipped hospital chair. Yanis had watched her from the door, as she spoke gently to the elderly woman, strange emotions coursing through him, as he had quietly turned and left her.
The next day Lee had woken from her short nap. She felt stiff from sitting on the uncomfortable chair and had stood to stretch her muscles. As she stretched she had heard the woman on the bed move, and she had rushed over to take her hand
“Mrs Green” she said softly, as the woman’s eyes had opened slightly
“Lee” she whispered, hardly audible “What are you doing here dear” she asked as a smile had lit up her face
“I heard you weren’t well” she said tenderly
“I wanted to make sure that you got better”
The older woman had looked into her eyes
“You are such a lovely girl, Lee. If I had had children then I would have wanted them to be just like you”
Lee had smiled her lips a little tremulous
“I would have been so proud to have a mother like you….when you get better maybe you can come and stay with Yanis and I for a while” she said her eyes pleading with the woman as she had looked so sadly at her
“No Lee” she said “I’m old dear. It’s my time”
Lee had held her hand closer to her cheek
“Please don’t say that” she whispered, fighting the tears which welled up in her eyes
“There is plenty of life left in you”
With a small sad laugh Mrs Green had very gently shaken her head
“No dear…but that’s ok, I finally get to see my Charlie again…I’ll like that” she said with a far away look in her eye, before looking back at Lee
“I’m only glad that you met someone. I’m so glad you found somebody you love” she said her voice becoming so low that she had struggled to hear the last words. Then as Lee watched her eyes had slowly closed as she fell back into a deep sleep.
Wiping away the tears, Lee had sat back in the chair watching her friend. She sat there the whole of that day, as the nurses kindly brought her tea and food, much of which she left untouched. As the day turned to night she had watched as the activity outside the room had lessened, until the only sound was the occasional foot steps on the corridor floor. Lee had finally dozed, not seeing Yanis who had arrived at four in the morning to find out how she was. He had only slept himself for a few hours, unsettled at not having her with him.
He had watched her for several minutes, still wearing the same clothes he had left her in, curled up on the chair, looking so small and fragile at that moment, as the monitors beside the older woman flashed and beeped.
Looking at the peaceful scene, he had suddenly felt like he was intruding and with a soft sigh left the room. As he turned to walk away the monitors had suddenly stopped beeping, before a loud buzzing had emitted from the machine. He could hear feet running to the room, as nurses and a doctor had rushed past him. He could see Lee, who had woken abruptly with the sound and was now standing in the corner of the room, her hands over her mouth, the shock so vivid on her face, as the doctor worked on the older woman. After what seemed an eternity they had all moved back away from Mrs Green, and a strange calm had once more descended on the room, as all but one of the hospital personnel had left the room, their silence a respectful homage to the woman on the bed.
Looking over at the young woman standing so pale and frozen, the nurse had gently spoken to her
“Is there anybody I can call for you Lee?”
Lee had only stood there, her eyes staring at the woman so peaceful now on the bed, with the wires removed from her.
“I..I..don’t know” she stammered her mind full of a sudden need to see Yanis, with the sudden desire for him to hold her and make everything OK again. At that moment seeing him at the door, as she could only stare in disbelief and confusion
“You’re here” she whispered, as he had moved forward to pull her into his arms
“I’m here, cara” he whispered against her hair “I’m here”