Memories

Chapter 12

"Hi, guys. Sorry I'm late, my lecture overran," I explain as I enter Savannah's room.

It's filled with her family, Kate, Maisie and even Dr Peters, each of them standing around her bed. The nurses must've overlooked the two-visitor rule to allow for this gathering.

"It's okay, Alex. We haven't started yet," Esme speaks up as I meet Savannah's eyes.

No matter how hard she tries to hide it, her eyes show me the fear and confusion she has with so many people being around her bedside. Even before the accident, she hated being the centre of attention in large groups.

"Do you have it?" I nod and she continues. "Good, we can begin the ritual," Esme continues, looked around the group like a creepy gang leader. Savannah's emotions move past her eyes and her whole face shows a look of terror towards us. Everyone laughs and I can't help myself, so I laugh with them. "Surprise!" Esme shouts in her nicest voice as she brings out an envelope from behind her back and hands it to Savannah. Several other people do the same. Dr Peters reveals a blue balloon sporting the message 'Happy Birthday!'.

"I'm sorry, it was either pink or blue and from what I've been told, you aren't really a big fan of pink." Savannah nods at the doctor's comment and takes the packages and envelopes she gets handed.

Once everyone's given their gifts to the poor woman, I step out of the room and light the candles on the cake that I'd bought specially. I was going to make one, but then I realised that if this was going to be the first cake she was going to remember eating for the rest of her life, it should probably be better than my usual inedible baking. When I re-entered the room, holding the masterpiece that was on sale in the supermarket (I know, classy right? I literally had no time between my lesson and having to be here), everyone had parted like the Red Sea so that I could place it on the table at the end of her bed. They began to sing and as the voices echoed down the corridor, a few nurses poked their head in the door and joined in – they probably only wanted a slice of the cake, though. When we'd finished, Maisie blew out the candles and Savannah reached out for a hug and I returned it.

After Dr Peters cut the cake and handed out a slice to everyone, Savannah opened her presents and did her best to look grateful as the giver tried to explain it. After about an hour of awkwardness with everyone hanging about and some one-sided conversations, Esme and Bob decided that they had to do some chores at home, so they left and Rowan followed shortly after them, leaving the four of us - Kate, Maisie, Savannah, and I - in what felt like a much bigger space (the doctor had left after the cake as she had other patients to see).

"So, um," Kate hesitates as she steps closer to the bed. I hadn't heard her speak the whole time that Savannah's parents were in the room, or even given a gift, to think about it. "I have something for you," she says quietly. I had to strain to hear it, but a smile crossed Savannah's face, so she must've heard it. Kate reached into one of the pockets in her dress and brought out a small box that looked like it contained some sort of jewellery before giving it to Savannah. "I saw these and thought of you."

She took the box and the smile spread even wider as she lifted the lid. Inside, two silver earrings sat on the black silk. Connected to the earrings were two small shells that were as pure as pearls and they matched Savannah's skin tone perfectly. It was Kate's turn for a hug before she hooked them into Savannah's ears.

"I'm sorry, but I really have to go, but I'll try and see you later." Savannah nodded briefly before Kate left the room and disappeared down the corridor.

"I guess it's just the three of us now." I lift Maisie onto my lap, and she wraps her arm around my shoulders in a tight hug. "Hey, what's wrong, Maisie moo?"