The Death Note

6 // Charlie

I walk into the hospital room with Heather and George, and see a girl lying still in the bed on the other side of the room, with various tubes coming in an out of her, and a machine beeping by her bed, showing her heartbeat.
"Lily! You're awake!" Heather says happily, and runs over to sit on one of the chairs by her bed.
"Yes, hello mum," Liliana replies, sounding bored. Her voice is a croak, like she hasn't used it in days, which, I suppose, she hasn't.
"Lily, thank god," George says with a sigh, and strokes her hair while he sits by her.
"Hi dad."
I stand awkwardly by the door, not sure whether I should come over to her bed or not. She doesn't know me, and I don't doubt she'll be a weeny bit surprised to see me.
"How are you feeling?" Heather asks.
"'M alright," Liliana replies, "Who's that by the door?"
Ah. She noticed me.
"That's uh, Charlie. He's the one who got your letter." Heather answers, then adds under her breath, "the note you didn't tell us anything about."
"Mum, you didn't-" Liliana begins, almost angrily, but her dad interrupts.
"Come over here Charlie," George says.
And so I go over to he bed, and when I look into it to see Liliana's face, I have to stop myself from gasping. She is really pretty. Like really pretty, even though she is a bit bashed and bruised. She has beautiful bright green eyes, long silky red hair, and her features are just perfect. She does look like mum and dad too, she has her dad's eyes, and her mum's hair and face shape.
"So you got my note?" Liliana asks me, her eyes looking me over.
"Yes," I reply, still staring at her face.
Her eyes settle on mine, and she pauses, before saying, "You live in America, yet you still came here? Why?"
"I don't know really," I answer, giving the same response I have to her parents. "I just didn't feel like I could sit at home doing nothing."
"I didn't think... You must be..." She fades off, not sure what to say.
I grab a chair and sit down, still looking at Liliana. She's still looking at me.
"How old are you?" She asks.
"16," I reply.
She looks over my face again, her eyes flick to both her parents, then back at me.
There is a slightly awkward silence, until Heather asks,
"So have you been told about your injuries yet?"
"Yeah, I have a fractured lower back, a fractured heel and broken elbow." Liliana replies, like it doesn't really matter.
"Oh Lily..." George says quietly. Then be adds, louder, "Can you feel it?"
"No." Liliana replies, "It's just numb."
George strokes her hair again, then bring his hand back to his lap and just looks at her, a sad expression on his face.

A nurse comes in, introducing herself as Olivia, Liliana's main carer.
"..And who is this young man?" She asks me politely.
"Charlie. Charlie Sellham." I reply.
"Ah, are you a friend?"
"Um..." I'm not sure what to say. I'm definitely not a friend, but what do I say? A random stranger who got a suicide note sent to them?
"Yes, he's a family friend," Heather says.
Oh. Does she really think that or is she just saying it for something to say?
"Nice," the nurse says with a smile. "Anyway, I need to check everything is okay..." She comes over and has a look at the screen on the machine that most of the cables run to, mumbles something about 'heartbeat a little slow' presses a button, and then steps back.
"Right, Mr and Mrs Wellford, just to tell you we'll need to operate to correct some the bones in Liliana's elbow, and there's some things to sort out in her back. We just need to check that's okay with you? She will be under anaesthetic, and when it's over we'll phone you just to tell you everything's gone well."
George looks at Heather, and she says, "I'm sure that'll be fine!"
"Thank you," George says.
"That's alright! Some food will be along in a bit, Liliana, and if anyone else wants anything there's some food near the reception area," Olivia informs us. She seems like a nice person.
"Okay thank you!" Heather says.
"No problem," Olivia replies with a smile, "I'll be back in about half an hour," and leaves the room.
We sit for about fifteen more minutes, Heather and George and Liliana (speaking mostly like she'd rather not be there) talking, sometimes arguing, about her jump, the note ('Why did you send it to me?') and generally what she'd done and not told them about ('if you'd told us we could have helped you!') I sometimes join in with the few things I know about, and sometimes they ask me questions, but mainly I stay quiet and listen.
A lady comes in with a metal trolley full of plates and boxes and cups full of food and drink. It smells...well, as good as hospital food could smell.
"Here we are! Liliana Wellford, right?" She asks.
"Yeah," Liliana says.
"Righty ho..." The food lady says, and puts a tray on a stand by Liliana's bed. She then puts a smaller tray of some spaghetti thing on that, then adds a bottle of water and a banana.
"There ya go," she says with a smile.
"Thank you," Heather says, returning the smile.
"It's nothing,"says the lady, and turns her trolley round to leave.
"Thanks," Liliana says.
"That's alright darling," the lady says, "Bye!"

* * * *

Two hours later and I'm back at the house, sitting in my room.
I do like this family. Liliana seems okay from what I've seen of her from chatting in the hospital, although it is hard to tell when she's a) in hospital and injured, and b) not talking loads because, I assume, she's still depressed, and doesn't want to be in hospital. I keep thinking about her. About her beautiful face, and about her depression and hoping she's okay and that she'll recover. It's kind of weird when I hardly know her at all.
Her parents are so nice as well, they're lovely and kind, and they don't seem to mind me staying in their house. I try not to bother them much though.

I'm lost in thought, when I feel my phone vibrate. Sadie, I think. I completely forgot to call her and tell her everything. Oops. I turn on my phone and open messages. Sure enough there's a message from Sadie.

Hi Charlie,
How's everything?
If you're free, can you call me? I miss you loads!
Sadie xxx

Now I'm thinking about it, I realise I haven't seen Sadie in two days. I normally see her everyday. Suddenly I miss her so much, and I immediately call her.
It rings twice before she picks up.
"Hello?" I hear her say.
"Hey Sades!"
"Charlie! How are you?"
"I'm great, how are you?"
"Fantastic. Just missing you."
"Aw I miss you loads too. I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday."
"Hey, it's fine. I was pretty busy anyway. We got a massive French essay from Mrs Reese."
"Sounds like I'll have a lot to catch up on."
"I'm sure you'll be fine, you're clever. Anyways, what are you up to? Is the person the note was from alive?"
"Yeah, she's in hospital with multiple injuries, she jumped off an office block..."
I tell Sadie everything that's happened, and she listens, occasionally commenting on things, like Liliana's appearance, and how old she is, and mainly things about her. We chat for a while, until her mum calls her for her dinner, and she has to go. I hang up, and turn off my phone. I do miss my home. I've only been away for one night, but I do miss them. My phone vibrates again. I check it. From mum.

Charlie,
Hope you're alright. Remember to be careful! I don't want you hurt or anything while you're away without my permission.
I still don't know exactly why you're in England, and would appreciate a message or a call. You have a pile of work from school here too to catch up on.
Dad told me to tell you that the football last night wasn't great, so you aren't missing much. Typical dad.
Love you,
Mum xx

I laugh at the part about dad, and then reply telling her that I'm fine, and saying that I'll tell her everything when I get back. She does worry too much.
I lie back on my bed, and close my eyes.

A U T H O R' S N O T E

Charlie and Liliana have met yay :)
Sorry this took a bit of a long time to update, I've gone back to school so I'm a bit busier. I'll try and be quicker next time XD

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Emma 🍄