Hunger in my Heart

chapter 8

Nadine lounged in the surprisingly comfortable chair idly flicking through the latest fashion magazine as she watched Cheryl and Kimberley sleeping in the darkened hospital room. She was just finishing her shift keeping Kimberley company as none of them wanted her to be alone all that much, but she had fallen into a fitful sleep a short while ago. Nadine thought she would leave them to rest until Nicola came in tomorrow morning. Quietly gathering her coat and bag, she began to tiptoe out of the room, glancing at her watch she noted that had just gone 1 a.m., early Friday morning. Cheryl had been improving steadily since Wednesday, but she still hadn't woken up for any significant period of time and even when she had woken she had been fuzzy at best.

Everyone had tried, unsuccessfully, she thought ruefully, to get Kimberley to go home and get some real sleep and some real food. But Kimberley had point blank refused to leave, even after the medical staff had said Cheryl was out of the woods and she just needed time to let her body recover. Sarah and Nicola and even Justin, via text message, had bugged Nadine incessantly to try to make Kimberley go home, but Nadine knew better than to even try. So she had just told them to leave her be.

They had soon figured out that there was no way Kimberley was stepping foot out of this hospital until Cheryl woke up and that Kimberley knew she was alright. It didn't matter what the doctors said, until she saw Cheryl back with her own eyes, she wasn't going anywhere. So, they had taken turns staying with her, whether she was in here with Cheryl or when she was hanging in the waiting room while Cheryl's family was with her. The strict ICU rule of only two visitors at a time meant that Kimberley pretty much had the evening and night shift in with Cheryl after her Mum and family went home.

Cheryl shifted restlessly in the bed again, causing an exhausted Kimberley, who was slumped sound asleep in the chair next to her, to stir slightly and grip Cheryl's hand more firmly in her own. Nadine smiled, amused at how even when completely out of it, her two friends still managed to mirror each other.

This week had been a bit of an eye opener for Nadine, she has always been of the opinion that it was Cheryl that needed Kimberley, but it had become apparent that Kimberley was a bit of a mess without Cheryl as well. Nadine had definitely noticed that Cheryl's feelings for Kimberley had intensified over the last couple of years; Cheryl pretty much wore her heart on her sleeve after all. Kimberley on the other hand was much, much more difficult to read, though it was obvious to all that they were extremely close. But now she realized there was definitely something more there. Interesting she mused; maybe this event, as terrifying and bizarre as it had been was what they both needed to finally catch a clue. Perhaps she would lose the band's longest running bet after all, she pondered.

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Cheryl experimentally ran her tongue over her teeth and around her mouth, ugh she thought, it felt like something had curled up and died in her mouth and her teeth appeared to be wearing woollies. Gradually becoming aware of her surroundings she noted that the annoying beeping that had plagued all of her dreams was still there along with the distinctive smell of a hospital. Crunching her brow and concentrating, she could vaguely remember flashes of medical staff, her mam, Kimberley, the other girls and even her siblings all being here at some point. Other than that everything was a blur, but thankfully now her head was clear and for the first time in ages she wasn't in pain. It's all good, she decided; though I could really use me toothbrush.

Cautiously stretching and opening her eyes, she felt her hand being held in a loose grip as she looked around the dimly lit room, her eyes finally coming to rest on the sleeping form of her best friend. Kimberley was sound asleep in the chair beside her bed, with one arm extended at a somewhat awkward angle so she could hold Cheryl's hand. Cheryl drank in the sight of her beautiful friend; she felt like she hadn't seen her in ages or talked to her in forever. Cheryl let her eyes roam over her band mate, Kimberley was dressed in a comfortable track suit and t-shirt, her hair was in its natural state cascading with loose curls around her shoulders with strands of dark blond hair partially concealing her face. Her face was relaxed in sleep, her full lips pursed in a small pout that was typical when she slept. She looks really tired though, Cheryl thought and even sound asleep she looked tense and not all that comfortable slumped in the chair, with her head at an awkward angle.