Scream at the drunken moon

Chapter 9

I feel sick with the pain I'm in but I don't want Tony knowing exactly how bad it is. He has enough to cope with, with all the digs off his mam. I close my eyes briefly and feel the couch sink as someone sits next to me.
"It's pretty bad right now, isn't it" I hear Mike say. I nod before whispering
"Don't tell Tony. He will go nuts."
Mike gives me a quick hug and moves away to help Tony carry the food through. I feel the couch sink again and open my eyes to Tony's mam. Oh.
"Why aren't you helping fetch all that through? You can't expect Tony to wait on you hand and foot you know."
I stand up and on shaky legs go to the kitchen, grab a couple of bowls and carry them to the table where the food is. I go back a second time, limping as my leg starts to throb and with tears in my eyes, grab the paper plates, cutlery and napkins. I place them on the table and turn again, completely losing my balance this time. The floor makes contact with the side of my head and I cry out as Tony picks me up. I can feel the blood as it starts trickling down my face and then the tears start again. I hear a lot of raised voices but everything sounds so far away. My arm is throbbing again. It's not that long ago I had the cast taken off and I dread it being broken again. Everything sounds as if I'm underwater. I don't like it.

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"Charlie. Charlie sweetheart, open your eyes."
I open them a fraction of an inch and see Tony looking at me, worry on his face.
"What happened?" I manage to mumble.
"You fainted I think. Your head is bleeding. I think you need to go to the hospital."
"I'll be fine" I say, not wanting to go anywhere.
"No, you're bleeding. You might need stitches or have a concussion or something. The ambulance is on its way anyway."
I close my eyes again and fairly soon I feel myself being lifted onto a stretcher and moved. Tears of pain and despair roll down my face and I feel so embarrassed.
"I'm right with you baby" I hear Tony say as he walks beside me, his voice giving me some reassurance.

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I am given 8 stitches to the side of my head and my arm is x-rayed. It's not broken thankfully - just badly bruised - and I'm released a few hours later. Tony helps me out to Mike's car in the early hours and they take me home, both of them helping me back inside. All the guests have gone, the food cleared away or eaten - I'm not sure which and I'm too tired to care. Tony carries me through to the bedroom and Mike fetches my bag of medication, as pointed out to him by Tony. He tips out the pills I indicate and passes me a glass of water to take them with, giving me a smile when he sees I'm going to be ok. If only his mam would accept me. Our marriage is always going to have her over shadowing it otherwise and that wouldn't be fair on him.

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I wake up later than normal the next day, the pain in my body not really any less than the previous night. I groan unintentionally as I move, waking Tony who was snoring lightly.
"How are you feeling?" he whispers as he gently strokes my hair back.
"Like crap" I mumble. He softly kisses my forehead before helping me up and to the bathroom. Am I always going to feel this ill or will this wear off eventually? Maybe I should have stayed in Wales. Tony doesn't need this. A solitary tear rolls down my face which I don't have the strength to wipe away. Tony sees it though and quickly gets rid of it, his thumb so gentle in its action.
"What's wrong, darling girl?" he asks.
"Am I always going to be this useless?" I whisper, my eyes closed against the look on his face. I don't want to be ill anymore.