I Found You

Take Off

Brooke wasn't too pleased.

It was the morning of her first day on the 'Be a Buddy' scheme, and so far, her hair didn't look good, her leggings had a hole in the crotch and Marie had discovered a pile of weight loss articles underneath her daughter's bed.

Fantastic.

But it was time to be a buddy. Brooke the buddy.

"Over der, meez Brooke" pointed Nola.

The pair were stood on ward seventeen, a children's ward. Nola had pointed down the corridor and signalled with her plump finger for Brooke to turn right, just past the food trolley. That would be where her buddy would be.

Brooke made her way down the corridor, her Converse shoes squeeking with every step she took (another thing to add to Brooke's bad day list, would be that she nearly missed the bus and had to run for it. Pleased with the thirty seconds of impromptu exercise, disheartened because now, her feet were sweaty which caused the Converse to make a farting noise from now on).

Pictures from patients, past and present were messily put on the walls. They were alright. They probably wouldn't inspire the next Andy Warhol, but they seemed to brighten the place up a bit. This was mainly achieved by a kid called Billy Robinson, aged seven, who drew a jungle scene entirely in highlighter pens. It was blinding to look at.

Brooke had reached her destination, and upon arrival, already felt sick. The food trolley was still there.

Nola was still at the top of the corridor, watching Brooke with her soulful eyes. She smiled warmly and kept looking at her, until, finally, Brooke walked past the trolley and into the wing.

Nola took a deep breath, looked at her watch and took a bite out of her Belgian bun. This was it.