ONLY THE LONELY

Back in the Emergency Department, a young woman with curly black hair and tanned skin, no more than twenty-four, stands at the reception desk. Louise continues to type, ignoring her presence. The young woman clears her throat, before making a few hinting noises to try and attract the attention of the receptionist. 

"Can I help you?" Louise asks sternly. 

"I'm looking for my Mum, Doris Purnell? She was admitted about an hour ago, I've only just managed to get a taxi here. Any chance I can see her?" Asks the young woman politely. 

"Can I have your name please?" Louise replies, strictly keeping her stern tone.   

"Ruby. Ruby Rothwell." She says calmly. 

Louise asks a few more questions before concluding the conversation with, "Take a seat please and I'll get the nurse to come and get you when they're finished." 

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Dixie and Iain speed down a village road and come to a house. They grab their first aid bags and walk down a garden path to a front door. It's Maya's house, and before the paramedics get a chance to knock the front door, Stella opens it. She frantically panics as she begins to inform the paramedics.

"I came home early from work and just found her in her bedroom. The school reported her as a missing person and I came home to see if she was here, which she was, but she's self-harmed and it won't stop bleeding. Help her, please." Stella cries in fear as the three scurry upstairs and into Maya's room.

Maya lifts her head up, she's crying heavily and her left hand is covered in blood from where she's attempting to stem the bleed. She speaks weakly, the pain overwhelming her, forcing the words out, "Help me, please. It won't stop bleeding."

"It's alright darling, everything is going to be okay." Dixie says as she tries to comfort the casualty and make her feel less scared. 

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In the staff room, Zoe sits at one of the stools and stares blankly at the cubicles beyond. Max walks in and blocks her view with his head. He sits down and begins to stroke her face. He asks her if everything is okay. 

"No, Max, I'm not. I thought I'd be okay saying goodbye to Sharice again, you know I didn't even spend much time with her, but I'm not. I just miss her and it hurts. I know you tell me you're here for me but I just feel like if I talk about her or even say her name, I will break down." Zoe says, feeling a lump form in her throat.

"Hey, hey, look at me. You are the most beautiful person on Earth. I am not going to let anyone hurt you, and if you wanted Sharice to come back in your life, I'll stand by you. I'm not going to dictate your life or tell you what's best for her. Sometimes it's good to get things off your chest and just say how you feel. It's hard at the moment I know but things will get easier I promise. Now, I was going to give you something later, but you look like you could do with cheering up, so here, take this." As Max finishes he takes a leather-covered box from his pocket. He slides it across the table at her. Zoe looks at it cautiously, and after a few seconds of staring at the box she picks it up and opens it. Presented to her is a stunning, expensive diamond ring. 

"I spent every last penny I had on that for you. I want to show you how much you mean to me, and if that means me spending every last penny I've got on you every month to keep you happy I will, but I will not lose you. You are the best thing that has happened to me in ages and I love you, Zoe Hanna."

Zoe feels a tear fall from her eye. She wipes it away and smiles. "Max that is so sweet of you. I love you, and I always will, no matter what. Thank you, this means a lot." She says as she slips the gorgeous ring onto her second finger. She admires it for a second and smiles at him. She leans over the table and so does he. They share a kiss. 

  ********************     

Rita walks through to reception and calls for Ruby. Ruby bounces up out of the seat and walks swiftly over to Rita. She asks Rita what's going on and if everything is okay as they progress through to Doris's cubicle. 

"Mum. How are you? Where's dad?" Ruby asks. 

"Who are you? Why are you here? Have I done something wrong? Please don't hurt me." Doris replies worried, confused, full of fear. 

"Mum, it's me, Ruby. Your daughter, you remember me don't you? I was with you last night, we watched Strictly together." Ruby says as she tries to comfort her panicked mother. 

"You're not my daughter. I don't have a daughter. I don't know who you are, can you please get rid of her, please?!" Doris shouts as she becomes uncomfortable and more frantic. She waves her arms about and Cal and Rita try to calm her down. 

"Please, you've got to help her. She was meant to go to the memory clinic today and get a final diagnosis; we think she's got Alzheimer's Disease. Please, help her. I'm not leaving her side." Ruby replies, she's very distressed and upset as well by the whole situation. 

"Alright, Doris, calm down, it's all going to be okay. This is your daughter, Ruby. She's here to help take care of you, she's not going to hurt you, everything's going to be okay." Cal tells Doris as he and Rita try to cal her down. After a few minutes, he asks Ruby to contact her father as well. 

"Want me to get the results chased up and sent to you, Cal?" Rita asks. Cal nods, and she leaves cubicles.