Through the Tunnel

Chapter 12: Information

After a few blood samples and some other tests I simply had to wait for the results.

My regular visitors made this really easy.

At lunchtime Phil came into my room and managed to bring me some food that didn't come from the hospital canteen.

"Here, I brought you a pickle sandwich, your favourite" he said, handing me a tin-foiled sandwich. I opened it as he took the seat next to the bed.

"Yum" I say, taking a bite.

"Oh my god, you need to see the latest episode of Blood Rush it is shockingly shocking!"

"Well we can have a huge catch up session when I get home" I say, with a mouthful of sandwich.

"And I think you'll have something to say about Katy's outfit in episode 15" he says with a smug look on his face.

"It's not the stupid collar dress thing she kept doing is it?"

"Nope, worse" he laughs and I just shake my head.

"Steven and Anne-Marie will be here at half 2. They said they wanted to come and see you too" he says, taking the last mouthful of his sandwich and opening a bag of crisps. He hands me one and a bottle of orange juice.

"Thanks" I say, swallowing my last bite.

I take a sip of juice and then open my crisps. I turn on the TV and switch to the news channel, since that's about the most interesting thing that I can get on this old thing.

I turn the volume low and leave it on in the background.

"How's Lauren? Has anyone spoke to her?" I ask.

"Yeah, Anne-Marie told her parents what happened and that someone should probably talk to her so when she called her mum, her mum told her to call Anne-Marie and she explained everything. She said she was going to come back early. Wanted to see if everyone was alright basically" he explained.

"Fair enough".

There was a knock on the door, just as I had finished my crisps and Anne-Marie and Steven came walking in.

Steven game me a look, one that said hi in a much more meaningful way. I gave him a reciprocating look and said 'hi' to Anne-Marie.

"How you feeling?" she asked, stroking my hair.

"Fine, really" I say "I just want to get out of here".

"I know how you feel, when I was in hospital when I was 7 all I wanted was to get the hell out of there. I bet you miss your bed don't you" she says. It was true I did miss my bed but I hadn't been in it for a while anyway so it wasn't quite the same.

"I do" I say.

"When did they say you can leave?" Phil asks.

"They said hopefully by the end of the day, it depends on the test results" I say, having some more orange juice.

"What are they testing you for?" Steven asks, sitting on the end of my bed.

"High or low blood pressure... Something related to my heart... I don't really know" I say.

"Your heart? Isn't that a bit serious?" Anne-Marie asks and I could tell Steven looks as worried as he sounded.

"Not really. I think she said they wanted to check there were no abnormalities in the blood that could have something to do with my heart. They said not to worry, they just have to check everything" I explain, putting the bottle on the side table.