Battlefield of Changes

The Accident

I lay on my bed crying into my hands. Not long passed before Ryan rushed in and pulled me into his arms.

"What's happening? I heard you and Mike shouting but he told me it's none of my business!"

"They are closing down the dumping ground and sending me away!" I sobbed.

"I know, but at least we are all going to the same care home still"

"We're not! Mike got me a foster family, he doesn't want me at the new place so I have to go!"

---------- (Next Day)

"I'll make a banner"

"I'll blow up balloons"

"I'll call the news people!"

We were organising a protest against the council so that they wouldn't close us down. Tracy was even writing a story about it for her newspaper.

Everyone was getting things ready apart from me. I was upstairs, packing. I knew that even if the home stayed open I would still have to leave. There was nothing I could do about it.

Carmen randomly burst in. "What's up?" She asked as she saw my tears.

"Mikes making me get fostered" I admitted, with but t even putting up a fight.

She smiled. "Well don't look too pleased about it!"

"No it's no that! It's just, if you aren't here, the place might be able to stay open!" Then she ran outside and I followed her. I don't want to leave, I don't want everybody knowing.

"It's all gonna be alright!" She announced as she left the house. Most of the crowd turned to look at her.

"Marie is getting fostered so we will be able to stay open from money and space and stuff!"

"Carmen shut up!" I pleaded over all the noise and questions.

"Nice one Marie" Tyler said.

"No I don't wanna go!"

Everybody got angry.

"You've got a home to go to!" Sasha yelled. "We are loosing ours and being sent away all because you won't leave!"

"It's not up to you!" I sobbed.

Everyone began shouting again, Ryan began to approach me but I just ran back inside.

----------

I watched through the window as many news crews came and started filming. Tee and Carmen were handing out leaflets and it looked like it was going really well. Tracy was on the roof with a megaphone shouting about staying open, much to Mike and Mai Lee's disapproval.

Then I saw my new foster family arrive. They were early! I knew it was them from a picture Mike had given me!

The lady looked up to the window and saw me! As soon as we made eye contact I ran out the room. The attic door was open and there was a ladder leading to the roof for Tracy.

Without thinking, I climbed up onto the roof.

"Marie what are you doing?" She asked.

"Marie, get down from there!" Mike yelled. Making everybody, the kids, the press, the staff, look up at me and stare.

"Mike wants to send me away!" I started.

"Marie just go inside we can talk inside!"

"Nobody will listen to me..."

"I'm listening, talk to me Marie"

I stood up and a tile went sliding down from under my foot and landed in front of Carmen, Ryan and Tee.

I regained balance. "Tracy he wants me to go..."

"Promise me you won't let them take me?"

"Marie I promise, look at me..." I turned to face her, in tears.

"We are all on your side it's just going too fast, but we can slow it down we can slow things right down, so please just go inside..."

I tried to, but I lost my footing and rolled down the roof and onto the floor!

Ryan's POV

Marie was talking to Tracy on the roof. I don't know what they were saying but everyone was watching, terrified.

She then tried to walk but fell down and landed on the floor, a scar on her face, in tears and blood!

I too began crying. Everybody crowded round her! Someone called 999 and Tract came down and tried to help.

"Mike I want to go with her!" I said.

"You can visit when she is stable" he replied.

The paramedics put Marie in a head brace and wrapped her limbs securely in place, then they covered her body with a towel before carrying her into an ambulance, unconscious.

----------

We were all sat round the dining table. We knew what was coming. We would all have to move and Marie would stay in hospital. It made me cry.

I should have stopped her, I should have held her hand, hugged her close, never let go.

Harry was trying to comfort me whilst everybody just sat in silence. I don't think I have ever felt so upset. Mike said he would take me to the hospital soon.

As soon as he came back, I ran to the door, still crying and went with him to the hospital. I cried in the car, in the waiting room, and I cried as the nurse showed me to Marie's room.

It broke my heart to see her in that state. She had a cast on her left leg and left arm, there was scars on her face, some covered by plasters and she was just lying there. Colourless. Lifeless.

"I'll give you a few minutes" Mike said calmly before walking out.

I sat in a chair next to Marie's bed and took her hand into mine. It felt cold and dry. I cried some more.

After sitting for ages, I felt her hand wrap itself round mine. She was waking up!

"Marie?"

"I'm sorry" she mumbled in a croaky voice.

"It wasn't your fault"

I kissed her hand, then her cheek.

Mike then walked in and a smile of relief grew on his face.

"You're awake!"

Marie's POV

There goes Mike again, stating the blatantly obvious. He went on to explain that I would be in hospital for a few more days whilst they do checks. I've broken my left arm and my right leg.

Next to me on the bedside table was a verity of handmade 'get well soon' cards and a bunch of flowers with everyone's name sighed on them. Aww.

My matted hair felt greasy and there was a pain coming from my cheek where Ryan had just kissed me. I think it was just a scar or bruise, I don't remember much. I remember falling from the roof and that's it.

"What about the foster family?" I asked.

"They will come back in a week and collect you from Ashdene Ridge"

My heart dropped onto the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces. I could tell Ryan's did the same.

"Are they still closing us down?!"

"No. They did an investigation and ruled it as an accident."

"Don't say it like that"

"Like what?"

"Like you think I did it on purpose!"

"Marie I didn't mean..."

"I don't even care Mike. So Ryan, any news or anything?"

"Everybody is worried sick about you. That's about it."

"Oh, ok."

----------
"Please don't go!?" I begged as Mike and Ryan got up to leave.

"We have to I'm afraid, but we will be back tomorrow" he explained.