Tomorrow Never Dies

Chapter 25 - "Wake up for me, okay?"

*Michael's POV*
I watched in horror as Flora passed out, completely unresponsive. I took her limp hand amd called the ambulance like she'd told me to.

"My girlfriend's gone into..." I hesitated, not quite being able to say what she had. "Anaphylactic shock?"

"Right, do you know what she's allergic to?" the woman on the line asked.

"I'm assuming it's nuts, she never told me though."

"I'll send an ambulance to your location, has she used an Epipen?"

"Yeah," I said, pressing my lips together. Flora's lips were going blue.

"The ambulance is on its way," she told me, and I hung up.

"Come on, Flora, you can do it," I whispered, but she didn't move. "I love you." I felt a tear fall down my cheek as I looked at the lifeless body of my girlfriend. She still had a pulse, but that was growing fainter and slower by the second, and I could do nothing but hope that she was going to be okay. There was a knock at the door and as I answered it two paramedics burst into the room. They walked straight to Flora and began doing God knows what to her.

"What's her name?" one of them asked while the other used another Epipen.

"Flora, Flora Lighthawk," I shook my head. "I didn't realise she was allergic to nuts, she never told me, we were just messing about-"

"It's alright," he said. "She'll be fine, but first we've got to get her to hospital." I nodded.

"Should I carry her?"

"That would be easiest, the ambulance is just this way." I picked up my girlfriend gently and carried her bridal style to the ambulance, laying her softly on the bed. The EMT took her blood sugar, her blood pressure, and God knows what else while we were driven to the hospital, and she was immediately wheeled through the waiting room and onto A&E when we arrived. The doctors crowded round her, so I was unable to see her, but I was following them because I wasn't going to let them do anything to her without consulting someone with her best interests at heart - and for now that was me. I swore as I realised I hadn't told her mum, and I didn't have her number. I texted Grace instead, assuming she would, and told her quickly what had happened.
flora in a&e, tell pam to get here asap, allergic reaction
She replied instantly.
Grace: i've let her know... don't worry too much, she'll be fine x
I watched as the doctors drew a curtain around Flora's bed, separating me from her, and I sunk into a chair in shock.

***
I was still almost immune to my surroundings when Pam came and sat next to me.

"What happened, Michael?" she asked, her voice gentle and caring, reminding me a lot of my mother. I needed to introduce her to Flora, but that was something for another time.

"We were just messing about, I was feeding her chocolate and she was guessing what it was," I sighed. "I gave her Reese's Pieces because I didn't know she was allergic." Pam shook her head.

"I'm so glad that you're still here," she said. "Matthew is on his way in, he's just parking up, but Flora will want you when she wakes up." I smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, and she took me into a motherly hug. She smelled like Flora's house had, a combination of vanilla and lavender as well as the smell of the animals. As she released me, I noticed Matty was standing behind her. I nodded in his direction, and she turned round to face him.

"How is she?" he asked, and I shrugged.

"I've not seen her since we were on the ambulance, she's in there," I said, pointing to the cubicle.

"Can I talk to you man?" he stared at me, and I got the feeling I couldn't say no to his request. I nodded and followed him outside. "Look, you seem like a nice guy, and honestly I think you make Flora happy, and that's good."

"I get the feeling there's a but," I said, trying to keep the conversation light.

"What has she told you about her teenage years?"

"The whole suicide thing and that she's bisexual," I said, frowning. "Why?"

"Only one suicide attempt?" I nodded. "Michael, she was in and out of hospital for almost two years."

"Oh, my God," I was in shock. "That's so... sad."

"Me and Toby were so worried when we left home, we didn't know if Mum was going to be able to cope," he told me. "The last time she was in hospital that she's told us about was about two months into her first year of uni, her anxiety was awful. I moved back from Melbourne that year so I could be there at a moment's notice but I think she still struggles with the fact Toby's not here, and I do think she wants to know more about our dad."

"I wish I'd known this," I muttered.

"It's fine, don't tell her I said this, it's really for her to tell you," he said. "But she really doesn't want to be in hospital any more than she has to, so we can't have you feeding her nuts again, okay?"

"Yeah," I agreed. "I'm sorry about that, man."

"She'll be alright, she hasn't had an allergic reaction in a while, sometimes it's good for her to have a scare so she doesn't think she's grown out of the allergy."

"That's possible?"

"Not for her," he said. "Come on, she might be awake." We went back inside to see the curtain had been drawn back and Pam was sat at the side of her bed. She still hadn't woken up, but obviously the doctors were satisfied that she was stable. Pam was holding her hand gently, careful not to disturb the IV in her vein.

"Michael, you can go home if you want," she said, and I shook my head.

"I want to be here when she wakes up," I insisted.

"I think she'd actually prefer it if you were holding her hand, actually," she smiled, standing up. She kissed my cheek and went to sit in the waiting room. I sat on the hard plastic chair, taking Flora's hand and rubbing her palm softly.

"Hey baby," I said quietly. "You've got to wake up for me, okay?" Her breathing changed slightly and her eyes opened slowly, as if she had heard me and responded to my request.

"Michael?" she asked groggily, and I nodded, smiling at her.

"Shh baby, it's okay," I promised her. I pressed the buzzer to summon a nurse to the bed, and one came rushing over. She checked Flora's vitals then left us to it.

"What happened?" Her voice was slightly croaky, and though she was pale and had dark circles under her eyes, she still looked beautiful.

"I fed you something with nuts in, I didn't realise you were allergic," I said gently, and she nodded.

"I should have told you," she coughed. "It's my fault."

"Absolutely not," I told her. "Your mum and your brother are here, do you want me to send them in?"

"No," she said immediately. "Stay with me a while." So that's what I did.

*****
it is my english lit exam this morning and if the character essay isnt on curley's wife i will cry shes the only one i know
anyway here have some michael pov

song of the chapter: heartache on the big screen by 5sos (what a JAM my mate cried when they didnt play it on tour)