Against All Odds

Chapter 38

Eve

For once I sleep easily with no nightmares thanks to the pills. Someone shakes my shoulder.

"Eve wake the fuck up!" I think that's Leo. Groaning in annoyance I open my eyes squinting at the sudden light.

"What?" I croak, annoyed about being woken up considering that was the best sleep I'd had in ages thanks to those pills.

"Your phone rung and Char answered it but it's your brother." Alfie explains, handing me the phone.

"Max?" I question into the phone.

"Hey Eve, sorry to wake you but you'd better get to the hospital asap." He says in the happiest voice I'd heard him use in a long time.

"Benji...?" I gasp, holding my breath.

"Eviee!" My little brothers voice hits me like a tonne of bricks. I can hardly breath. My hearts putting itself together and being ripped apart all at the same time. I can't deal with the relief. The phone falls from my hands and I drop to the floor, breaking down into a hundred pieces. My brother is Ok!

My mates are around me, AJ's taken my phone and is speaking with both my brothers. Char's hugging me, Leo patting my back. They're all here for me as I let go of everything.

"H-he's alive." I sob into Charlotte's shoulder, hardly able to believe it. My favourite little boy in the world is back!

~~~

I've never ever felt so relieved to see a person sitting up in bed. Benji's little body is propped up by a few pillows and I have to pinch myself when he yawns, moving before my eyes for the first time in what feels like forever. A doctor is speaking to Max who's sat on a chair right next to the bed holding Benji's small hand in his own. When I finally enter the small hospital room Benji's face lit up with his cheeky grin that I'd missed so so much. My heart feels so relieved it hurts.
"Evie!" He squeals and it's all I can do to keep my emotions in check.
"Hey little bro. How are you feeling?" I ask him, reaching the bedside.
"Weird, I can't feel my legs." Benji gestures to his lower half and I frown in concern, linking eyes with Max for answers.
"I'll give you some space." The doctor says politely and then leaves our small family alone.
"Hug?" Benji gives me his best puppy eyes.
"Course." I smile, climbing onto the bed beside him, putting my arms around his fragile frame. He snuggles into me and soon falls asleep, probably exhausted. Max and I stare at our little brother. The boy we thought we might never see grow up. He's alive.
"I can't believe he's actually OK." I say softly. Max doesn't reply I turn to look at him and can tell something's up. "He is OK right?"
My older brother sighs, closing his eyes and massaging his temples. And then he gives me news I never expected to hear.
"He's paralysed from the waist down." Max's voice breaks as he tells me and I feel my jaw drop. "He'll be in a wheelchair for life."
Max cries softly from beside me. I know he thinks he should have done more to protect Benji, he always thinks he could have done more.
"Max, he's alive. He's still got his smile. He's still our little brother." I comfort him, hating how our little family always seems to be thrown shit from life. It just isn't fair.
My attention turns to Benji, the innocent boy who's life has now changed forever.
He'll never be able to play football with his mates or even walk. I stare at his sleeping face and wish above all things I could take this pain away from him. Transfer it to myself somehow. But I can't.
And that's when I can't hold back any longer. The tears cascade down my cheeks as I hug my brothers broken body to mine, praying that the doctors were wrong. Praying that one day he will walk again.