28 Clover Lane

Chapter 11

Beeping.

I can hear beeping. Distant at first, then it gets louder as I regain consciousness. My head hurts. Everything seems so slow. I manage to drag open my eyelids, but a blaring strip light above me blinds me. I have to blink away the white spots. When I can see again, I realise I'm in a hospital room. There are blinds on the windows, and the beeping I could hear before I realise is a BPM monitor. My BPM monitor.

Then I see Nathan, sat on one of the visitor chairs, holding a bunch of my favourite flowers in one hand and stroking my right arm with the other. He smiles when I catch his eye and everything comes flooding back to me. It's so good to see him.

"Lily, thank God," he says, gripping my hand. "I didn't know if you'd ever wake up."

I smile sleepily and slide the oxygen mask away from my mouth. I don't know if my voice still works - my lips feel so dry.

"I - what happened?" I manage to croak. "I remember being shot, but... then it's all black."

"They shot you with a tranquilliser gun," Nathan tells me. His face grows angry. "Bastards."

"What happened to you?" I ask when I see a large white plaster cast on Nathan's right leg. "And... and me."

My left arm's in a plaster cast too. It feels stiff and sore.

I listen to Nathan as he tells me what happened after I blacked out and I can't believe my ears. Nathan was so... brave. I can't believe he killed those men just to get me back and see if I was okay. I feel a sudden rush of affection for him and squeeze his hand.

"I'm so glad you're safe," I say. "They could have really hurt you."

"I know," he says, "but I don't care. I would have risked anything for you."

I smile lovingly at him. The brown door suddenly opens and two police officers walk in - a man and a woman.

"Hello Lily," the man smiles. "I'm Officer Thomas Baxter, and this is Officer Becky Laurence. It's good to see you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Not too bad," I say, trying to clear my gritty throat.

"Good. We'll have to ask you some questions later on, but not until you feel up to it."

I nod. I could do without going back over the details but I know it has to be done.

"We have some good news," says Officer Laurence. "We found your mum, Victoria. She was staying in a hotel in Barnwood, not far from Abbeydale. She's on her way here now in a police car."

How the hell do the police know about mum?! I look at Nathan. His face says it all.

"I'm sorry," he whispers, looking genuinely upset. "I had to tell them. They were asking about your relatives."

I realise he's right, and squeeze his hand to let him know he's forgiven.

"We understand the situation you're in," continues Officer Laurence. "Although your mum left with no warning, you're sixteen so technically it's lawful to leave you alone in the house. You're considered a young adult in the terms of the courts, so you don't need to worry about your mum being in any trouble."

"But it's important you understand that your mum needs some help," says Officer Baxter. "Her behaviour is abnormal, but it's completely understandable considering what you've both been through since your father's passing. We're going to organise someone for her to talk to, just for a couple of sessions a week."

"So she needs counselling?" I say. I don't mean it to come out like it does - snappy and hormonal.

"That's right," says Officer Laurence. I nod, trying to take it all in.

"It's no different to me," says Nathan reassuringly. "I'm having counselling too after what I did."

"That's absolutely true," nods Officer Baxter. "Well, we'll leave you to it. The doctors asked me to tell you that you need to get some rest so you can sleep off the effects of the drug."

"Thank you," I say, and Nathan repeats it.

When they've gone, he puts the flowers on the table at the side of my bed and comes to sit by my side. He leans into me and brushes my hair away from my face. It feels so good to have him close to me again.

"You okay?" he asks.

"Much better now you're here," I smile.

"No, really. All this -" he waves his hands in the air to gesture at the surroundings. "It's a bit much for me. I can't imagine what it must be doing to you."

"I'm fine. As long as you stay with me tonight until I fall asleep. Promise me you won't go?"

"Of course I won't," he says softly, caressing my jawline with his thumb. "I'll be here when you wake up."

All I can feel now is his breath on my nose as he lowers his head to press his lips against mine. I cling to him, not wanting to lose him again. Then I know, as we hold each other so tightly on that hospital bed, our lips locked together, I know that no-one can hurt me now I'm in my boyfriend's arms.

Nathan will keep me safe.

💖 The End 💖