Family is Forever

Part 8- Ali Alone

Ali was lay on her side facing the wall. She didn't want to talk to anyone, except Zosia. 'Natalia?' Serena asked 'Zosia has just popped up to Darwin to explain to her boss that she has to be here, with you and to change out of her scrubs. Ok? If you need anything in the mean time just shout for me Ms Campbell or for Fletch the nurse you saw earlier. I'll come and see you when we have your blood results from the ED back'
'Thanks' Ali muttered. Serena smiled at her sympathetically.
Ali got her phone out and started to scroll through her Instagram. She found people were less likely to try and talk to her if she was on her phone. There was an elderly lady in the bed next to her surrounded by an assortment of grown up children and Ali just wished she was alone. A few long minutes later she realised that she needed to use the bathroom. She didn't know if she was allowed to leave her bed but all the nurses looked busy so she took the O2 monitor off her finger and grabbed her bag as she didn't want to leave it. It had her money in and her letter from Babcia. As she walked into the bathroom her phone vibrated with a text it was from her mama.
Nat. Ricky proposed to me and I said YES. Oh i couldn't be happier, come home soon and we can pick out bridesmaid dresses for you and a big white dress for me. We'll be a real family just like you always wanted, with a dad.And I know you love Ricky. Love Mama x
Ali's eyes filled with tears. She never wanted a dad and she definitely didn't love Ricky. He hated her and she hated him. Her phone vibrated again with another text from Ricky. She read it and threw the phone against the wall. She reached into her bag, and into the purse where she kept emergency tampons and pads, and pulled out a craft knife she stole from the art department a few months before her GCSEs. Tears were streaming down her face as she started to cut across her forearm.

Serena went to check on Ali. And stepped through the small gap in the curtain surrounded Ali's bed 'Natalia' she asked looking at the notes then, after not getting any reply, she realised Ali wasn't in her bed. She turned to the woman in the bed next to Ali's
'Mrs Richardson, have you seen the young girl who was in the bed next to yours?' She asked
'No, she was there five minutes ago. Is she ok?' Mrs Richardson replied.
'I hope so..' Serena sighed  and walked towards the nurses station, thinking she had to find Ali before Zosia returned, which could be any second now. She informed the two nurses at the station, Fletch and Lou, that Ali was missing and they both started to look  in the staff room and offices while Serena Rushed off towards the toilets.
She walked into the toilets and saw Ali's bag on the floor, her phone halfway across the room and Ali herself, her frail body sat hunched under the sink while she concentrated on cutting long vertical cuts, slowly and deliberately along her forearm. Almost calmly as if she was in a trance.
'Natalia.' Serena said softly. Which seemed to bring Ali back to reality.
'Don't come near me,'she stammered 'I don't want you here'
'I'm not going to hurt you, I just think that you should put that knife down' Serena said slowly and calmly. 'Come on, you're not helping yourself here, we can help you, just please give me the knife,' the blood flowing from Ali's arm started to trickle into the floor. 'you're safe here' Bernie Wolfe another doctor pushed open the door of the ladies as she heard something was going on. 'Get Zosia March down here now' Serena whispered to Bernie. Bernie left before Ali had even seen her as she was facing away from the door making another cut along her arm. 'Natalia,' Serena tried again more firmly. 'You need to give me that knife. And your cuts need medical attention.'
Ali held out the knife to Serena with a shaking arm. Serena took it 'good girl. It's going to be ok, we're going to look after you' she whispered to Ali. Ali looked at Serena who was crouched beside her she made eye contact with the concerned doctor then put her bleeding arms around her and burt into tears.