The Draw

27

It had gone 2am. With each passing moment Stacey was becoming more and more sure that Dan wasn't going to pull through. And that scared her. Two years ago she would've happily never seen him again. Even two days ago she had been fine with his disappearing act. But now that possibility of him dying was very real, it upset her greatly. She thought back to when he'd had that viral infection that had sent him delirious and how scared she'd been. That was dwarfed by this feeling in her heart.

'Are you waiting for news on Mr Smith?' A mans voice came suddenly into the room.

'Yes! Where is he? Is he ok?' Woody asked. Stacey couldn't bare to know. She covered her ears.

'He is out of surgery.' She let out an involuntary sob. That's all she needed to know.

'Oh thank god.' Kyle sighed. Woody started to cry. 'So is he...he's gonna be alright?'

'He is in critical condition but he's stable. He will be needed further surgery tomorrow, but for now we are cautiously hopeful.'

'When can we see him?' Stacey asked.

'His parents are with him right now, but once he's been moved to a ward, you can go and see him. We don't normally allow visits during the night, but because he is classed as critical we do allow close family in.'

They all sat down and let out a little laugh and a sigh. It was great news. He was still very poorly. But it was great news.

'I need to pee.' Stacey announced. She found a toilet, locked the doors and stared at herself in the mirror. She looked so tired. And she was. She couldn't believe how this night had turned out. Never in a million years had she thought she would be rushing to Dans side. But the thought of him dying and them never having the chance to make things right had forced her there. Now she had to be there when he woke up and to make sure he got better enough to meet Evie. She splashed water over her face to wake up a little and to wash away the dried tear stains. She had to be stronger now than ever.

Stacey put her head round the door. The boys were taking in hushed tones. They stopped suddenly. She suspected that she was the subject.

'I'm gonna try and find some food.'

'I'll come with you.' Kyle offered and got up slowly and with a groan. There wasn't a soul about, not even nurses. The hospital was closed for the night. In the distance she could hear beeping. She wondered where Dan was right then? 'Soooooo....' Kyle began. She knew where this conversation was going to go. 'Woody said something about a kid.'

'That'll be Evie. My daughter.'

'And how old is Evie?'

'Shes three.'

'Three. I see.'

'Dan never told you I was pregnant?'

'Can't say he ever did.' She couldn't believe it. How could he never have told his best friends that she was pregnant. Or that the baby might even be Kyle's? How does that not come up in conversation. But then, actually. She could believe it. He was probably embarrassed. Ashamed.

They'd found a vending machine with chocolate and crisps. She dug into her pocket for loose change. She hadn't met Kyle's eyes the whole time he was talking.

'She's not yours. If that's what your wondering.'

'No. Of course I wasn't...I just, I didn't know you had a kid at all. I mean, I'm relieved she's not mine-' he stopped himself. 'Not that that wouldn't be great. But because I didn't know...Does he know?'

'He knows.'

'Why has he never told us?'

'I have no idea.'

'Does he see her?'

'He's never asked to.' She put in a few pounds worth and got a few Dairy Milks and Quavers. Quavers were Evie's favourite.

'He's known about her for a year. And he knew I was pregnant when I left. But he's never tried to see me or her.'

'I'm so sorry Stacey. If we'd known, we would've made him step up.'

'Well, he's asked for me now, maybe he wants to see her? I don't know.' She rubbed her tired eyes. This whole thing had been exhausting. The waiting for news. The thinking about why she had come and what she would do when he woke up in regards to Evie.

'I know you guys didn't exactly end on good terms, but when you were together he was so happy. And all this time I think he missed you. The way he cried out for you in the car, honestly, that'll haunt me forever.'

'But he's had three years to get in touch with me. I don't get it.'

'You told him to leave you alone.' Kyle reminded her.

'But if he really loved me, he would've ignored that. I get that he's been respecting my wish but he knew about Evie. Why wouldn't he want to be part of her life?'

'I don't know. Really. But this could be the chance to change things for the future?'

'I hope so.'

They headed back with their food and found a coffee machine too. Will had arrived now, having flown back from his holiday. Stacey managed to get a little bit of sleep with her head on Kyle's lap and Woody's jacket over her. It wasn't the best sleep she'd ever had but she woke up a few hours later feel slightly more human. It was 7am, Evie would be awake now. Hopefully not too confused at waking up at her Granny's. It was then that Stacey realised she'd left her phone at home.

She rang her mum from Wills phone, standing outside in the fresh morning sun. Evie had already eaten three rounds of toast and was watching Peppa Pig with her grandad. Her mum questioned once again why she was there for Dan. But she was too tired to respond. She said she'd explain all, soon.

The nurse had been and told Woody, Kyle and Will that Dan had slowly been waking up and his parents had left so they could now go and sit with him. This was it. The first time she'd seen him in over a year and even longer before that time. There was a knot in her stomach. Would he even remember asking for her? What if he woke up and wondered what the hell she was doing there? He could've bumped his head and forgotten they'd split up three years ago. What if he didn't remember her at all? So many thoughts going through her mind as they went in the lift up to adult intensive care. The sign alone scared her. They walked through the automatic doors and she took a big breath in. She had to be strong now.