Taming Sophie

C H A P T E R 1 5

Sophie sat amazed as Foster gave her the news. Only two days ago she had felt no pity at Andy's arrest. Now she sat in sadness, not for Andy, but for his wife and child. They were the ones who had lost him. Not only had they to face his conviction, but now his death. She felt as though she had tied the noose herself. It seemed to her as though she was responsible. She wondered weather Andy's suicide had been his way of off-loading the guilt on to her, or weather he was the one over-ridden with guilt. Perhaps as he sat in the cell, his guilt had already killed him.

Sophie felt that two hours away from Sarah's bedside was too long, she had to get back. Today might be the day when Sarah wakes up, she had been telling herself that for three weeks now, but she had every faith that one day it would happen.

Sophie walked slowly to the room, Sarah still lay asleep and June was brushing Sarah's hair as best she could without upsetting the arrangement of tubes and wires which the doctors had spent so much time and care in applying to her best friend.

Whenever she saw her, Sophie felt guilt. She knew it should be her lying there. She could see the pain in June's face as she watched over her daughter. Yet, despite it all, June never once blamed Sophie. June looked tired, her hair hadn't been washed for a while and each day made her eyes look heavier and heavier, she had seemed to age rapidly since Sarah's operation.

Sophie could remember that awful day, the waiting, the despair and the sadness as the doctor revealed the shocking reality of Sarah's injuries. Although they had repaired the tear in her lung, Sarah had suffered massive internal bleeding, which limited her chances of survival. That was three weeks ago, and Sarah was fighting, she hadn't come round, but she was fighting.

A machine started bleeping setting off a whole load of alarms. Sophie rushed to her bedside. The nurses gathered rapidly and Sophie and June were pushed out of the way in the haste. June cried in horror as they undid some of the tubes and machines and wheeled the bed out of the room, towards the operating theatre.

June followed behind, shouting and screaming. 'Bring her back to me, Please, bring my baby back to me.'

Sophie pulled her close and held her tight. The prospects of another agonising wait worried them both. A doctor came over and sat on one of the chairs.

'Sarah is showing signs of more blood loss, we have to operate again to find the bleed, if we don't operate now, she will die. We have one of the finest surgeons here, he will do everything he can to help her. I know it's worrying, but please be strong, Sarah has fought hard over the past few weeks. It's a positive sign.' He raised a sympathetic smile towards the two women, huddled together in tears. He wasn't sure if they had understood him, he wished he could bring them some good news, he wished he could promise to have her sitting up and well again. He could only offer them the possibilities, which weren't that good.

Sophie knew that the next few hours would be the longest ever, she let go of June and headed for the vending machine. June accepted the coffee and sat up.

'I wish I had bought her that bike you know'

'Bike? What bike?' Sophie was puzzled.

'When she was nine, remember that Chopper bike, the one with the large handle bars? She cried herself to sleep for nearly a week, I just couldn't afford it.'

'Yes' Smiled Sophie. 'I remember. Jason Malcolms got it for his birthday two weeks later, Sarah wouldn't speak to him for ages.'

'She wouldn't speak to me for ages, never mind Jason. She hated me. I even promised to buy her a second-hand one, she wouldn't have it though, she was so determined. Like her father, I suppose. When he died she was quiet for so long it scared me, I thought she would never speak again. Then one morning, she came into my bedroom, threw her arms around me and told me that she would never leave me.' June cried again.