A Second Chance

5

Listen to the song above while 

When they arrive at the university hospital's emergency room department, Niall's stretcher is immediately pushed into the emergency room. Harry only has a second to stroke Niall's left cheek and then he has to leave the room.

A friendly nurse on nighit duty shows him the way to the waiting area. The nurse asks: "Can I get you something ? Some water or tea ?" "You look like you need something to drink" she says. "Some water would be fine" is Harry's quick answer.

He takes a seat in the waiting area then. Ready for a long night. For the third time this evening, he finds himself waiting. The difference now is that there is a glimmer of hope in his heart. Harry doesn't know why and is wondering how this young emergency physician could even want to listen to him.

However, Harry feels better after pouring out his heart to a man he only has known for three hours at most.
Maybe time counts more when it comes to the things that have just happened. Maybe life threatening situations help to open us up. They show how short life can be. They are a warning that we should not procrastinate.
Looking back, a few things come to his mind that he thought there would be enough time for him to do later.

He had planned to go to Scotland with Gemma. She had been dreaming about taking a trip and walking through the Highlands since her 15th birthday. Gemma wanted to walk with their backpacks while enjoying the rough beauty of valleys, hills, and mountains. She wanted it to be just the two of them and the relaxing peace off of the beaten track.
It would be a kind of re-bonding because she was missing the times when they were younger and closer .... before he moved into a shared flat about three hours away from his hometown.
His promises were empty words though. He was too busy with the rat race of attending the university. He postponed the trip three years in a row.
This Summer would have been the appropriate time. Everything was organised, aircraft tickets to Aberdeen were purchased, and some hostels were booked. Two weeks together were planned . . .only brother and sister.

Too late !

He wanted to make her dream come true instead of delivering a moving eulogy at her funeral.

Harry isn't aware of a single tear that is dropping out of the corner of his right eye. This is one of many chances that he has missed.
Seeing Niall's life on the line makes him feel that fate won't give him many more chances to make things right.
Is it a sign maybe that he found Niall in that car ? Was it meant to be? A sign Niall wasn't supposed to die yet?But how will Niall react when he finds out that he has failed. What if ...?

Harry is thankful that Liam has been the emergency physician in charge. Not some stuck-up, cool wannabe Samaritan.
Harry wonders if it was a coincidence or fate that in one of his darkest hours he met someone who helped him with picking up the pieces of his messed up life.
It's easier to tell someone who is both not family and a professional about everything that makes your heart heavy and your mind dizzy. Someone who only listens and doesn't interrupt to take one side over another.

It didn't take long for Harry to talk straight from his heart. He displayed his confused thoughts on the table. Harry is hoping that Liam might be able to untangle all of his thoughts cause he's stuck in between all of the hopeless and dark thinking with no way out.
He can't see that there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. He needed someone to point that out.

Harry hears approaching steps, clacking heels and hushed but agitated voices. With that he knows he will have to face Maura.
One of the firemen told him that they have ordered the local police to investigate further and that they would inform Niall's family about the accident.

Harry gulps, needing to clear his throat and gets up from his chair to hug Maura. He strokes her back in order to give her some comfort. "Harry, how is he, is he ....?" As her voice is choking, he notices her trembling fingers.