first question... ~ Paul McCartney (1st book)

•Part 45•

August 23 1966

Paul ordered everyone to stop instantly as soon as the barrier fell to the ground. It was as if Amelia had been submerged by the crowd and was no where to be seen. Next thing he saw was her little fragile body being trampled on after she collapsed. Paul was over distraught and felt helpless as he yelled for help and for people to back away. Then the security finally rushed in noticing the situation and ordered everyone to move away using whistles and megaphones. The boys were directed off the stage and out of the situation but he pressed to stay and help Amelia. As he was the last one to leave the stage, he could see the paramedics and ambulance crew rush in from both entrances and they recovered her bashed and bruised body. Paul didn't realise how bad the situation was until they arrived and brought her body up from the ground for everyone to see.

When he reached safety, he broke down and wept as harder than he ever had. Those words that he knew were from her stuck in his mind even though he couldn't see her when she said them.

"I can't do this anymore Paul"

They rang like a piecing ring through his mind and fell on his knees with his wet face in his hot hands. He felt other people surround him and place their reassuring hands on his back to try and calm him. He jumped up knowing they were going to leave.

"I have to go with her!" He shouted but was quickly hushed by Brian.

"Paul you cannot possibly do that have you seen the scene out there! There is no way I'm letting you anywhere near that crowd" he said holding his shoulders restricting his movement.

Paul stepped back knowing he was right and down leaning against the wall. As everyone left to sort out the situation, Paul cried some more as he let the guilt seep in.

He should've known this would happen, the tour has been hectic right from the start. He started to become angry as himself and punched the wall with his hand out of frustration. He was angry at the fact that he kept pushing her to do things out of her comfort zone not remembering that Amelia wasn't used to this sort of lifestyle. Besides she hadn't even seen her family for nearly a month and he knew how deeply they meant to her. The tears flooded the atmosphere and they didn't stop. If only he'd opened his eyes and seen the stress that had been building up over the past few weeks. She was more anxious than before and he didn't do anything about it.

Out the corner of his eye he saw a tall slender figure come out next to him and sat down.

"Everything's going to be alright Paul, you'll see" John said comforting him.

"How do you know that? Did you see the star that she was in!" He shouted in despair.

John didn't know what to say after that comment, Amelia did look rather battered. The two spent a few more minutes just sitting and waiting for something good to come along. Someone to say to them that she was perfectly fine. Or for Paul to suddenly wake up in his own bed with her perfect figure right beside him. But none of that happened, not even when he was on the way to the hospital the following day. Paul ran through the halls trying his hardest to find her as he asked strangers if they'd seen her.