The Fountain Girl

Chapter 27

It was a matter that was hushed up and kept out of the police radar. No one knew about it, actually, apart from those that were involved. I'd bet that Katie didn't even know. She probably didn't care at all.

Anna and I lay on hospital beds next to each other, like I'd requested. My father was sitting in a chair in the corner, his eyes closed, taking a short nap. He had been here all night, worried for me and Anna, giving me the paternal love and care I needed.

Anna and I weren't allowed to stand up till the next day, because we were put on 'fall precaution'. Oh, how I wished I could just walk that short distance of three metres and hug her so tightly, make sure she was safe in my embrace, that no one would ever harm her again.

Anna looked at me and blinked once, smiling weakly with lips that could heal a broken heart with a kiss. The sunken quality to her cheeks were gone now, since the nurses fed her well. There were plasters all over her arms and legs, covering the bruises and cuts that might turn out to be scars.

There was a tightly wound bandage around my abdomen, where someone had used a metal pole to hit me. A couple of small bruises were scattered across my arms. Nothing more.

A single tear fell out of Anna's eye as she let her arm lie against the bed. It must've hurt a lot, because she still tried to smile at me even though she was crying. It broke my heart to see her like that, so hurt, in so much pain, but still trying to keep my mood up. Heck, she was only two and a half!

"Are you okay?"

"Ouch."

I started shedding tears too, at her reply.

"Don't cry."

I laughed weakly and wiped the tear away with my thumb. I nodded and closed my eyes, with the coming drowsy influence of the medicine that the nurses had given me earlier.

We were in the park, the same, cool autumn breeze sweeping through, making the golden leaves rustle and the birds take off into the sunset.  She squeezed my hand tightly, because, she told me earlier, that her hands were cold. 

Her scarf was wrapped into a tight bundle around her neck and face, so that her ears and mouth were tucked under it. Her cute over-sized cardigan was rubbing against my arm, the wool pressing softly against my skin. I felt a little giddy, just holding her hand, sipping hot chocolate in the other. I was thankful, at that moment, that autumn nights were cold, although that thought now seemed silly.

And then, Colman appeared out of a sudden gray cloud of smoke, fiercely jerking Katie out of our little moment and pulling her into his swirling mass of depressingly gray smoke. 

I blinked my eyes open, and it was late at night. No one was in the room except Anna and I, and the room was really dark. Her eyes were open, staring at me. She blinked once. Her face was now tear-stained, and her eyes were slightly sore. My heart was already breaking to the point of crumbling into nothing.

I put an elbow on my bed, and used my bicep strength to push myself up. My other hand grabbed the cold railing of the hospital bed. Argh, my abdomen hurt so badly. But I had to get up. Somehow making sure that my legs wouldn't give way and collapse, I stood up properly. A few shaky steps got me to Anna's bed.

I held her face. She smiled again. I wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Are you okay?" 

She nodded.

"I'm sorry."

She nodded once more.

"How do you feel?" I asked.

"How...how do y-you feel?" she stammered. A stream of tears began flowing out of my eyes once more.

"I'm fine. You can't ever leave me again, Anna. I won't let them do that to you again." I wasn't sure what 'that' I was referring to, but I was sure Anna knew what I meant.

She smiled, and held my hand that was carressing her face.

"Okay."