wild child (A Tony Perry love story)

chapter 19

LOWRI

Someone else has just walked in. I turn my head and after taking a moment to focus, I see someone who looks like Mike. My Mike. My best friend. I look at him.

"You look like Mike" I mumble. Now my head is really confused. I hear someone crying. The man holding me is sobbing. I look back at him.

"Why are you crying?" I ask.

"I love you Lowri. I thought I'd lost you forever and you don't even know it's me" he shouts. I flinch. My Tony never shouted at me. I push my way out of his grip and stumble towards the door. I don't want them to shout at me. I fall out of the door and land awkwardly on my arm. It hurts. I look at it. It looks strange. It didn't look like that before. Oh.

TONY

I dash out of the door and she's sitting on the sand, holding her left arm. I jump down the steps and help her up.

"It really hurts" she says, tears flowing down her face. I pick her up and carry her back inside. Her arm looks broken. It doesn't look like it should. I don't know where the hospital is either. Mike has got the car here though so at least we can take her. I pick her up again and carry her out to the car. We drive towards the exit and ask for directions to the hospital. It's a couple of miles away so Mike drives while I get in the back with her.

LOWRI

It really hurts now. I think I'm going to pass out with the pain.

TONY

She passed out. Through pain or alcohol - I'm not sure which. I gently stroke her head as we pull up at the hospital. Mike lifts her out of my arms and carries her through the door. We explain what has happened and give in her details. I don't know what to put for date of birth though. She never told me her birthday. I feel awful. She's taken away for an x ray and is told her arm is broken. It's a clean break whatever that means so it will heal ok. They strap it up and say she will have to go back in a few days for a cast to be put on. They can't do it now incase her arm swells.

LOWRI

They let me leave the hospital after a few hours. I have been given strong painkillers but can't take any until the alcohol is out of my system. We have left the hospital and are on our way back to the van. I close my eyes. I want to sleep.

TONY

I want to take her home. But she has yet to show any proper recognition of myself or Mike. We arrive at the van and I carry her in. She's almost asleep so I strip her wetsuit off her and leaving her swimming gear on, I tuck her in as best as I can. Looks like we are spending tonight here with her.

LOWRI

I wake up a couple of hours later, having had a nightmare. Again. I've had bad dreams every night since I left. On the rare occasions I sleep long enough. I cry out in pain as I jolt my arm. I feel a pair of arms wrap around me. I jump in fright.

"Shh, it's me" says a voice I've craved hearing. I start sobbing hysterically and the tears aren't stopping anytime soon.

TONY

Lowri has been sobbing for over an hour now. She hasn't spoken, just lies there with the tears gushing. I can't calm her down and my tears are going to start again soon. Mike has gone to sleep in my car as there's not enough room in here for him. I just want my Lowri back.