Child (Ish) Dreams

Chapter Thirteen

The needles were taken out, the oxygen tube was allowed out of her nose and she was free to change and go home.

"One final thing, Miss Greene?" The nurse said as Sapphire packed the bag which Crystal had grabbed for her before coming to the hospital in an ambulance.

"Yes?"

"Your sister called this morning to say a Samantha Woods would be taking you home? Miss Woods is waiting in the waiting room." Sapphire's heart skipped a beat.

"Oh. Right. Thank you." The nurse nodded and left. Sapphire took a moment before grabbing her bag. She thanked the nurses and doctors at the ICU desk before leaving the ward. Right next to the now locked ICU doors was the waiting room. Sapphire peered in the glass and her heart jumped. Within the room was Sam. She was turned away from the door and peering out of the window. Sapphire took in Sam's hair, cleanly shaven once more. The spike, the diamond, the tattoos, the jeans and blue shirt. She tried to put it into memory. Who knew what would occur today?

Sapphire pushed open the door but stayed there. Sam turned around at the creak of the hinges and Sapphire continued to drink in her face. She looked nice. Healthy. Apart from the paleness of her face and the dark circles around her eyes.

"Sapphire." Sam's voice was a sigh, a relieved sigh.

"Sam. Why did you stay? You look exhausted."

"I feel it," Sam ran a hand through her hair. Her hair was nice and clean shaven but also rumpled as if Sam had been continually running her hands through her hair. She smiled ruefully at Sapphire. "Should we go?" They left the waiting room and walked out to the lifts together. They got in the lift and the doors closed with just them. Sapphire fidgeted with a piece of her hair. She wished she could wash it first.

"How are you?" Sam asked gently.

"I'm... Good. Now. Very. Okay. A bit." What on earth was the right answer to that question?

"Are you in any more pain?"

"No. I'm just tired and in need of a good wash." Sam chuckled.

"That's good then." Sapphire turned to Sam, glancing at the lights ticking down to the ground floor.

"What about you?" Sapphire asked.

"I'm fine, tired too."

"Are you okay to drive?"

"I'll be fine."

"Sure?"

"Yes."

The lift doors opened. They were silent until they walked to the parking lot and were in Sam's car, a borrow from her parents as it was a familiar mud brown coloured Ford from about fifteen years ago. Sam put the key in the ignition, started the car and they drove off. Sam drove the car to a cafe in the town. They parked outside and bagged a table outside in the sunshine.

"What would you like to drink?" Sam asked.

"A latte, please. I'll have to pay you when you drop me off, Crystal didn't get me my purse." Sapphire said shamefacedly.

"No, it's on me. Anything to eat?"

"No thanks." Sam left to get the drinks. Sapphire traced designs on the swirly silvery tabletop until she got back. Sam placed a tray on the table. She then sat down and handed out the drinks, Sapphire's latte on the white china teacup and saucer, her own mocha latte and a small jug of milk and sugar plus a plate with two croissants on it.

"We both need to eat," Sam explained.

"Thank you." They both added milk and sugar to their own tastes. Sapphire then picked her croissant while Sam watched.

"I'm not okay," Sam said, at last. Sapphire looked up at her.

"Me neither." She whispered.

"I miss you. I want to give us a second chance. Nearly losing you... twice... Made me realise how much I love you."

"I drank to drown out the memories. I haven't slept in our bed for weeks. I've missed you and nothing that I did helped that. Nothing." Sapphire took a sip of her latte. Sam popped a bit of croissant into her mouth.

"So is this a chance for us to try again?" She asked once she had swallowed. Sapphire took another sip.

"I want us to." She said as she placed her cup back down again.

"Me too. So I think we definitely should." As Sam spoke, she reached across and took Sapphire's hand. Sapphire squeezed it and finally felt her heart fill for the first time in what seemed a long time. They stayed like that until Sam broke the contact to pick up her mocha latte and take a sip. Sapphire ate her croissant and then licked the crumbs off her fingers. Sam put down her cup thoughtfully.

"There has to be some basic ground though. We need like... Rules?"

"What kind of rules?" Sapphire asked.

"No more drinking."

"Okay."

"No more smoking." Sapphire blushed.

"How did you know about that?"

"Crystal told me a few bits," Sam replied. Sapphire cringed inwardly but nodded.

"Okay, no more smoking."

"We are not trying for a baby any more. Not when our love life is on a bit of a see-saw." Sapphire nodded, drinking a bit of her latte.

"I definitely agree with that."

"Good. And we need limitations to our relationship now. Are we planning on moving in straight away?"

"That depends. Where are you living?" It was Sam's turn to cringe.

"I'm living with my dad, currently."

"Ah. Well, you can move back in. It is OUR house."

"Is that a bit rash?" Sam asked, dipping her finger in the sugar pot and licking it off before doing it again. Sapphire slapped her hand away. Sam looked at Sapphire, a bit stunned. Sapphire's own face looked a bit horrified. Then Sam burst into laughter.

"Definitely not if we're already at that part of our relationship." Sapphire smiled and withdrew her hand.

"Well if you're uncomfortable, I can sleep on the sofa. This was my mistake and I should be the one to sleep there."

"Maybe a few nights separated wouldn't hurt but I'm not happy with you sleeping on the sofa." Sam frowned.

"I will fight you for it." Sam's frown turned into a smile.

"I'll let you take the sofa if you wish."

"Just until you feel better," Sapphire said. Sam nodded.

"Agreed. Is there any other things we should consider?"

"Well... Maybe counselling if worse comes to worst?"

"Hopefully it won't come to that but fingers crossed."

They talked a bit more about lighter topics, Sam's failed attempt at the gym and her spilt cup of coffee due to exhaustion. Once they finished their cups, they left the cafe. Sam dropped Sapphire back at the house.

"I'll let you settle in and maybe I can move back in tomorrow?" Sam asked. Sapphire nodded as she unbuckled herself and grabbed her bag from the back seat.

"That's fine. I'll see you tomorrow." There was a brief moment when Sapphire and Sam both looked at each other, both debating but it was Sapphire who broke the silence and left the car. She waved before turning and going back into the flat.

The flat's windows were open, the curtains wide and the place had not been so spick and span since Sam had left. Everything had been dusted, polished, hoovered and cleaned. The laundry had been done, the bins emptied, the dishes cleaned and put away. Sapphire emptied her bag and then went for a shower. It had never felt so good to feel clean, washed and smelling nice. She looked in the fridge and was surprised to see it had all been restocked. Same with the cupboards for any food that may have perished. Sapphire made herself a cheese sandwich and ate it while watching some late night T.V. She then made herself a cup of tea, drank it and went to bed on the sofa. She fell asleep soundly.