Two Eyes, Two minds, Two Fangs

Chapter 43 - Too long

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Twenty-four hours too long.

It was the first time I'd spoken since the sun rose on the new day. Millie had been and gone, along with Jay and Ricky durning the night. Siobhan had not yet stopped by. Unsurprisingly, neither had my parents.

"Hey, Nial... Please, please wake up." I whispered, my hand caressing his gently. "I love you."

"Delilah?" A relaxing friendly voice said from the doorway. I span around to see Hannah stood half in the room looking worriedly at what she saw. Her eyes skipped over the machinery as she stepped further into the room shyly, and they were awash with sorrow and concern.

"Are you... Ok?" she asked quietly once she had gathered herself after the shock of seeing the state Nial and I were in. I nodded, afraid that my voice would crack and I would upset my friend further.

"I'm so sorry about what happened. I came as soon as I found out. Your parents are worried... Your mom came around, asking if you were at my house. Then the police rung while she was there. I came straight away. She wanted to come..." She trailed off when I made a disgusted sound in my throat.

"I'm sure they didn't want this to happen." she sighed, kneeling by my side but giving me room enough to feel secure. "My mom convinced her to stay and give you some time... She cares."

"My mom didn't want this but my dad..." I replied, "Well, you know what he's like."

"Yeah." She agreed. "So, how is he?"

"Nial? He's not getting any better." I answered, almost choking on tears.

"But no worse?"

"No." I sighed.

"How about you? Really?" She asked again, spotting my lies from a mile off.

"Been better." I admitted.

"You should get some sleep."

"I have."

"More than ten minutes." She said with intention but all focused in the right place. I didn't answer but I didn't need to. Hannah held out a very full bag to me. "I checked in around your house before I came. I guessed you'd need some clothes and stuff." she smiled and handed me the big carrier of homely smelling stuff.

"Thank you." I answered, more grateful than she would know. After a long pause I spoke again, "Urm... So how are my parents doing?" I asked.

"Worried. Your mom was happy to see me but your dad didn't want me to bring this stuff. He was hoping you'd have to go home eventually... You will you know. You'll have to see them sometime."

"I know," I replied, "this just made me so mad. My dad must know that this was his fault and my mom, well; she just can't seem to stand on her own. She has to follow him all the time. She can't think for herself, not once." I stopped and cried, just what I had not wanted to do but somehow needed to. She folded me in her arms immediately, hugging me close but not so tight that I had to let go of Nial's still hand. There was just the right amount of assertiveness and love in her embrace.

"I'm sorry." I sniffed after lessening the weight of the world through my tears.

"Don't apologize, Delilah, its fine. Your being so brave but you really do need to get some sleep." She said sitting me back on my heels.

"Delilah. You don't have to tell me, but... How did Nial get in the accident?"

After sniffing yet again I replied. "My dad hit him. He drove and wasn't right. He had concussion or something. That's why I blame my dad. But I just let him go..." I wiped at my nose with the tissue Hannah handed me. "It was my fault too."