She's Not Cinderella

Vintage Hearts

Chapter 19

Sometimes it takes one big thing for everything to come together.

Like the universe, all in one Big Bang.

Maybe it's not always beautiful, but boy, if everything was always beautiful then would I out of place on this world.

So thanks for the imperfections. They remind us of what we hold dearest.

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FANS SWARM OUTSIDE HOSPITAL IN LONDON AS THE SLEEPING SWAN WAKES UP

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Yeah, it's me. I'm the 'Sleeping Swan' or whatever. Well, I'm pale enough to be a white swan anyway.

So you all want to know what's up right?

I'm in bloody therapy.

I know right? What the hell. I am totally sound of mind. Hell, the first thing I wanted to do when I woke up was brush my teeth!

Okay it wasn't.

I had the shock of my life.

It was Will. He looked like death. It sounds insensitive but man, I've been there. I've driven down the highway to hell, bought the t-shirt, and caught the stairway to heaven back to my bed but Will. Oh Will, he looked so alone. I'd never seen him like that before, it chilled me.

And when he saw me he just smiled. A sad smile. Like he'd seen it a thousand times before.

And all I wanted was for him to kiss me, y'know? It's weird. Like men always complain about how complicated women are, but sometimes, all she was is for him to gather her in his arms and kiss her and tell her it's gonna be fine.

I mean, man, just kiss the girl, okay?

William blinked instead. Which I don't feel is a good substitute.

And he blinked again.

And then he started to cry.

And he broke my heart again.

You know the thing about broken hearts is... You can't 'unbreak' a heart.

I mean, you tear a dress. You can't untear it. You can mend it. It won't be new anymore though, and gawd, I hate the term 'second-hand'. How about vintage.

Yeah. I have a vintage heart.

Where was I? Oh yeah, I came out of the coma, and the person who I love the most in the world is just crying, and I want to reach up and wipe away his tears when I realise I can't move.

Okay, so if Kelsey was here she would say;

"You totally could move, Adele. I saw you move. You're so dramatic, like you were paralysed or something which you were totally not."

Fine, imaginary Kelsey, have it your way.

I wanted to reach up and wipe away his tears when I realised I could move.

But only a little bit. Like I was so tired, my muscles were so tired, and my brain was tired even though I had basically been sleeping for three weeks, though I didn't really know it at the time.

And I started getting annoyed with myself, and annoyed Adeline is insensitive Adeline.

Yeah, I was totally going to say "Sup?".

But I couldn't. My mouth was as dry as the Sahara and he wouldn't look at me.

"Hhhhh"

My first word. Charming.

"Hhhhaa"

"Hhhhhey"

Will looked around. His expression... I'm not sure how to describe it. Joy and despair. Understanding and confusing. And pain.

"Adeline, they're going to take me away. They say I'm crazy but I know I'm seeing you. Show them. Please, Adeline."

He was broken, shaking, vulnerable.

He had taken the bullet for me, only I had the wound.

"Wiiil" I croaked.

It was feeble, but William heard it and his eyes widened. Slowly, as if he was afraid that any sudden movements would send me back in again, with trembling fingers he called the nurse.

A chubby woman in a nurses outfit scurried into the room.

"William I'm afraid I have bad n-Heavens above."

She was staring straight at me, and I looked back.

"I'll fetch the doctor."

**************

"Here she comes!"

Flashes exploded from every corner burning my retinas as I stepped out of the hospital, William clutching my arm. He still hadn't spoken to me properly yet, even though I'd been awake for a week, and looked pale and fragile.

"How do you feel?"

"Are you fully recovered?"

"Who was it that shot you?"

"Can you still sing?"

We ducked into the waiting car, and drove off into the distance, leaving the clamouring mob behind, but one of the questions still spun through my head:

"Who was it that shot you?"

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Short chapters, quick updates: deal? ;)

Xx Pavane