Forever And Ever.

5

I just sat staring at my daughter. She was so alive but so... lifeless.. at the same time. Noel sat on the other side of her across the room.
"I'm writing a book yer know" I say to Noel "been working on it for about two and a half year".

"A book?" He asks "about what?".

"I dunno, me life I guess" I reply.

"Can I read it like?".

"Nah".

"Why not?".

"Its not gonna be finished for a long time" I reply.

It had been five days since Elizbeth's accident. I couldnt leave her side, so I didnt. My mother was coming to visit today. I didnt want her to see her grandchild like this. I didnt even want to see this.

"Can yer gimme a brief?" Noel asks. He hadnt really left this room either. In a way we were friends again. We just talked when we felt like it about anything and everything.

"I guess. Ive got a draft in me bag" I reply.

"What? Why?".

"Incase i get the idea to change or add summat whilst im out" i reply "wanna hear some? This is just a draft mind. It probably wont make the final book".

"Go on then" he says and leans forward so his elbows rest on his knees and his head is in his hands.
I pull the stapled together typewrited papers out of my handbag and a pen... to make notes on his critique on it. There wasnt alot. Maybe about fifteen pages. Six chapters worth.

I clear my throat. "Chapter 2.
Without thinking I shout 'MANCHESTER CITY SUCK BALLS' in my very obviously manchester accent.
'Fuck off, who do you support? United? Wanker' some random guy says to me, he has to be in his twenties, not anyone im looking for.
'WHATS WRONG WITH UNITED YOU DOSED CUNT?' Thats a voice I recognised. Paul Arthurs better known as bonehead, he looked forty something but was only twenty-eight or something.
'YER WHAT? UNITED ARE LEPRECHAUN SHITE' that had to be Liam. It couldnt be anyone else but Liam. Before I could even think if it was Liam or not, he pops up and decks the geezer that called me a 'wanker', comfirming that it is infact him. Then absolute Mayhem breaks out. Chairs are thrown, glasses smashed, bones cracked, I was enjoying it until a glass came flying toward me and Noel dived both of us on the floor just in time.
'We've really gotta stop meeting like this' he jokes".
Noel snickers at this.

"I remember that" he says "those were the days".

"What do yer think then?" I ask.

"I really like that" he says "keep it in. I wont sue yer if yer publish it. But yer send me a copy when yer done". I just roll my eyes and look at my daughter.
My beautiful daughter.

"We should go out" I say suddenly.

"Out?" He asks "where to?".

"I dunno, Noel, anywhere but here. I need a drink or summat".

"What if she wakes up?".

"My mother's outside, get him to watch her, if she does she can call us" I reply. He doesnt reply and my mother walks in. Her blonde hair was greying slightly but she was still as beautiful as ever. In a way I was kind of jelous I didnt inherit her looks.
I stood up and hugged her.
"Hey mam" I say "I've missed yer".

"I'm so sorry about this, Dear" she says as we pull away from eachother.

"They said she might never wake" I reply "I dont know what to do but I need to leave this room".

"I get that. Five days in here is a long time. Alan and I can watch her for a bit" she comforts me as best she can "Alfie said he would come and see you tomorrow. I mean he lives 15 minutes away over the water so he has no excuse for not being here sooner".