Opal's Story

'She's a fighter'

It's been a long night and I've stayed in mikes arms for most of it, I found him crying over Tracy

LAST NIGHT

'AHHH!!'

I wake up, launching forward as tears stream down my cheeks

All I could hear now was her scream

I head to the bathroom when I hear sniffling downstairs, I creep down to see who it is and I'm shocked to see Mike in tears on the sofa

'Mike?' I say

He quickly springs up, wiping his eyes

'Opal! Why aren't you asleep?' He says

'Why aren't you?' I say

'smarty pants' he says before patting the seat next to him

I sit down, trying to stop shaking

'I miss her' I say

'I know you do, and I do too' he says sadly

I give him a hug, he's not as good a hugger as Tracy, but he's not awful

'Will She Be Okay?' I ask

He wipes his tears away before looking down to me

'Course she will, she's a fighter' he says

I'm not so sure...

I cuddle up to him and watch the rain splattering the windows, thinking of Tracy all alone was bringing on uncontrollable tears

'Hey, we need to stay strong don't we? She wouldn't want us to be crying' he says

He sounds angry, but I think that's because he doesn't want to cry in front of me

I hear him softly snoring a couple seconds later, I can't sleep

All I'm thinking is, was it my fault

Is she gonna be okay

Have I lost my best friend

All sorts of questions race through my head, questions I'd never ever want to answer as I close my eyes all I can see is Tracy rolling off the roof

I get up and put a blanket on Mike giving him a hug I head back upstairs and go into my room

'Please be okay, I can't lose anyone else' I whisper before diving onto my bed and sobbing into my pillow

BACK TO THE PRESENT

I open my eyes, I must've fell asleep  because I see Mike above me

He gives me a smile and helps me up I look around me to see I'm in the hospital

'Don't worry, we're here to see Tracy' he says

I nod, now I remember

'You can see her now' I hear a nurse say, Mike takes my hand, his trembling as much as mine and we go down the ward

We eventually get to Tracys and I watch through the tiny glass window begging and begging for her to be okay

But if she isn't then that stays with me for the rest of my life, and I lose my best friend

She can't die, she simply can't.

'Opal?' Mike says

'Sorry' I say as we go inside Mike instantly takes her hand, I take her other one but it reminds me of the roof and so I let go

'Hey Trace' Mike says, weakly smiling

I don't say anything. I just look at what I've done to her, I'll never forgive myself for this

'Opal, are you alright?' Mike says

I give him a nod, despite my whole body shaking

'Keep on fighting, we love you so much, the kids send their love, they signed this card' mike says propping it up on the table

He's trying to stay strong but we're both crumbling

'I'm gonna go and get a coffee, do you want anything opal?' Mike says, his voice breaking

And probably his heart too.

'I'm okay thanks' I say

He nods and dashes out the room, Tracys like a daughter to him so I understand why this is hard

'I'm so sorry Tracy, I never meant to hurt you, just please be okay, you're my best friend and I don't want to lose you, this is all my fault and I understand if you don't want to see me again, I'll ask mike for a transfer but I just want you to know I really am sorry' I say, trying to stop the tears due to roll down my cheeks

'I..it wasn't your fault' I hear a whisper

I look up to see Tracy's regained consciousness and taken her oxygen mask off

'Oh thank god you're okay! I'm so sorry Tracy really I am' I start blabbing on

'It's okay, it's not your fault Opal I promise' she says weakly, before putting the mask back on

Mike re enters with a coffee and I smile at him

'Told you she's a fighter' he says

'Did he? Then it must be true' Tracy says giving me a smile