CAUSE & EFFECT (Vol III)

Part 21-"Farrokh"

The phone began to ring. Its piercing sound had Daisy startle awake and reach for the receiver beside her bedside table.

Knocking down a glass of water, she swore as she picked up the phone "hello!" Her voice was irritated as well as tired.

"Daisy! Is that you?"

Recognising his raspy voice instantly, Daisy became even more annoyed "Roger, why on earth are you calling! Do you have any idea how long it took Diana to get the baby down?"

"I need you to listen to me carefully. I don't want you to panic, everything will be ok but I need you to promise that you'll listen to what I'm about to say calmly. Can you do that?" Rogers voice was terrifyingly formal and serious.

Sitting up in her bed, she switched on her bedside table lamp, her heart nervously beating at the impending news "Rogers what's happened?!"

He paused for a moment then slowly began "Freddie tried to commit suicide Daisy. He's in a bad state. He's overdosed on God knows what and...he's in emergency. Your uncle is looking after him but... it's not good Daisy"

A painful shriek escaped her mouth along with an on pour of tears  "Roger! Jesus Christ no! Will he... is he going to die?"

"No. But he's unconscious" Rogers fast reply gave Daisy relief.

"I'm coming straight away, I'll be there in 15 minutes" without waiting for a response, Daisy threw the receiver down without realising that it bounced off the base of the phone, and fell to the ground.

Throwing on a T-shirt and jeans, she ran downstairs where the night doorman, Eric, stared at her in confusion, as to why she was without proper winter wear and why she was in such a frantic state.

"Are you ok?" He asked cautiously

The question made her cry harder as she shook her head "no! No I'm not! It's my fault! Jesus if anything happens to him, it's all my fault"

Catching her mid fall, Eric grabbed Daisy as she collapsed into his arms. Her hysteria was alarming.

"Daisy can I call someone? What can I do?" His concern grew as he tried helping her regain her balance.

"I need to get to the hospital, he's dying and it's because of me!" Daisy's words made no sense to Eric who tried to sympathetically comfort her.

As her tears cascaded down her face, he finally realised who she might be talking about "Freddie! Are you talking about Freddie Mercury?!"

Daisy grabbed the front of Eric's blazer "Eric please don't say a word to anyone, I need to get to him"

Taking his keys from his trouser pocket he held it out "take my car, it's the red Mazda in the side street"

Kissing him thankfully, Daisy snatched the keys and ran towards the door.

                                   ***********

A buzzing sound overtook Daisy's thoughts as she sat in his room. Unable to focus on anything or anyone. She leaned into her hands covering her eyes, hoping she wouldn't break down again.

Sitting alone in his dimly lit room with nothing but the faint beeping of the heart monitor, she wondered what state he would have needed to have been in to try and end his own life.

Roger had found him passed out in the cold tub when he had gotten home. Empty pill bottles scattered around him while his arm hung over the ledge of the tub.

How long had he been out? Was there any brain damage? Would be be able to walk? Form a sentence? Would he ever be able to sing? Would he be ok?

The questions were unstoppable as they began to emerge in her head.

The click of the door opening caught her attention having her look up.

A frail looking older lady came in, she had been crying, she clutched her handkerchief which was pressed against her mouth.

Her brown eyes were red, much like Daisy's.

"Farrokh" her single word whisper was gut wrenching. Her pain so evident that it was impossible to not be completely devastated for her.

"My boy" she edged towards his bed before stopping and noticing Daisy.

Opening her arms lovingly, Daisy stood and collapsed into her. Not realising how much she needed his mother's hug, they both held eachother up, not only physically but emotionally.

"I'm so sorry Jer"

Jer pulled away and took hold of both of Daisy's hands "what ever for Daisy?"

Jer's  lack in relating Freddie's state with Daisy's absence in his life, made the entire situation even worse.

"It's...all my fault" Daisy's whimpering voice out a concerned look on Jer's face.

"What? Daisy, Daisy my child you...you have bought nothing but happiness to my boy, how can you ever think that this was your fault"

The door clicked again with Kash coming through quietly. She looked at Freddie and was hit by the reality of his state. Holding herself together, she swallowed her tears and remained strong, but the reality was, she wanted to fall to his bed and beg for him to wake up.

"Dad is...he's speaking to your uncle Daisy" she gave a reassuring smile but wasn't quite ready to go near her mother or Daisy, in fear that her controlled state would ultimately break  "I'm going to get a coffee, do either of you want anything?"

                                      *********

Refusing to leave his side, Daisy was given permission to sleep beside Freddie for the night.

Curling beside him while trying not to disturb any of the IV's attached to his veins, she made sure he was warm as she tucked his blanket under his sides.

Kissing his cheek gently, she noticed how clammy he was. Her tear fell onto his skin which she gently brushed away.

"Freddie, I know you can hear me" she began softly "I know you only did this for attention you big drama queen, but I need you to wake up for me. We need you back"

Laying beside him slowly, she placed her hand in his. For a moment she watched the heart monitor bring his heart beats to life on the screen. Despite being a light sleeper and hating any sound while she slept, she was relieved to have the machine beeping and reassuring her that he was alive and with her.

With a sigh, she closed her eyes and was surprised that despite being in a hospital, she was relaxed enough to let go of her tension and allow herself to sleep.