Broken Strings

Quite the gentleman

“Good luck with Jeremy today,” I lay a hand on Helen’s shoulder and she shoots me a nervous smile.
“Thanks, but I don’t think it’s the appointments I have to worry about. I can’t wrap my head around this whole ‘single parent’ thing,” she said. I watched her eyes turn to glass and knew this was a hard subject to talk about for her.
“Look Helen, I’m no parent but Amelia and I have been through hell and back with our parents. We’ve called full time and if I were to give you any advice with Jeremy it’d be to love him. If you love this little guy, then you’ll always do what’s right for him, no matter the circumstances,” Peter’s words tugged on a heart string.
“You’ll be a wonderful Mother,” I finished rubbing her shoulder. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“If Jeremy turns into half the kid you both are I’ll be a happy woman,” she smiled, returning our smiles.
“It was lovely meeting you, and of course little Jeremy,” I give my last goodbyes to them both before jumping out of the car and heading for the hospital.
“He’s a gorgeous kid. You’re a lucky lady, look after him and he’ll love you no matter what,” Peter said wrapping a single arm around Helen. “Thanks for everything.”
“It’s my pleasure guys, if we see each other again let me know how you are going will you?”
“Of course,” I reply. Peter takes my hand and together we trudge into the hospital. “Peter?”
“Yes?”
“How is your arm?” I asked to a chuckling Peter. I realise I’ve turned a deep and meaningful moment into such a light hearted one but is it so funny? “What?”
“You!” he laughed, “You’re asking me whether I’m okay when in actual fact, you were the one abducted, you were the one they wanted to kill, you were the one I was supposed to save,” his expression turned quite serious toward the end of his explanation.
“You did save me Peter, again.”
“It’s my honour,” he chuckled.
“C’mon you idiot!” Peter followed me in, our feet both in sync. Together we approached the reception where a large lady dressed in black attire was set to greet us.
“Can I help you?” she didn’t look up from her desk until she placed the pile of documents she held in hand on the cupboard behind her. “Oh dear…” she moaned. “What’s gone wrong?” he speech was slurred, her hair neatly combed into a bun and her hand entwined themselves with the roll of string sitting by her computer screen.
“It’s a long story,” Peter mumbled. “You see, Amelia was abducted and-” she cut in.
“Hold on you two,” she raised from her seat and placed an arm around both of us. My brain was frazzled now that this was becoming real. “Sit here, I’ll get the doctor,” with that she was on the run. She rounded a corner and was lost from sight.
“How do you feel?” Peter asked, sitting a hand on my leg.
“Tired, dirty but most of all confused.”
“You’re confused because you are tired. You need sleep, I’ll tell the Doc when we get in there.”
“Thanks Peter,” I mumbled. My once chirpy mood around Helen and Jeremy was fading rapidly and my head spins whilst my stomach churns at the smell of this place.
“Hello I’m Doctor Fisher. I’ll take care of you both, come this way,” a man in a white trench coat and a stethoscope around his neck approached us taking me by the hand and motioning for Peter to follow along. “Can you tell me what’s happened?” he asked. It was obvious he wasn’t about to listen, he was just distracting me. “What is your name?”
“Amelia.”
“Can you sit up here?” he pat the bed that I climbed upon. The white sheets and pillow made it nearly impossible to stay awake.
“Amelia was abducted by a couple, they tied her to a chair and left her for three, four days and I helped her out of there,” I am blessed to have Peter here by me to answer the questions. I’m just not up for anything right now.
“You were abducted? Whoa,” Dr. Fisher placed the stethoscope on my chest and back. “I’ll have to call the police, it’ll be your choice whether to make a formal complaint or not. If they’re still out there I suggest you do. You my darling will have to stay in overnight. I want to keep an eye on you, we’ll place you on a drip which should make you feel much better. I’ll have to get you both to fill out one of these for the meantime,” he handed Peter two pieces of paper, a pen and clipboard. “How are you young fella?” he pat the bed next to me and Peter climbed on up.
“My names Peter, I think there is something wrong with my arm,” he said lifting the material covering it.
“Does this hurt?” I looked to Peter who winced in pain. “Okay, we’ll need to get you an X-ray on that arm. I would bet it’s broken.”
“Great,” Peter moaned.
The doctor turned back to me, “He’s quite the gentleman isn’t he?” I nodded.
“He’s quite incredible.”

Oh my goodness! So sorry! It's been so long! Hope you all enjoy! xxx