Save You Tonight

Chapter 2

Abandoned. Alone. This is how I felt during the hour I sat waiting to hear the dreaded news. I was staring aimlessly at the wall ahead of me; twiddling my thumbs with agitation.

Nothing could prepare me for what I was going to hear next. Ring ring. Ring ring. I left it ringing whilst I tried to compose myself. Then I pressed the answer button and anxiously put the phone to my ear.

"Brooke? Can you hear me sweetie?"

Sweetie? I thought to myself. She never calls me that.

"Yes mum, I can hear you."

"The doctors have been doing lost of tests on your father..."

At this point I blanked out what she was saying. I didn't want to hear any of this. I felt myself go lightheaded and dizzy. She was still rambling on but I couldn't take in what she was saying. All I could hear was the somber tone of her voice.

"Its a brain tumour." I heard my mother say out of nowhere.

"Its what?" I shrieked.

I could feel my chest tightening and I found myself gasping for breath. My heart was beating excessively fast. Why did this have to happen? I tried to reach for the glass of water near me, but my body had lost all energy and my trembling hands knocked the glass off the coffee table. The unexpected sound of the glass smashing on the floorboards frightened me and it was echoing through my head.

"A brain tumour. Your father has cancer." I could hear the pain in her voice.

"Mum, I need to go."

"Darling, I know it's hard to take in but it's better you know now than making you wait."

"I understand."

I know it sounds obnoxious considering the circumstances, but I just needed my own company. I wanted to think about what I just heard without my mothers distressed voice going through my head. All sense of emotions vanished. I didn't know how I felt. I didn't know how I was supposed to feel; or react. I surveyed the room where it all happened and I couldn't stop envisioning my fathers seizure. I needed to get away from it. I needed to escape. I left the house and headed into the dark night.

I walked to the nearby park. I know its peaceful there and its where I go to relax. When I got there it was gone midnight though I was in no hurry to go back.

I scuffed my feet along the moonlit gravel path until I reached a bench. I leant the top of my back against the armrest, knees bent and feet positioned on the bench so I was lying along it. I stared up at the stars. I felt a tear fall down my cheek but I had no energy to wipe it away. I couldn't come to terms with what I had just found out. I didn't want to. Why me? I could hear a group of boys playing football in the field behind me but it didn't distract me from gazing at the beautiful night sky. I saw the odd shooting star which made me smile through my pain.

***********

I imagine about 20 minutes past until I heard one of the boys walk closer towards me. Don't see me. Please don't notice me. I just wanted to be alone.

"Which way did the ball go?" I heard the boy shout to his mates.

"I think it rolled over by the bench." They replied.

Shit shit shit. I stayed frozen; eyes fixated one on particular star which seemed to have shone brighter than the rest. I was still crying silent tears.

I heard the boy approach the back of the bench. Of course hes going to see me, and I was right. The dark silhouette of a curly haired boy looked down at my face.

"Hey hey, are you okay?" he said to be with this incredible, soothing voice.

I didn't want to talk to anyone so I continued looking at the stars. The company of someone else made me cry more; louder this time.

"Leave me alone" I replied.

"Please, sit up. You can tell me whats wrong." he said cautiously as he sat by my feet on the other side of the bench.

"No, you won't understand." I whimpered.

"I can try."

"You don't know me. Go away" I said sternly.

"I cant. I'm involved now. And anyway, I'm not going to just leave a distressed girl here alone. Not at this time anyway"

"Don't be stupid."

"I'm not being stupid. I guess I'm just going to have to sit here until you tell me whats wrong."

Heck. Why did he have to be so concerned. But more to the point; why was his voice so hypnotic? I felt like I couldn't just ignore him. He was trying to help.

I slowly twisted my body round so I was sat next to him in the normal seated position. As my eyes adjusted into focus I looked at the face of the teen sat next to me.