Love, loathe, betrayal - a gang story

Chapter 35

Later in the hospital I'm joined with Danny and Will round Clays hospital bed. "I heard what happened on the rescue, is everyone okay?" Demi says charging through the door, she wasn't on the rescue mission as it was meant to be kept on the low down. After explaining what I did to Alex I get another pang of guilt, I know he was a bad man but I still took someone's life away. "I'm proud of your bravery babe!" Demi chimes giving me a hug.

Clays eyes flutter open and I jump to attention momentarily forgetting everything Seb told me about his past which leads me to feel a bit awkward. "Clay, dude. Thank god" Danny chimes patting his hand "is your mum okay?" He asks me and Will. "Yeah she's fine a bit shook up but no serious injuries, she's being checked out now" Will responds and I just smile, "I'm sorry this happened because of me" I whimper not making eye contact with Clay. The words "I'm sorry" is all I seem to have heard the past few weeks. "It's okay honestly, atleast it's over now hey" I nod. "I should be able to leave in a day or two." "We'll have Melanie on standby for when you return but for now me and Flo need to see mum, make a quick recovery please" Will comments with a smile. Now I know Clay is going to be fine I don't feel as bad leaving.

When faced with our mum I'm not really sure what to say, I bet she has so many questions I know I did and I wasn't quite dropped in it like her. "You knew the whole time?" She directs at me "I'm sorry mum, it was all to protect you," it sounds different me saying it was to protect her I know how annoying it is when Will keeps saying it to me. "I'm sorry mum" Will says there goes the famous words again 'I'm sorry' "I understand, I just can't believe you dad was the leader of this gang for so many years without us knowing!" She sulks. Will did most of the explaining and she handles it pretty well. I honestly have no idea what's going to happen next. Will said he would cart me and mum off to a different county, I can't leave my life behind.

"Florence?" My brother chimes I must have zoned out thinking about leaving. "Huh?" "You and mum are leaving tomorrow morning I have some friends in Tarroh Town they can hook you up with a place to stay until you find your feet okay?" Except it came out as less of a question and more of a demand. "Do I even have a choice?" His features soften "I wish it could be different, I really do but Alex is Walters son and you just killed him, they will want revenge" Will states, I know their is truth in his words but as much as I have bipolar thoughts on the gang I have become quite accustomed to the routine and all the people in it. "I suggest you say your goodbyes tonight, you will be leaving in two days." He explains with next to no expression. Maybe it is for the best me and mum can start a new life, no haunting memories of my dads limp body on the staircase, or Walter and his dirty hands all over me. "Okay Flo?" "Flo?" "Yes, yes okay" I say and he sighs "look I'm sorry and I know what you had to do today will be with you forever but you need to move past this okay, you will get over it!" He says rubbing my shoulders "your right." I hug him and we carry on walking down the hospital hallways.

I wake up to the soft licks of Stellas tongue on my chin, I groan that my sleep went so quickly. I force myself out of bed and pet my cat knowing I will also have to leave her behind. I get a piece of lined paper from the kitchen and being to write my goodbye note to Clayton...

"Dear Clay,
By the time you are out of hospital and home I'll probably be gone, my brother thought it would be best for me and mum to move elsewhere and it's just too painful for me to say goodbye in person. You have welcomed me into the gang with open arms and have been nothing but selfless and lovely towards me. You are such a strong human being with everything you have been through and I aspire to be half as brave as you are in the future. Look after Stella - Storm for me and remember she won't sleep without her blue bear... you had an effect on me I never thought possible, you taught me that besides the violence and drama of the gang people can still have a good heart. Truth be told I know about your past, your brother told me about what you did to Sydney but people change I believe you changed. Hopefully I'll see you again soon but now goodbye Clayton.
Love Florence"

I contemplated ripping it up and starting again but it will have to do, I am still taken aback by the revelations of what Clayton did in his younger years but I believe he changed. Part of me still feels anxious that this all could be a joke to him  our kids, him saying he loved me, everything.

There is one place I need to be before I say goodbye to Layla and the gang later, so after eating some Nutella on toast and a glass of orange juice I head over to the gangs graveyard.

I place some flowers next to my fathers grave and take a seat in front of the cold headstone. "I avenged you dad, well kind of" I begin "I told you I would, I may not have taken the whole contents of the Luxes out but I killed Alex, Walters son. I know that isn't necessarily something to be proud of but I think we can make an exception" I say quietly still shocked about the whole situation. "I'm leaving tomorrow, going to a new town, to start a new life. Don't worry though I will never forget about you or your legacy. This gang has taught me so much in so little time as much as I hated being caught up in everything, I don't think I'd change anything I even wish I knew about it when you were still around" I giggle picking at my nails "we could be like a father - daughter duo out of a spy movie" I lie down on my back next to the grave and stare up at the light blue sky, taking in the sweet scent of the freshly cut flowers I brought.

Before I know where I am it's 3pm and my stomach is growling as I rejected it for so long. "Well I have to go, I promise I will be back soon, this isn't the end..." I get up and dust myself off, I'm meeting Layla at a little cafe round the corner I said I had news and wanted to talk things over with her.