New Directions (26)

She was asleep. Drawing a seat as close to her as I could I leaned Ted and Lucy’s envelope against the water jug sitting on the grey metal cabinet aside the bed. The afternoon sun fighting to get through the webbed shutters lit the place in a soft textured light. The muted sound of the monitor showing the World that Celia’s heart was working reminded us every ten seconds or so she was maintaining a decent blood pressure. This good news belied the state of her face. Puffiness around her eyes which less than a week ago sealed them into blood smeared slits had receded enough to allow her to see when she woke up. The bruising covering most of her face changed from the raw steak colour I saw last time into blobs of purple-blue bordered by yellow, like islands on satellite images.

Celia’s right arm was swathed in a pure white compress that stretched down as far as the ends of her hands allowing only an index finger decorated with a clipped-on oximeter to see daylight. Beneath her gown I noticed a wide bandage wrapped around her chest. An NHS blanket covered the rest of her battered body. The regular peeping in the dulled light started easing me into a doze.

‘Terence? Is that you?’

Fully awake in a microsecond I started like a frightened rabbit. ‘Yes, Maam’ I said and burst into a massive smile. ‘You made me jump.’ was all I could say.

Attempting to reach out to my hand she winced. ‘It’s very good of you to come all this way.’ Noticing the remains of my shiner and the discreet plaster over my stiches she said, ‘Oh dear they hurt you too.’

‘It’s nothing, just a scratch,’ I lied. Placing my hand on her bandaged wrist, I said, ‘I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you improving.’ Inside, my entire body felt like it was melting with relief and gratitude. For the first time since I was sixteen I had to blink back tears. It shocked me.

‘Is Dev coming to see me?

‘He will be here tomorrow, but I have strict instructions to telephone him as soon as I leave you.’

At that moment Annaleen breezed in and began fussing about checking the monitor and tightness of Celia’s various bandages. ‘The doctor will be here shortly,’ Miss Bow, she said as she aimed a pointed glance in my direction.

‘I think that’s my cue to leave.’

‘So soon?’ Celia smiled as best she could at Chubbyface, ‘Isn’t he a darling coming all this way? Everybody has been so kind. Even young Gerald was here I haven’t seen him since the funeral.’

Wondering what funeral she was referring to I confirmed to Annaleen I thought it was time to go and promised Celia another visit in a couple of days.

Sitting in my car I recalled the feeling I hadn’t felt since the troubles of my youth. Struggling to return them to the sealed compartment at back of my brain I thought, if the coppers don’t find that scum and get them what they deserve I’ll fucking do those cunts.