| I pulled myself up off of the ground. I was aching, and bleeding. This didn't bother me though - all that concerned me at that particular moment in time was Nicky, and if he was alright. As I got up, I saw the red car speed away, revealing Nicky lying in the road. "Oh my god - Nicky!" I ran over to him, crying as I ran. "Nicky.....Nicky!" I knelt down beside him - he was lying on his side, so I lay him flat on his back - his head was bleeding badly, and he had bad wounds to his stomach, and right side, which were also bleeding. "Nicky? Nicky? Nicky!......Oh god, please...........say something! Nicky!" By this time I was shrieking. "Say something....Nicky?" "Charlotte?" Nicky groaned......"My stomach hurts." "Thank god you're alive - you had me worried there........oh my, look at you........" Instead of the perfect face that usually stared back at me, I was faced with a swollen, cut, and bruised face. Tears were still rolling down my cheeks. "Nicky - I'm going to move you to the side of the road, encase of traffic comming ok?" Nicky groaned, so I interpreted that as a yes. I pulled Nicky to the road side, where he was safer. I knew I needed to get help, and fast. There was no traffic, or people about, so I had no choice but to phone from the pay phone around the corner. "I'm going to phone for help okay - don't worry Nicky - you'll be just fine......you'll see. I'm going to phone for help from that pay phone - I promise, you'll be okay Nicky." I tried to sound as reassuring as I possibly could, but wasn't very successful........tears still rolling down my cheeks. I got up, and made my way to the phone box, and dialed the emergency services. It seemed like eternity, before I'd given the details, and was able to make my way back to Nicky. As I approached Nicky, I saw the extent of his injuries - they looked horrendous. I knelt back down beside him, and grasped his hand, to comfort him, and myself. "Help is on the way, don't worry, just hold on, everything will be okay." As I said this Nicky squeezed my hand. "Oh Nicky, why did you have to push me out of the way?.........it should be me in this position, not you.......you saved my life.......oh Nicky." I broke down in to tears. This was my worst nightmare - I was kneeling at the side of the road, with the person I cared most about in the world, and he was injured, badly. I couldn't stop myself from crying. As I looked in to Nicky eyes, I saw that same glint in them - the glint I loved so much. "Charlotte.............." "It's okay Nicky........I know you're in pain - you don't have to say anything." "Charlotte................I love you." "I love you too Nicky, more than you will ever know......you're the most important person in my life......I love you so much." I knelt down to kiss him, and as I pulled away, Nicky reached out, and touched the shamrock necolace I was wearing around my neck - the necklace he'd given me. He smiled. I got up and looked around, to see if the ambulance was in sight. It seemed like ages since I had called it. It wasn't anywhere to be seen. I didn't want to tell Nicky this, so I said, still standing up. " The ambulance will be here any minute now Nicky - you'll be home in no time." There was no answer, so I knelt back down beside Nicky. "Nicky, help will be with us soon okay?" There was still no response. A horrible feeling came over me at that particular moment - a feeling like I'd never felt before, a sick kind of feeling. "Nicky? Nicky?...........Nicky, say something!" I began to shout; "Nicky! Nicky!" The tears had returned, streaming down my face. I grabbed Nicky and shook him, but still nothing. I noticed the glint had left his eyes. "Nicky........c'mon...............this is no time for fooling about......just say something!" Nicky was still, and not responding. By this time I could hardly see Nicky, for the tears in my eyes. "Nicky....say something...anything. Nicky......oh no god.......please, you can't! You can't ! You can't leave me Nicky.......you can't! Wake up.... Nicky - wake up. Oh god, please god - you can't leave me Nicky - you can't." I was hysterical by this point, not knowing what to do. My crying had turned in to screaming, screaming with fear. I felt for a pulse, but I already knew what I'd find - nothing - not a pulse at all. I couldn't take it all in......I felt sick, that horrible feeling had turned in to something worse. I shook Nicky again, just wishing he'd speak. I would've given everything in the world - all my possesions.....everything, if Nicky would just have woken up. I held Nicky in my arms, screaming, and sobbing; "Nicky......please! You can't do this to me....Nicky. I love you Nicky! You can't leave me! Nicky - you can't die, not now.....Nicky! Nicky- I love you!" I refused to believe the obvious - that there was no hope. I cradled Nicky in my arms, crying. I kissed his head; "Nicky, I love you......do you hear? I love you Nicky Byrne - I'll always love you, always - no one can ever take you're place. Oh Nicky......it should've been me hit by that car, not you! Nicky - Oh Nicky, I love you so much. Please, please please wake up." I tried to convince myself Nicky would wake up at any moment, but deep down I knew he wouldn't. As I held Nicky, my sobbing became more and more intense. "Nicky Byrne - I love you." I reached up, and touched the shamrock around my neck. As I looked up at the sky, with Nicky cradled in my arms, I shouted the question; "Why?" |