�I already do, Shee, I already do� but what�what about Patrick, the kids�?�
�I love the kids, I do. I care for Patrick, but I need someone to lean on, Des. I can�t cope, I feel like I�m falling, like I�m giving way. I can�t cope.�
These wounds won�t seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There�s too much that time cannot erase
�Could you live with that? Could you cope with that�me�broken, flawed. Yet still be the man I love, the man in front of me?� The feelings of intense self hatred were starting� She hadn�t felt them for years, she had banished those memories, thrown them out to the dogs, they had not affected her for so long. All this while, Des had been silent, watching, listening, taking in what she said. She looked at him, almost a pathetic shadow of the woman she had been a day before. Her character had changed in the last hours, he still loved her, loved her more perhaps; but it was surreal to experience this change. He leant over her and kissed her, very softly on the lips.
�Only if you�re sure it�s what you want, what you need.� Gone was pushing Des, all for a romantic liaison. Tonight had affected him too, in ways he could not catalogue.
�I am. Be here when I wake, please.�
�But what about Patr�� It was too late, she was fast asleep once again.
Des sat in silence for a few minutes, listening to the slight breathing, watching the slightly parted lips, seeing emotions pass over the angelic face before him. Then he remembered her husband and daughter outside. He opened the door and they came toward him, expectant.
�She�s asleep again,� he whispered, unsure how to continue. �She�she asked that I stay as well� I, ummm�� Siobhan nodded, she already knew what was happening, aware of her father�s incapability�s. Patrick had a look of surprise on his face, but nodded with his daughter, not wishing to argue. They sat in silence round the bed, Patrick and Siobhan on one side, Des on the other, holding her hands.
Nurses came and went, whispered details to each other as they did so. A doctor came in and spoke to Patrick quietly, Siobhan periodically brought tea. Time went by. At around midday, all three watchers were slowly nodding off round the bed, when Sheelagh started spluttering and coughing. Des grabbed a sick bowl and held it up for her, but it was not vomit that came from Sheelagh. It was blood. Glistening and red. Siobhan ran out of the room; to find a nurse no doubt. Patrick sat wailing.
�Sheelagh! Hold on Sheelagh� Des coerced the semi conscious patient. �You can do it, you know you can.� A nurse appeared beside him, and Des stepped back to let the professionals do their business.
He watched numbly as they held her down, stopped her convulsions, fed her tablets. He had to turn his head as the affixed an IV like machine to her wrist, the pain on her semi conscious face was too much. Patrick, by this point had ran out of the room.
�Are you her husband?� A Germanic sounding Doctor turned to him with a questioning face. Des stared at him. Siobhan looked slightly surprised.
�No, my father�s� in the toilets. Des is a� friend and a work mate. I�m her daughter.� She answered for him. The Doctor looked at her appraisingly.
�Are you over eighteen?�
�Yes��
�Well, I shall inform you then. your mother has been suffering severe internal bleeding. We think it�s due to the vicious attack she has received. I�m afraid we don�t know if she�ll come round. She�s on a life support machine, as you see; we�re doing all we can. I�m sorry.� Siobhan looked at him aghast, Des� face lost all remaining colour, he was green. �If you or your father have any questions, feel free to come and find me. This nurse will be staying to keep an eye on your mother.� He left the room. Des and Siobhan were left to stare hopelessly at each other, tears coursing down their cheeks like untamed rivers.
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