Chapter 2

It had come to end of their shift and they were leaving the hospital and headed to the pub. This is where they liked to unwind from a hard days work. On the way to pub all Robyn could think about was Rita and if she was okay.

"Do you think I should go see her?" Robyn piped up.

"Who?" Replied Lofty, a bit dazed as he was more worried about trying not to fall over.

"Who do you think? Rita! Do you think I should go see her?"

"Oh, I don't know, she's probably fine she's a grown woman."

"I know but...Yeh I suppose your right."

And with that they both carried on towards the pub.

Ash had been thinking about Rita all day, he knew Robyn wanted to go see her but he felt like this was something he had to do. He wasn't sure why, maybe it was an excuse to see Rita. So, at the end of his shift he got in his car and drove to Rita's flat.

After about half an hour Ash finally reached Rita's flat and knocked on the door. There was no answer. So he knocked again. But still no answer. He started to get worried and his pulse rate increased. He shouted for her through the letter box and he heard something hitting the floor as if she was trying to hide.

"Rita! I know you're in there I can hear you."

He started banging on the door now.

"Alright, alright, I'll let you in if you please just stop banging on my door." Rita exclaimed. She reached to unlock the door and opened it. "Ash, look I know I've been off for a long time but I'm starting to feel better and I should be in tomorrow so if that's all you want."

Rita went to go close the door but was stopped by Ash's hand. Rita looked at Ash with confusion.

"Rita, I'm not just here for that. I wanted to see if you were okay and I was hoping to come inside for a quick chat."

Ash could see the panic in Rita's eyes when he mentioned that he wanted to go inside. What has she got to worry about? He thought to himself.

"Uh. I'd rather you didn't it's just that I haven't cleaned in a while and everything's all over the place." Rita replied with a worried tone.

"Ah that doesn't matter we're supposed to be friends, why would I judge you?"

"No! Ash you are not coming in alright? I don't even know why you are here but you have really annoyed me and if you could just leave me alone that would be great." Rita spoke with anger in her voice, a side of her that not many people had seen.

Ash looked into her beautiful brown eyes, she looked so lost, so helpless and so empty. He gave her a sympathetic smile and said "look Rita I only want to help you. I came here because I know that everybody is missing you and I wanted to put their minds at ease by coming here and seeing if you were okay, and well to be honest I shouldn't really be bere, I should be at home with my wife but I chose to come here instead because I just care about you Rita, so much."

Rita just burst into tears, Ash grabbed her and pulled her in to hug her tightly not wanting to let go, too afraid that if he let go he would lose her forever.

They both stood in each others for about ten minutes. Rita finally pulled away from him apologizing for crying all over him. Ash just laughed, he really didn't mind at all, all he cared about was Rita.

"Look thanks for coming Ash but I really think you have to go, to your wife, don't worry about me, I'll be fine and I'll be in for work tomorrow, I promise."

Ash didn't want to go but he knew that he had stayed here for too long already.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Ash got into his car and gave Rita a wave before setting off home.

Once Rita got back inside she started to clean up all the empty bottles of alcohol, for some reason she no longer had the urge to take a swig from the bottle, something had changed within her but she couldn't quite work out what.