10 – Exhaustion, rage, darkness and warmth
He had spent all day looking for her in nearly every hospital in Manchester. He knew that she could be anywhere, not necessarily in a hospital; but since something wrong might had happened to her, he didn't think in other places.
At night, he couldn't take it anymore. He sat on a bench in Crumpsall Park, exhausted. His heart and mind commanded him to keep looking, but his whole body simply didn't respond.
Tilting his head backwards, he stared at the sky full of stars. He found himself thinking about her; about when they were in their place at nighttime. After dinner, both went outside to contemplate the nocturnal landscape. After a couple of minutes, the had forgotten it and both were focused in each other, wrapping in a tender embrace and kissing.
He cried silently.
Suddenly he heard a faint noise coming from nowhere. He wouldn't have paid it any attention if it hadn't started increasing and become more and more familiar more familiar. He craned his neck towards the source of that noise.
An ambulance appeared from nowhere with its siren killing the silence of the whole area. He followed it and after a couple of minutes walking, behind several buildings, there it was; the North Manchester General Hospital.
There wasn't a soul in the hospital hall. His limbs were numb, so he inspected the whole area from the entrance gate. He spotted someone behind the information desk.
- Excuse me? – The young woman raised her head from the computer. – I'm looking for a patient and I'm not sure whether she has been taken here –
- Are you family of her? – she asked, her eyes glued to the computer screen again.
- Actually no, but I came from… -
- Then, I'm afraid I can't give you that information – she replied drily
- But I really need to find out if she's here and she's ok. Her name is Daphne Moon and…
- I'm sorry sir, but I can't… –
- Who are you! – Someone yelled from the other side of the hall
Niles turned around and realized that the question was meant for him. A bunch of six or seven burly men, all of them, taller and considerably bigger than Niles. The one who had asked, rushed towards him. He was neither as tall nor big as the rest of the men, but he was definitely the most intimidating.
He grabbed Niles by the lapels of his jacket. – I swear to God that if you know where that bastard is and you don't tell me, I will beat you up – he roared
Niles was terrified. He had no idea who that man was, and he was willing to kill him. But the worst was that the rest of guys weren't going to intervene and stop him. They even seemed eager, for goodness sake!
- Sorry… - he stammered – I… I don't know who…. -
- Leave him alone! –a feminine voice, behind all the guys cut him off – He doesn't know Andrew, so put him down! – she commanded sternly.
Niles was thankful that woman had come to his rescue.
- Don't get involved Claire! If he's asking for Daphne, he must know something – and then he turned to Niles. – You better start talking, lad.
- For heaven's sake, knock it off! – the woman ordered - He has no idea what had happened. He's just a very good friend of hers, so stop threatening him! –
- All right. But we don't know him, so why should I…. –
- You're not in charge here, Simon. He's going to see her. If you disagree, go and phone Stephen – she said harshly. Then turned to Niles and took him softly by the hand – Come Niles, you need to see her. –
He had no idea who she was, but he was glad to get away from all those men. They took the elevator to the third floor and then walked along a couple of corridors. It wasn't until they reached door 348 that she spoke to him again.
- Forgive them Niles. They are just worried about Daphne. –
- It's ok, I understand. – He said. Then, he stared at the room's door. – Daphne's there? – He whispered as if afraid it wasn't true.
- Yes Niles, she is. I'm so happy you have found her –
He smiled briefly. Mixed feelings arose in his mind. He couldn't be happier that he was going to meet her, but at the same time, he was utterly terrified. He looked at Claire and realized something.
- I don't want to seem rude but, who are you? –
- My name's Clare. I'm Daphne's sister-in-law. I'm also her best friend.
- Nice to meet you. But how do you… –
- There will be time for that later. Let's get in –
He nodded and crossed the door following her.
The room was in semidarkness, only a faint light from the full moon came through the window.
She was lying on the bed motionless. For a moment, he thought that the worst had happened, but then he noticed the steady beeping sound of the heart monitor and the constant rising and falling of her chest and sighed relieved. He couldn't believe his eyes. There she was; Daphne, the woman he had grown to love in front of him. But instead of a lively expression, her beautiful face was pale. She looked so fragile and vulnerable.
- What happened to her? – He asked quivering without looking away.
- Her ex-boyfriend tried to kill her. – Claire explained in a trembling barely audible voice from a dark corner of the room. – He shot her in her chest. A neighbor found her in the backyard of her house. Doctors got to stabilize her, but she's still seriously ill -
Niles' heart wrenched. The woman he loved could die. God, he was so scared. If that happened, he could not… could not… No! He had to be brave for her.
He sat down beside her and took her hand gently on his own, while he stroked her forehead with his other hand.
- Hey, sweetheart, it's me, Niles. I can't believe I have found you my love. I'm not going to leave you anymore; we're going to be together. But you have to get well. – Tears were falling freely down his face. – Please you have to be fine. I love you so much. I need you… –
He couldn't stop crying even if he wanted. He had never felt a pain so great in his life. A nurse entered the room and talked to Claire. She came to Niles.
- Niles, it's time for us to go. Visiting hours are over. -
He was unaware of both women's presence. He only answered when Claire shook his shoulders lightly
- What? No, no, I don't… I don't want to go. I… I have to be here… with her. I can't lea… leave her – he stammered
- I know Niles, but listen, you are tired and need to sleep. Please, let's go. –
- She's right sir. You better go and rest. We're going to take care of her. – said the nurse.
After a couple of minutes, she managed to coax him out of the room. They started walking along the corridor, when suddenly, he stopped short.
- What is it, Niles? What's wrong? -
- I can't go back to my hotel. I think I'm going to stay here in this corridor.-
- Nonsense, it's freezing in here. Why don't we go to your hotel, get your things and you stay at my place?
- Oh I wouldn't want to impose you on that. You've already been very kind to me. –
- I insist. Besides, I guess you'll have a lot of questions on your mind. Let's go. –
- Here we are. Stephen's in a business trip in London. I'll show you the guest room. –
Claire and Stephen's apartment was warm and homely. He was really thankful for having met her and not being all alone in his hotel room. Once they were sat in the kitchen with hot coffees on the table, Claire was the first one to speak
- You know, you're even more handsome than what Daphne had told me –
He looked up at her still confused.
- I…I don't… –
- I know your story. About you and Daphne. –
- Daphne and I are the best of friends. We've known each other since we were kids and we have always told each other everything. We were like sisters. She was the happiest woman on earth, always wearing a smile, helping each other. –
He nodded wanting to know more.
- But, a couple of months ago, there was a change in her behavior. We stopped meeting and when we did, she was sad and gloomy. Whenever I asked her what was wrong, she smiled and told me it was nothing. – Then she burst into tears – If I had known that it was all his fault I, I…. -
Niles quickly left his chair and sat down beside her
- Hey, calm down – he said hugging her – she is going to be ok. We have to be strong for her –
She nodded and wiped her tears.
- You're right. Everything's going to be fine. – After a couple of minutes, she carried on.
- Suddenly, she was happy again; happier than ever. She said she had had a dream; a wonderful dream where she had met a man. At first, I didn't attach importance to it. But then, she had that dream again, and again and again. She started to believe that it was more than a dream; that it was a vision and kept saying that you were real and someday, you would meet each other. She was so sure about that, that I had to believe her. –
He smiled.
- In a way, you gave her the strength to get rid of that miserable life with him. -
- She gave me strength too. When I met her, everything changed in me and showed me a love I didn't know it existed. –
She took his hands.
- God! You have no idea what I've felt when saw you in that hospital –
- You knew it was me? –
- Well, I wasn't sure at first. But she had told me that her dream man was blonde, handsome and American. That and you asking for her did the rest. –
The both laughed. After a couple of minutes talking, he yawned.
- Oh Niles, I'm so sorry. Here I am, rambling on and you're dead tired –
- Don't be. I needed this. The talk and a little bit of company. Thank you Claire –
Before going to bed, Niles hugged Claire tightly, not a word spoken. The both knew, tomorrow it was going to be a long day.