Chapter 11 - Waking
Kirsty could hear voices. They sounded like they were a very long way away, and were fuzzy, almost as if they were a recording on a very old cassette tape. She wasn't quite sure where she was. What had happened? She opened her eyes slowly, and saw a figure standing over her. Memories flooded her mind - Warren standing above her with wild eyes, preparing to inflict yet more pain, yet another beating, never stopping, no matter how much she screamed and pleaded.
She recoiled from the figure above her, panic in her eyes, and screamed. Then the image became clearer. The figure standing over her wasn't Warren; it was Zoe, holding her legs in the air. She looked extremely concerned as she gently put Kirsty's legs back on the floor, knelt down beside her and gripped onto her hand.
"Kirsty, it's alright, it's me, Zoe. You collapsed…"she said, trying to reassure her. "Look, just stay lying down here for a moment, Tess has just gone to find a cubicle."
Kirsty lay back. She was shaking, and the movement made her bruised body hurt even more. She tried to focus on the ceiling, acutely aware that she was lying in the middle of the Emergency Department, and she could feel her face turning red with embarrassment.
"That's better, you're getting a bit more colour back now," Zoe sounded relieved.
Tess returned moments later, with the information that cubicle four was free. She crouched down beside Kirsty.
"Kirsty, do you think you can sit up? Zoe and I are here if you need us, if you feel dizzy just say and we'll get you lying back down again, alright?" Kirsty nodded, and used her hands to push herself up. Pain shot through her chest and a wave of nausea swept over her, and she had to fight not to cry out. Her struggle must have shown in her eyes, though, because Tess and Zoe exchanged looks.
Kirsty managed to stand, and with the support of Tess and Zoe reached the cubicle, where they had to help her onto the bed. The pain from the movement was almost unbearable, but as she lay down it began to decrease.
"Thanks," Kirsty said, weakly. "I'll be fine in a bit; I was due a break twenty minutes ago anyway."
"Don't be daft," Zoe said. "You need to take the rest of the day off, doesn't she, Tess?" She looked to her colleague for support. Tess nodded, not taking her eyes off the pale nurse.
"Of course, and Kirsty, next time you're not up to working, just tell me, alright? I'm not a complete dragon, and no-one here will think badly of you if you take a few days off ill. I'll pop back and see you in a bit, okay?" And with that Tess left the cubicle, drawing the curtains behind her.
"I'll need to examine you," Zoe said, business-like as usual.
"No," Kirsty's answer came out more sharply than she'd intended. "I mean, I'm alright now, it was just a dizzy spell. I was feeling a bit rough yesterday, I've probably got a bug or something." At least that was only half a lie, she told herself.
"Better to be on the safe side, though," Zoe replied. "It'll only take ten minutes."
"I said no," Kirsty snapped. She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. "I'm sorry, Zoe. But I'm fine, honestly."
"Do you want me to get someone else? Adam?" Zoe asked. Something was wrong, she knew it.
Kirsty shook her head, and winced as the simple movement caused her pain. Zoe noticed, and sat on the end of Kirsty's bed.
"Look. When I collapsed last year and you found me, you didn't tell anyone about those pills. Now it's my turn to repay the favour. If you want to tell me anything, I promise you it'll stay between the two of us. But right now, I need to check you over. There's something more going on here than a simple faint, and I think you know that as well as I do. Come on, Kirsty."