A/N: NicoleKidmanFanxD, thanks for being so loyal to this story – I know I haven't been kind in my efforts to update but I promise I'm committed.
So, without further ado – here is Chapter 25…
I was looking Toni straight in the eye. I felt comforted as she ran her finger down the side of my face, her thumb wiping away a tear under my eye.
'You ok?' Her tone was soft. Her accent obviously sounded a bit weird. She laughed.
'You never met a Liverpudlian?' She raised her eyebrows, chucking me under the chin with her thumb and forefinger.
I sat there, stunned. No, I had never ever met a Liverpudlian in my life. My mouth twitched.
'I'm fine.' I tried to keep the shakiness out of my voice as she stroked my hair, smiling at me as if I was the most beautiful thing in the world.
'You sure?'
I nodded. My mouth felt like jelly – I didn't know what to say – I couldn't find the words.
'Listen, Lyra – I can't imagine how hard this must be for you… but all I had to do was look after you – until the time was right and then you could go back to Deena – your mum.'
'I thought you cared. I really did think you cared.' My words cut her like a knife.
She put her head in her hands and sobbed, pausing only to look up at me.
'I do care about you, you know I do. I know it's difficult to understand, babe, but I only wanted to protect you. That was all this was. I just wanted you to be safe.'
A great sob welled up inside me. My eyes closed. I felt sick. I don't understand where it came from. Pain suddenly overwhelmed me. My head was burning. My eyes felt like they were on fire. Tears burned my eyes as they ran down my face, splashing onto the floor.
It seemed like I closed my eyes for a few minutes, but by the time I opened them Toni had picked me up and she was carrying me upstairs.
I wanted to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt like lead. I wanted to move, but God, she was so bloody strong, she was carrying me in a death grip. The last thing I saw before I lost consciousness was her face, and she was lying me in bed, tucking me under the covers, and placing pillows behind me to keep me propped up.
I felt something sharp prick my arm and some kind of liquid seeping into my body, and then the world drifted away…
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