So, I hope you all enjoyed my last chapter - I loved writing it, even though it was somewhat depressing. Don't worry though, I think both will recover eventually though as I improvise, I can't be completely sure what I'll end up doing. Thanks to Sobia who reviewed and gave some feedback. I am actually considering writing another fan-fiction from Shay's point of view as you are quite right, Shay is a character whose point of view you never actually get to hear. So that is definitely an idea that is worth considering. Saying this again guys, your reviews really do spur me on to write more so thanks to all those who are continuing to support me and who are continuing to follow Shay and Cherry increasingly traumatic story. So yeah, you know my catch phrase. READ, ENJOY, and REVIEW.
Chapter 29: Back Down to Earth
I woke up what must only have been a few hours later when I felt someone tugging feebly on my hair. I started swatting them away before remembering where I'd fallen asleep and realising that there was a possibility it was Shay. I shot up immediately and looked straight into those ocean coloured eyes that I loved so much. For a moment, we both just stayed where we were, drinking in the sight of the other but then I threw my arms around him, withdrawing my embrace almost instantly though when he winced and sitting up again.
"Sorry," I tried to say before remembering I couldn't speak and dropping my intent gaze to the ground.
"What's up Cherry?" he asked placing a hand gently on my cheek and I looked up into his eyes once again, which were now wearing a slightly perplexed expression. I picked up my whiteboard and pen once again and wrote on it.
"I can't speak." I turned it around to face him looking rather embarrassed and watched as his expression went from perplexed to shocked and finally to pitying. That was the last thing I wanted - for him to pity me - especially when he was so much worse off. His expression really brought me back down to earth though, it really showed me quite how horrible my situation was. I wondered how I was ever going to fit in at school when I couldn't speak. Would I have to learn sign language? Or would I just have to carry this stupid whiteboard around forever? I began to cry and tried to pull myself back onto my wheelchair in order to exit the room, only to end up flat on my back, unable to move and staring helplessly at the ceiling.
"Cherry?" I heard Shay asking. "Cherry, are you ok?" But of course I was unable to answer him and two seconds later I heard an alarm sound and footsteps entering the room.
"Cherry," I heard Paddy gasp. "What happened Shay?"
"I don't know Paddy," I heard Shay's voice reply, sounding rather distressed. "She told me she couldn't speak and then just freaked."
"It's ok Shay," Doctor Parsons said gently, trying to comfort him and then he knelt down beside me. "Cherry?" he asked and I nodded. "I'm going to get you back into your wheelchair now and then get you back to your room. Is that ok?" I just nodded and reflected on how monotonous my 'conversations' were going to get if all I could do without the use of my whiteboard was shake and nod my head. As the doctors and nurse lifted me gently back into my wheelchair, I allowed a few tears to trickle down my cheek. Shay was looking at me miserably from the bed and as we caught each other's gaze, he mouthed 'I love you' and formed a heart shape with his fingers. I repeated the gesture before I was turned around and wheeled out of the room and across the corridor and back into my own. They were about to help me back into my bed but I stopped them, shaking my head, and pointing to my chair, implying that I would prefer to stay where I was and then pointing to the door, silently asking them to go out and leave me alone. They left the room and shut the door but I could still hear them speaking.
"We should never have left her alone with him," Paddy said angrily to Doctor Parsons. "I was afraid something like this might happen."
"It was what she wanted Paddy and besides, you can't smother your daughter - she clearly wanted some space." Doctor Parsons was clearly trying very hard to keep a level head. I must say I agreed with him. I loved my Dad very much but he did have a habit of being overprotective, perhaps because I was his only daughter by birth.
"Are you questioning my parenting skills?" Paddy asked, positively fuming now.
"Of course not," Doctor Parsons replied. "I'm merely saying that you need to give your daughter the space she needs to grow up."
"How dare you!" Paddy exclaimed and I heard footsteps walking away rather quickly. I could only guess that one or other of them had left before the argument could become too heated and I was left completely alone once more to stew over my thoughts.
I hope you all liked this chapter. I am hoping to have another one or possibly two out by then end of the day. Remember, I love it when you leave reviews and you know where the magic button is. I think I'm going to leave Cherry and Shay in hospital a little while longer. It'll give them time to recover (hopefully) and hopefully sometime to be with each other without even more drama. I think in the next chapter we'll see a bit more of Shay's father and possibly a bit of physio as Shay's father has been far too quiet considering the hot headed reputation he built for himself in Cherry Crush. So that could be a little more drama to look forward to. Anyway guys, you know what to do. READ, ENJOY, and REVIEW. :D
