Carla and Michelle had been escorted back to the waiting room and Michelle was beside herself with worry. She couldn't stand the not knowing again or why Ryan had taken a sudden turn for the worse. She cursed the drugs and started blaming herself for Ryan's use of them. She felt terrible, she should have given more support, forced him to a rehab and not left him to deviate because of her own selfish feelings and rocky relationship getting in the way. Ryan was her family, her only family apart from her parents and she couldn't lose him like she had her brothers. Frustrated and annoyed Michelle was pacing and no matter how hard Carla tried to offer her comfort she kept brushing her away. She couldn't stand to be touched. Michelle was trying as hard as she could to come to terms with it and deal with it in her own way but it was definitely proving a struggle.
"Why is this happening?" she suddenly yelled out in Carla's direction. Her tears had dried up and all her upset emotions replaced with those of anger.
Carla shook her head. "I don't know 'Chelle" she replied sadly.
"It's not fair Carla, he is a good kid" stressed Michelle and Carla nodded to agree but she wasn't sure who Michelle was trying to convince, unless it was herself.
"I know Chelle but we just have to wait and hope it will all be ok. Sit down please" asked Carla. She really wished there was something she could do to cheer her friend up.
Michelle reluctantly gave in and flopped down next to Carla where she then shimmied to the seat edge and sat nervously biting her nails. She hadn't felt this stressed at the hospital since the night they had bought Paul in after the car accident. He hadn't survived and now fear was getting the better of her, telling her the same was about to happen to her Ryan. Fidgeting Michelle just couldn't keep still, she was itching for information and the silence whilst she waited was agonising. Clock watching became the way she passed her time as she sat idly beside Carla awaiting the bad news she was so adamant was coming.
"Miss Connor?" Questioned a voice as it entered the room and both of them looked up.
It was late, really late and they had been waiting for hours to see someone and for reassurance. Michelle saw the look on the consultants face and instantly assumed the worst. She wasn't wrong to either. He smiled at them both and came in to take a seat in front of where they sat. Carla grabbed Michelle's free hand and squeezed tight, she needed her to know she was there for her no matter what was coming.
"So Miss Connor. The treatment we have now given Ryan has stabilised him again but we have had to sedate him until we can see whether it is having a positive effect" explained the consultant as Michelle just broke down in tears trying to understand. That is where Carla had to step in.
"So what does that mean exactly?"
"Well...it means that we have had to place Ryan into a light coma. He won't be woken for a few weeks so it is going to be quite a long process. Do you have any other questions at the moment? Obviously I will send the Doctor in to have a proper chat with you about the treatment" answered the Consultant.
Michelle shook her head and so did Carla, they had heard enough and they understood exactly what they had been told. The Consultant thanked them for them time and also offered his sympathy's seeing how much upset had been caused by the patient's latest developments. The second he was gone Carla pulled Michelle in close for a hug and let her sob as Michelle gripped onto Carla's clothes. She was beside herself with upset, heaving for breaths in between screams that marked her distress. This went on for twenty minutes or so until the Doctor came in.
Now they had the full picture Carla and Michelle went in to see Ryan and were both feeling very emotional after receiving all the facts about this type of treatment. The machines beeped away keeping him alive and he had double the amount of tubes going in and out of his body. It destroyed Michelle all over again to see him in such a state and she couldn't bring herself to go over and say goodbye. Folding her arms she turned and bolted before Carla could even get to grips with what was happening.
"We'll be back Ryan. I promise," whispered Carla as she sadly smiled over at him and then she thundered out of the room in search of Michelle.
She was nowhere to be found in the corridor and Carla felt panicked as she quickened her pace as she frantically searched all over for her. It wasn't until she found herself outside the accident and emergency entrance that she spotted Michelle sat on a bench. Folding her arms to keep the chill in the air out she headed over to Michelle and took a seat beside her. Night was well and truly set in again and the moon shone bright down on them as Carla wrapped an arm around Michelle to console her.
"Come on babe, it is all going to be ok. Ryan, he is a fighter just like you and he will pull through darling. I know he will" said Carla.
"You know that for a fact do you?" sniped Michelle as she gave Carla a frown.
"No but I hope Chelle. We have to be strong" offered Carla.
"I can't Carla. You don't understand!" Screamed Michelle as she stood up and turned to face Carla. She was so annoyed that she could be so positive but at the same time she was also jealous, she knew Carla was right and just wished she could see it the same way.
Carla felt her pain and it hurt so much it felt like it was her own. She just wished she could take it away from Michelle. She wasn't sure if this was the place or even the right time but she had been contemplating something all afternoon after feeling terrible for what she had done to Michelle and she had returned to the flat with every intention of asking her but then all the disruption had started.
"Michelle?" asked Carla as she looked up at her hopeful and expectant.
Michelle stared back at her and watched as Carla then got up onto her feet as she slowly approached her and took her hand. Suddenly she felt anxious and the moment between them grew intense. Carla licked her lips and then looked around nervously. It wasn't exactly as she had planned but she supposed it was an appropriate setting beneath the stars.
"Michelle Connor, will you be my partner forever?" Carla asked. She hadn't known exactly what to say and had struggled to find those just right words. Men definitely had this much easier. Michelle was in shock but she had to ask for her own clarification, she assumed she knew what Carla was asking but she just wanted to be sure.
"Carla are you asking me to…" she started but couldn't finish.
"Marry me?" asked Carla with a smile. "Yes, yes I am. I love you and I am truly sorry I didn't say it before" Carla explained.
Speechless Michelle stammered on her answer. It was all so sudden and definitely a shock but she knew her heart. She shouldn't be so happy but she couldn't hide it, this was the best thing to happen to her that day. Starting to cry she grinned and nodded.
"Yes. Yes I will Carla" she exclaimed.
