LONDON'S BURNING
First Love

EPILOGUE

Kirsty

I felt my baby leave me. I was sad but sort of relieved, if that doesn't sound too callous. We weren't ready to be parents. We both knew that.

If the baby had lived, maybe we would have got married and lived happily ever after. Or would he have run a mile? I know I would have done if I could. I wanted to.

I wondered who would be there for him if I didn't make it. Who would he have to share things with? Special things. Who would understand him? What would he do? Would he find someone else?

It was my decision. Should I stay or was it time to leave?

Hi-Ho

She had saved someone's life at the risk of her own. She's never thought about that. She was brave. I would have preferred a wimp who could be with me now.

What am I talking about? No I wouldn't. I love the brave, funny, kind and caring Kirsty. I'm the hesitant one. She'd take my hand and we would both jump in together.

I met Naz, her colleague. He felt he owed her something. He said I was lucky to have found the best woman there was.

She was sat up in bed when I went to see her. She seemed to be much better, she'd got dressed for starters. She smiled when I presented her with a big bunch of flowers. I replaced the wilting flowers with the fresh new ones.

"You'll have to move those" she told me. "They're not allowed on the ward, they're a health hazard!"

I was a bit puzzled. "Oh?"

She smiled weakly. I sat on the bed with her.

She looked at me.

"I wasn't ready for a baby."

"To be honest" I admitted. "Neither was I."

"But what if it had happened?"

I took her hand. "Don't worry about that now. We'll just have to take more care next time!"

She nodded.

We both knew there would be a next time.

Kirsty

I made the right decision. Just as I made the right call when I went to save Naz. He was alive and that was down to me. I tried to be modest about it, after all it was all part of the job.

Naz came to thank me personally. I was having some physio at the time. My left side had been weakened by damage to my brain. Apparently I'd been hit with a brick! Nice area, will have to remember to visit there more often!

I was beginning to get frustrated with the exercises when Naz appeared.

"You don't make the world's best patient do you?" he grinned.

I was pleased to see him. "Hiya."

He sat down. "How are you?"

"Getting there. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm getting there."

He smiled.

"So how are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine. Thanks to you. I'm sorry for… well for what happened."

"It wasn't your fault."

He paused. "I'm going to take my paramedic exams."

"Good for you." I was pleased for him.

"I owe it to you."

"You don't owe me anything."

"I think I do."

Ronnie arrived at that point. Naz stood up.

"Well I'd better be going."

"Good luck with everything." I told him.

"And you" he replied before leaving.

Ronnie sat down and took my hand. I felt tired. I lay down.

"Do you still want to go out with me now I'm a cripple?"

"Don't be stupid" he told me. "You're not a cripple. You're still the same Kirsty I fell in love with. Do you still feel the same for me?" he wondered.

"Course I do."

He squeezed my hand. "I'll tell you what, when you get out of here, we'll go on holiday together. To the desert island and sandy beach."

I smiled. "Yeah I'd like that."

He smiled and held my hand until I fell asleep.

London's Burning – First Love ~ Epilogue © Karen Moody 03/05/2001