I burst out from the entrance at the bottom of the building and dashed acoss the car park to my car. Unlocking it from a distance i wondered at what could possibly had happened to Terry. I lept into the car starting up the engine before i even shut the door. It was a good job i had a nice fast car it came in useful sometimes. I hurtled along the roads at a breakneck speed even faster than usual. Pulling into the hospital carpark rather breathless i locked the car whilst already legging it towards the front door.

I paused at the desk to catch my breath, hair a mess and my tie cast usunder over my shoulder. "Terry.. Urgh Terry Walton please," I rammed out in between harsh and deep breaths. "Up the stairs and turn left you can't miss it," But i was already off running again. I smashed open the doors to the stairwell and had to leap to the side to avoid colliding with a man in a wheelchair. "Whatch where your goning sonny!" he shouted after me but i paid little attention.

I entered the corridor and following the signs to the intensive are unit rounded the corner and saw Alice sitting in a chair by the wall. Milo and Reggie were already both there and as i approached Milo got up and walked towards me, Reggie staying to comfort Alice. "How is he?" I asked Milo. He sighed and looked down at the floor. "Not good at all im afriad, he's deep in a coma right now so we know until he wakes up if he's going to survive or not. All i could think of to say was "Fuck."

I walked over to Alice and Reggie, who offered me a silent nod his arm still around Alice. I sat down beside Alice and Reggie removed his arm saying "i'm going into to check on him is that ok?" Alice nodded her acceptance through teary eyes. Milo volunteered to go with Reggie. i satyed behind with Alice to make sure she was ok and to find out what had happened that could have incapitated Terry so.

"Alice," I said "Look at me." She obliged tears streaking her face and bags under her eyes. She looked thin and pale and wracked with misery. "Listen Alice Terry will be fine i promise the docotor's here are the best in the city i know i own the hospital," This wasnt entirely true but i did have a big influence over the board of directors after knowing three of them through school. But by telling Alice this i hoped to reilive her suffering a bit. "I hope so, i really hope so i don't know what i would do without him," She replied and leaned against me. i put my arm around her frail shoulders as she began to sob again her jaw length black hair shaking violently.

Milo and Reggie returned and i stood to go visit Terry. Just before i got to the door to the room i heard Alice say something behind me. "Wait. Dixie wait I'll come with you," Surprised I looked round at her as she climbed shakily to her feet. "Are you sure I asked her?" Worried about her health. She nodded and walked over to me. I put and arm round her shoulders and guided her through the doors.

A terrible scene awaited us inside the doors. A white linen bed was up against one of the walls and in it lay my friend of thirty one year's Terry. He looked terrible. Tubes of all sorts and needles were embedded in his arms and stomach. Machines of varying shapes and sizes all with different functions surrounded the bed. I almost broke down then seeing him like that but i had to stay strong if only to look after Alice. She was already in tears again and standing at the end of the bed softly stroking Terry's hair. I approached them and looked down into the silent sleeping face below me. A dark blue and purple bruise surrounded his left eye. I smiled as I remembered the last time he had acquired a black eye like that. We had called him Shiny for a week. Even as we stood there looking at him I had a sense of foreboding that warned me this might be the last time I could see Terry.

"Oh Terry what have you done to yourself," I whispered under my breath. As if in response he moved slightly and his eyelids fluttered. Alice hunched straight over him and i heard him whisper one word and the machines began flashing and going haywire. I saw the tears falling from Alice's eyes and the noises of doctors and nurses bashing through the doors. But I knew it was too late Terry was gone. With the name of his love on his lips. His last word still haunts me. He said "Alice..."