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Great Writing - Home > Extended > Let no man put asunder - chapter 30
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Extended Work
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| Let no man put asunder - chapter 30 | |
| By LynB | ||||||||||
| 12 January 2007 | ||||||||||
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Chapter 30 Jon slowly sank down on to the sofa, staring at the telephone, shaking from head to foot. He was in a complete daze, and could not take in what he had just been told. Oh God, what on earth had happened to Eliza? Had she had an accident? Had she been taken ill? He had been so stunned, that he not had the presence of mind to ask for more details. Suddenly, he began to feel very scared, and so alone. He desperately needed to talk to someone – but whom? He hesitated for a few minutes, then, swallowing his pride, he dialled Donna’s number. As he heard Steve’s voice on the other end of the line, he felt a sudden surge of anger, but fought to keep his self-control, and asked to speak to Donna. “She’s busy” he said, curtly. “Can I help at all?” “Oh, I think you’ve done enough! I’d like to talk to my wife – she is still my wife, for the moment!” “Is it important?” “It’s none of your bloody business! Now, let me speak to my wife, before I lose my temper!” “All right, all right! Calm down! I’ll put her on!” At the sound of Donna’s voice, he suddenly lost it, and broke down completely. He was sobbing uncontrollably, and she could not understand a word he was saying. She spoke softly, trying to calm him down. “Oh, Jon! Whatever’s the matter? Please, slow down! Come on – take some deep breaths! That’s it – now, tell me what’s happened!” “It’s Eliza! She’s in hospital – in intensive care! They said to get there as soon as possible! I can’t get there, Donna, I can’t get there! I can’t get to her, Donna! I don’t know what’s happened to her, and I’m so scared….” “Don’t be scared, love. You don’t have to face this alone – I’ll come and pick you up. I’ll come in with you, and we’ll find out what’s happened. You sit tight, and I’ll be with you as soon as I can.” He did not have a chance to answer her, before he heard Steve’s voice in the background “Whatever it is, he can get a bloody taxi!” he was saying. “You can’t go running around after him whenever he’s in trouble. How many more times, Donna – he’s not your problem any more! Let him get on with it! We’ve got our own lives to lead – he’s got his. For God’s sake, stop being such a soft touch…” As Steve should have realised, Donna did not take kindly to being ordered around, and she was just about to tell him what she thought of him, when Jon interrupted her. “It’s all right, Donna. He’s right – I’m not part of your life any more, and I should leave you alone. Don’t worry, I’ll be all right. I’ll get a taxi….” “You will not!” retorted Donna, glaring at Steve. “You’ve been ill, and you’re obviously scared out of your wits. Do you really think I’m going to let you go to the hospital alone? As you well know, no man orders me around, and the sooner Steve gets used to it, the better! I’ll be there in about twenty minutes!” As they drove in silence to the hospital, Donna could not help noticing how pale and drawn he looked. His bout of pneumonia had obviously taken its toll, and, as the occasional coughing fit left him doubled up, Donna realised that it had not finished with him yet. She put a gentle hand on his arm, in a gesture of silent comfort. For once in her life, she did not know what to say. She was with someone else now, yet she still wanted to be there for him when he was scared or in pain. If she didn’t care – why was she here? She was with Steve now; she shouldn’t care, yet somehow, she did. She knew she could never abandon him, no matter what. They had been through too much together for that. As they pulled into the hospital car park, she saw that his fists were clenched, and he was trembling. He looked at her helplessly, tears beginning to roll down his face; she took his hand and held it tightly. “Come on, love” she said, softly. “I’ll be with you – it’ll be all right. Let’s go inside, and find out what’s going on.” As they approached the main doors, he stopped short, and glanced at her. The look on his face tore at her heart. “I’m scared, Donna” he said, gripping her hand. “I don’t know if I can do this!” “You can. You have to! Come on, I’m here!” As they walked through the winding corridors, on their way to intensive care, he could feel his heart thudding fit to burst. The thought of what he might find when he arrived there, was filling him with dread. A nurse took them over to a bed in the corner. At first, he did not recognise the still figure lying there, then when he realised it was Eliza, he felt his knees suddenly give way beneath him. Donna grabbed his arm, and steered him towards a chair. She sat down next to him, her arm firmly around his shoulders. “Oh, God!” he whispered, shaking his head, not daring to touch her. “I didn’t even know it was her! What the hell has happened to her?” “She was beaten up” replied the nurse, her heart going out to him. “The person who called the ambulance said he heard her screaming, and came down to find some bloke running away.” “Where was she?” “We don’t know. That’s all the details we have at the moment. As you can see, she’s in a pretty bad way – some nasty injuries. It must have been a pretty vicious attack. It’s still touch and go at the moment.” “You mean, she could….” “At the moment, that’s a very strong possibility. I’m so sorry. Do you happen to know her next of kin?” “No, she told me she didn’t have any family. No brothers or sisters, and her parents are dead. She did mention a couple of aunts and uncles. I’m sorry, I can’t think straight…” When the nurse had gone, he just sat there in silence, staring at Eliza, stroking her hand. Seeing her like this was tearing him apart, yet he could not take his eyes off her. Her once beautiful face was bruised, swollen and scratched, and one or two particularly nasty cuts had been stitched together. Her arms were covered in bruises, and nasty red welts snaked around her neck. She was hooked up to a drip, feeding her life giving fluids. He found it impossible to equate this bruised, lifeless figure with the beautiful, vibrant woman he had fallen in love with. She was always smiling, and she gave him a reason to smile, too. Her zest for life seemed to rub off on everyone she met, and people often said they felt so much better after being in her company, even if it was just for a few minutes. She was dedicated to her profession, and many people who had come into her care, feeling as if their life was worthless, went home with renewed hope and joy in their hearts. Jon had met her when he was at his lowest ebb, when he had felt there was nothing left. However, fate had brought Eliza to him, and she had given him a reason to live. There were times he had felt he had a mountain to climb, but with her love and devotion, he had, slowly but surely, reached the summit. He turned to Donna, his eyes burning with tears. He could feel his throat tightening as he struggled not to cry. She could tell he wanted to say something, but could not find the words, and she waited patiently for him to speak. “When I find out who did this,” he began, rapidly losing his battle with his self-control. “I swear to God, I will take him apart with my bare hands. How could anyone hurt her? It wouldn’t have taken much to do this to her – there’s nothing to her! She wouldn’t have stood a chance against the bastard who did this! He’s not a man! A real man doesn’t hit a woman – he’s just a miserable excuse for a human being! Why did he do it, Donna? Why, for God’s sake, why?!! If anything happens to her, I don’t know what I’ll do….” He gripped Eliza’s hand as tightly as he dared, and rested his head on the edge of the bed, sobbing as if his heart would break. Donna put a gentle hand on his shoulder, whispering soft words of consolation. He found her touch comforting, and he was glad she was there – he could not have faced this without her. His train of thought was broken by a sudden soft moan from the figure in the bed. He slowly lifted his head up, and looked at her. “Eliza?” Her eyes slowly flickered open, and with a huge effort, she managed to turn her head to look at him. Her eyes filled with tears, when she recognised him. “Jon…..” She lifted up her hand, and gently touched his face. She did not speak, but it was obvious to him what she was trying to say. “It’s all right, Eliza” he said, stroking her hand. “I’m here. I won’t leave you, I promise! I’ll get you through this! You were there when I needed help, now it’s my turn!” “I know you won’t, babe” she whispered, her voice so soft he could hardly hear her. “I know. You’re not like him… you’re sweet, and gentle… and kind… and you love me…” “Wait a minute. Did he do this? Did he hurt you, Eliza?” “Let it be, Jon. Let him go. Don’t waste your life hating him… he told me no one would ever love me… he was wrong, wasn’t he, Jon? It was good, wasn’t it, babe? So good…” He suddenly felt her hand go limp, and he watched as her eyes closed. For a split second, he thought she was asleep, then he suddenly felt himself struggling to breathe as he saw the straight line on the monitor. He clung to her, repeating her name over and over. Donna watched, tears streaming down her face, as he cupped Eliza’s face in his hands, and kissed her forehead, crying so hard he could hardly breathe. He gently kissed her on the lips, almost as if by doing so, he could make his breath her breath, his life her life. He turned to Donna. “No!” he wept, his features contorted in pain. “No, Donna! She promised she wouldn’t leave me – she promised! She wouldn’t let me down! Not Eliza! No! Oh, dear God, no! Why, Donna, why?!” As he clung to her, paralysed by grief, Donna just held him fast, gently rocking him in her arms. She did not speak, because for once in her life, she was quite unable to think of an answer.
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