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“Is he going to be okay?”
“Out,” I heard the nurse command. “Now, please.”
“Tell him that we’ll come back later.”
“Leave now, please. Or I will call security.”
“Fuck,” I groaned, feeling faint. “I don’t want to see them.”
“You don’t have to,” I heard the nurse say. “Now, I’ve spoken to the ward manager on Floor 3, and there’s a bed after coming available upstairs for you. The porter will be around shortly to take you up.”
“I don’t want to go upstairs,” I croaked out, feeling myself sink down on the bed. “I want to go home.”
“Good lad,” she coaxed, fluffing the pillows at my back. “What have you done to your poor arm, hmm?”
Groaning, I slapped a hand over my eyes and winced. “Fuck knows.”
“I’ll put a fresh line in for you.”
“I don’t want a line,” I mumbled, clenching my eyes shut when the room started spinning. “I just… I want something for the pain.”
“Okay, I’ll get you something for pain, Joseph,” I heard her reply. “Where is the pain worse? In your head?”
“No, it’s here,” I whispered, rubbing my chest. “Here’s the worst.”
“Your heart?”
I nodded stiffly.
“Okay, sweetheart,” the nurse replied softly. “Just close your eyes and get some rest. I’ll go and fetch you something for the pain.”
75
Back to Him
AOIFE
“How are you feeling, love?” Mam asked when I stepped into the kitchen later that evening, fresh from a shower and feeling like something Spud shat out.
“Don’t ask,” I muttered, moving for the washing machine to deposit my towel. “I don’t think you’re going to be able to get the stains out of these,” I added, holding up my bloodstained jeans and hoodie. “Should I just chuck them?”
“Oh Jesus.” Setting the iron down, Mam covered her mouth with her hand, eyes filling with tears. “Yes, chuck them, love. I’ll take you shopping for some new ones next week.”
“I don’t want to go shopping, Mam,” I replied with a weary sigh as I dropped onto a chair at the kitchen table. “I just want the Gards to find that bastard, lock him up, and throw away the goddamn key.”
“How is young Joey?”
“Destroyed.” I couldn’t hide the pain in my voice. “He’s broken physically and mentally.”
“Oh, Aoife love.”
“I will never get the image of them on that kitchen floor out of my head.”
“I can imagine.”
“No, Mam,” I said, shaking my head. “You can’t and be glad of it.”
“How are you feeling, Aoife?”
