The calm before

I struggled to keep my eyes open as the phone continued to ring. I'd just got home from a school trip to Paris, and I was unbelievably exhausted. I'd had a really good time, but I just couldn't stop worrying about Mum. Knowing she was in hospital fighting for her life stopped me wanting to have fun. "Kirsty, please just go, you'll have an amazing time. I've paid for it now, and I'm still going to be in hospital whether you're here or not. So please, go. Just stay safe okay?" she'd said to me when I'd told her I didn't want to go any more. I knew she was right, and on the Twenty Third of October Two Thousand and Eight I went to Paris.

Now though, as the phone kept ringing, I was just about to give up and ring back later when I heard a warm familiar voice. Only, Mum didn't sound her usual cheery self, although she tried her best to act it. "Hello sweetie, how are you? How was it? Oh darling, I'm so glad you're home. You have to tell me all about it. Are you tired?" Her voice did sound different, but I was so happy to hear it. "I'm okay mum, I had such a good time. I really did. I went to the Eiffel Tower and Disney-Land Paris, and I bought you something!" I knew she was smiling when I heard somebody walk into her room. I could hear whispering and shuffling and then Mum said "Kirst, ring me back in half an hour. The nurses are changing my bags, and flushing my tubes. I'll speak to you soon darling, I love you millions." Before I could say anything, the line went dead.

I never did ring her back. It was later than I thought, and I didn't want to wake her because sometimes after the Nurses had changed her bags, she'd fall asleep. I never thought anything of it until I woke later that night to whispering downstairs. I'd thought I'd heard my Uncle David amongst the voices, but I knew I was being silly because he lived in Reading and we lived in Gosport and it was quite far away... However, when I walked into the room full of people, I realised I was right and Uncle David was sat with Nanny Sue and Grandad Malc'. As well as four other people I just couldn't care about then. I had a horrible feeling in my stomach and I just didn't know why. "What's happened?" My voice was heavy with sleep but I wanted to know what was going on. I sat next to Nanny Sue, as she explained to me mummy's health was deteriorating. My mum had gone into a coma, and Nan wasn't sure when she would be able to speak to anybody again. She explained it was just a deep sleep, and that mummy wasn't in any pain. She then said I should go to bed, because if I didn't then I would be to tired to wake up tomorrow and then I wouldn't know how Mum was.

I kissed nan goodnight, and I done as I was told.