“George, we both know that in this world there is no such thing as simple. Sometimes the things you need maybe the closest to you or the furthest thing away. With multiple enemies waiting to hurt you.”
I wasn’t sure if we were still talking about the supply run or something else. I was too chicken to ask.
“Yeah, well I promise that I will protect both Will and Billy, we also have Adam coming with us and a couple of the general’s men. We are only driving twenty minutes away”
“Ok then. But please be safe.”
“I will” I lifted her hand and kissed it”
“George, I-“
We were interrupted by the doctor “Good afternoon both. Nia I’ve just come to top up your pain killers and your anti biotics. You’ve eaten your lunch, right?” Dr Wells asked.
“Yep, all gone” Nia smiled, the doctor handed her three tablets.
“A good appetite is a must have when you’re healing. So is rest” Doctor Annabelle looked straight at me.
I smiled and tried to bat my eyelashes at her. It worked for Nia, why not for me?
“Doesn’t work George.” Annabelle said but she did laugh and shake her head.
The doc left and I could see the tablets were taking the edge off the pain but only for a short while as they were not strong enough. They did however make her sleepy and allowed her to get more rest that she normally would.
We spoke a little bit more about the types of art supplies that she wanted and how she had always loved art. She also thought that the children would love it. I had to agree with that, in my experience there was nothing that children liked more than to get their little hands messy.
“I’ll see you later sweetheart ok?” I smiled fondly, as she yawned loudly.
“Please don’t go on the run before saying goodbye, Will, Adam and Billy too please”
“We will stop by tonight and in the morning, I promise. As long as you promise to get some rest” I kissed her head and left, after she pinky swore to sleep some.
It was strange that Will had not stopped by the hospital to visit Nia. I started in the direction of our living quarters when I bumped into a large, solid body running around the corner.
We both went over with him landing on top of me, forcing the air from my lungs and winding me.
“Ooomph”
“Ah hell sorry” Will apologised.
He rolled off me, got up and extended his hand to help me up, which I gratefully took. I bent over at the waist trying to catch my breath. I tried to put my weight on my right ankle and a sharp pain shot up my leg .
“You ok man?”
“Yeah…just…winded” I huffed out.
He led me over to a small wall and sat me down, sitting next to me.
“I’m sorry, I had a wash then lay on the bed and fell asleep. I woke up and realised that I was late to visit Nia. I ran straight here and I guess I wasn’t looking where I was going”
“That’s ok... she’s just…gone to… sleep” my breathing was getting easier.
“Damn it” he sounded so sad that I immediately wanted to make him feel better.
“I was with her though, took her some books.”
“Thank you, G, since she is sleeping. Fancy going to the main gardens, they are doing a class on first aid?” he asked. We still hadn’t been given jobs and this would be a useful thing to learn. I’d done it years ago when Poppy was born but had never brushed up on it.
“Sounds good” I tried to stand up and the pain crippled me. “Ah” I sucked in air through gritted teeth.
“What’s wrong?” Will looked at me concerned.
“I think I’ve twisted my ankle.”
“That’s not good, come on let’s go to see Anna- I mean Dr Wells” I put my arm around his shoulders and he supported my weight.
“Oh yes lets go see Annabelle” I mocked.
“Shut up G” he said, he tried to look stern but I could see the hint of a smile around the corners of his mouth and definitely in his eyes.
I was happy that he liked her too and hoped that they could make a go of it or at least keep each other happy for a short while in this dead world.
It took us a while to get back to the hospital wing with me limping along and Will dragging me, I wasn’t exactly small or light.
The doctor, who was sat at the nurse’s station with the man from earlier, jumped up as we hobbled in “What happened?” she frowned.
“We bumped into each other, and this big lump landed on top of me. I think it’s twisted.” I tried not to moan but it hurt terrible, I’d always had a good pain threshold and it caused me to worry that id broken something.
“Come into the ward and get him up onto a bed.”
She entered the code for the ward and ushered us in, placing a finger to her lips to ask us to be quiet.
Will helped me forward and hoisted me up onto the bed opposite Nia who was fast asleep.
I tried hard not to call out loud when my ankle banged against the metal frame of the bed. I clamped my lips together so that the sound was like a strangled cry.
“Careful” the doctor admonished Will.
I lay back and closed my eyes, and tried to think of other things as the doctor pulled off my boot. She started to prod at my ankle, pressing her fingers into my flesh.
I tensed up and held my breath, each time she poked my ankle it sent sparks of hot pain searing through it.
“It’s severely swollen, I can’t feel a break. I
