For Your Eyes Only

I didn’t sleep at all that night. So, around 4:30 A.M. I finally rolled out of bed knowing I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. On sudden inspiration, I sat at my old wooden desk and pulled out a notebook. When I was upset, or hurt, or happy, or really whenever I had nothing else to do, or everything to do, I would write. Sometimes I would write stories, sometimes songs. Since I played the piano, many of my songs had actual music to them, but no one knew that… I ripped out a lined page and sat, pen poised, for about ten minutes until my hand began to drag the tip across the page.
I finished and set the blue pen down on the rough wooden surface of the desk and reread my creation. This was what my heart felt. This was for him. And I had to give it to him.
I threw on sweats and a t-shirt, ignoring the side of my brain that was screaming not to go, that it would only make things worse. I needed to listen to my heart. I tiptoed down the stairs, grabbing my phone and purse and the car keys off the rack. I stole out of the house like a thief, sliding the door shut behind me.
Twenty minutes later I saw Harry’s house coming into view. Several unfamiliar cars were parked out front, and people were rushing about, throwing suitcases into trunks and slamming doors shut. 5:30, I thought. I couldn’t talk to him now. No, he was too busy. I’d just embarrass him. Stop it, he told you he cares. But does he really? Yes, now go!
I jumped out of the car, heart beating fast and jogged quietly to hide behind one of the black SUV’s parked out front.
“Paul, can you grab Niall’s bag for me? It’s too heavy,” called a female voice. “It’s the green one by the boot!” Just the opportunity I needed. I look around the car to a pile of suitcases by the trunk of the car ahead of me. If I ran now, I could make it before the ‘Paul’ guy. I jetted over to the pile and yanked out the green one, shoving my crinkled piece of paper into the front pocket and ducking behind the vehicle just as the man rounded the corner.
I made it back and watched them from Auntie’s car, loading into a big bus and saying their goodbye’s to Harry’s mum and stepdad. I stared at Niall as he gave the two a hug and turned to climb into the tour bus, when suddenly he looked past it and saw me. He froze and gazed dead into my eyes, lips parting to call my name, but I couldn’t go through with what I knew he’d do, so I drove away. I turned the car around and put too much distance between myself and my heart. He had stolen it, and now he was leaving with it.
The sound of my cell phone going off jerked me out of my thoughts. I grabbed for it, but it slipped off the dash onto the floor. I clumsily reached down and groped for it while trying to keep my eyes on the road.
“H-hello?” I asked as I answered it, simultaneously wiping away the tears that had begun to form in my eyes.
“Annie, where are you?” came the panicked reply.
“Auntie! I’m sorry, I just… I had to do something,” I stuttered.
“I was so worried! How could you just leave like that without telling me?!” she shouted. I instantly felt guilty, realizing how I’d left her with no information.
“I’m sorry, Auntie! I just got caught up… in my brain… or something. I’m coming home.”
“You better be!” She hung up with a bang. As I pulled up to the shop nearly an hour later because of heavy morning traffic, I nearly jumped out of the car in alarm at the two police cars parked out front. I rushed inside and shoved the door open, pushing past the officer at the door.
“Ma’am, you can’t be in here!” he exclaimed.
“Auntie! Auntie, what happened?”
“She’s not here, kid! She’s on her way to the hospital.” I jerked around and stared at the officer as he followed me through the shop.
“What?! What happened?” I demanded, ignoring the panic building in my chest.
“She was moving a large cabinet that fell on her. I’m going to be honest with you kid, it was pretty bad. I don’t know if she’ll be walking anytime soon.”
“No, no, no! She’s the only one I have left!” I cried. How could she do this to me? I needed to see her. “I-I have to, to get to the hospital,” I mumbled, staggering to the door.
“I’ll drive you. You’re in no condition to be behind the wheel.”
“Thanks.” I pulled out my phone and called Niall, not knowing what else to do once we were in the car. It rang four times, and just as I was about to cancel, his beautiful voice answered.
“Hello?”
“N-Niall?” I said, now questioning the steadiness of my voice.
“Annie! Are you ok?” he asked, noticing the waver. I gulped before answering.
“It’s Auntie, she-she’s in the hospital.”
“What? Is she ok?”
“I-I don’t know… An officer is driving me to the hospital now. What if she doesn’t make it, Niall? What if I’m all alone again?”
“Stop right there. You’ll never be alone as long as I have a say in it. I’ve got to go, so call me back after you hear something. Bye, babe.”
“Bye, Niall,” I whispered. I jumped out of the cruiser the moment we pulled up to the emergency room and shoved the doors open, ignoring the glares I received as they banged loudly. “Hello? Please, I need to know about a Kathy Powl! Please,” I begged. Several people groaned as I shouldered my way to the front of the line.
“I’m sorry, miss, but you’ll have to wait in line,” the lady replied, motioning toward the back.
“No, I really need to see her, please!” I shouted, desperation breaking my voice. A call from across the room captured my attention.
“Did you say Kathy Powl? Come right this way, miss,” said a female doctor. I rushed over and followed her down the hall. “We just stabilized her. The damage is pretty bad.” We stopped outside door 47. “To be honest," she hesitated, "I don’t know if she’ll be able to walk again.”
“W-what?” I stuttered. Never walk again? How could that be?
“The cabinet that landed on her… it hit her back at the wrong angle and… she may be paralyzed, sweety.” I softly turned the door handle and faltered at the sight of Auntie lying unconscious in the hospital bed. She looked so… peaceful. I collapsed into the chair beside her, burying my face in my hands.

Notes

Well, I considered Kathy passing away, but that's too harsh. I'm not that calloused... or am I?