“On a train track.”
The pain in my head was becoming unbearable. “No trains.”
“No trains right now, but come five a.m., it’ll be a different story.”
“Should’ve known he wouldn’t come back.” I sniffed, the tears still rolling down my cheeks. I should be embarrassed that his dad was having to carry me, but I was past caring. “He said he loves me, but if he did, he wouldn’t have left.”
Dominic’s dad sighed again. “We both know you’re not the reason he left.”
“I wasn’t enough for him to stay.” I hiccupped, a sob ripping from my chest. “Why wasn’t I enough?”
He didn’t have an answer for me.
A wave of impending doom swept through me as the pain in my head pulsed harder. “Somethin’s wrong.”
He snorted as he continued walking with me in his arms. “Suspect the whisky you were necking has something to do with that.”
How did he know I’d been drinking whisky?
“No,” I said faintly, lifting my hand to touch the back of my head. It came away wet. “Oh dear.”
Dominic’s dad’s curse was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.
The next time I woke,blazing light burned my eyes. “Ow. Why’s it so fucking bright?”
A shadow blocked it out, then I heard a voice. “Ryan? How are you feeling?”
My senses registered several things all at once. The continuous beep of a machine to my left. Scratchy bedding that certainly wasn’t my own. The potent scent of disinfectant.
And Mum, her face pale as she loomed over me.
“Mum?” I croaked. “What’s going on?”
“You’re in hospital,” she said softly. “You were a bit silly, I’m afraid.”
I tried to remember, but the memories slipped through my fingers like grains of sand. “I was?”
“You were.” She pursed her lips. “And when your head is better, I’m going to shout at you. A lot. Probably ground you too.”
I touched my head and winced. Yep. That hurt. Fuzzy images returned. Me walking through the night, swigging from a bottle. Train tracks. Blood.
There’d been someone there too…
Just then, the curtain opened. I narrowed my eyes at the sight of Dominic’s dad standing there. “What are you doing here?”
“Ryan,” Mum muttered, scandalised, “be nice. If it wasn’t for Frank spotting you when he was out for his evening walk, this might’ve had a different ending. He’s been waiting here all night to make sure you’re okay.”
He had?
“It’s okay, Mary,” he said, giving her a tight smile. “I’ll go now we know he’s in the clear.”
“Actually, would you mind waiting with him while I call Darren? He’ll want to know he’s okay.”
If Dad was that worried about me, then surely he should be here too? I wished I was more surprised by his absence, but I wasn’t.
Maybe Dominic wasn’t the only one with Daddy issues.
Frank nodded and Mum slipped out, leaving the two of us alone. An uncomfortable silence settled between us.
