13. Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Keeley
S uzie and I make our way up the slope in silence. We pass two other rescuers heading down towards Oliver. I watch them for a moment, almost tempted to go back with them. When I was with him, I felt in control, like I could keep him safe. But now that professionals are stepping in, I can’t help but worry and feel on edge, fearing something might happen to take him away from me.
“He’ll be well looked after.” Suzie touches me on the arm to draw my attention to her. I just nod. My brain believes it, my heart thinks only I can help. It’s irrational and insane but it’s what I feel.
“What do you do for work?” Suzie tries to distract me.
“I write a travel blog.”
“Oh, wow. That’s cool. I wish I could travel more, but with my kids, FMR, and my job there’s no chance,” she laughs.
“What do you do?” It’s only polite I ask as well, right?
“I design book covers for authors. I’ve also branched out a little to creating social media posts, but it’s not my strength. It’s just that some authors ask for it,” she shrugs.
“It can be tough until you get a feel for it. I did a lot of my social media stuff when the blog was still mine.”
“It’s not anymore?”
“No, I sold it. Now I just write for it.” I stop and draw in some air. Talking and walking up a steep hill does not work well with my fitness.
“We’re almost there.” She points ahead of us and I realise we’re near where I tied the phone to a tree.
“We need to find Ols’ phone,” I whisper and look around.
“Where did you put it?”
“I tied it up in—” There, there was the red hood of my jacket. I point to the tree a few feet from us.
“That was a brilliant idea. It was the text to his sister that made her alert us,” Suzie praises and I feel a wave of relief wash over me. I did help to save him. A small tear trickles down my cheek.
“Are you alright? Are you hurting somewhere?” Suzie asks concerned.
“No, sorry… I’m just so worried about him.” Oh fuck . It’s like the dam is broken and all the tension and uncried tears from today just rush to the surface. I start to shake uncontrollably and collapse onto the ground.
“You did good.” Suzie rubs my back like my mum always did when I was crying. “You did everything right. My team will get him out of here and to the hospital. You did good,” she repeats.
I try to calm down. I take deep breaths just as I told Ols to do earlier when he had his spasm.
“Thanks,” I mumble before getting back to my feet.
“Come on. Ever rock climbed?” Suzie asks and my eyes widen.
“You mean I have to climb up the rock face?”
“No,” she winks, “You’ll get hauled up, don’t worry.” Well, that certainly stopped my tears.
The little summit is crawling with people by the time I’m towed up the mountain. It was bloody scary and my legs still feel like jelly.
First, we had to wait for a while as more rescuers rappelled down the face to assist with Oliver’s rescue. Then Suzie strapped me in and gave me some instructions before a group of rescuers hauled me up to a halfway point in the rock face. They made me stand on a ledge, secured to what they called an anchor, and then strapped me onto the next rope for a team on the top to pull me the rest of the way.
The hard work and professionalism shown by all the rescuers is incredible. Suzie stayed on the slope to help her team with the extraction of Ols, and I’m now surrounded by people who I don’t know and everyone is asking me if I’m okay. I just keep nodding, pulling the foil blanket someone wrapped around my shoulder tighter. It’s not really cold, but it acts as my safety blanket.
Eventually a group of rescuers is entrusted with guiding me down the mountain. I take one last look back and see the helicopter rising with a man and a basket dangling from a rope underneath. I fight back my tears.
“Can we go, please?” I whisper and I’m guided to a narrow footpath.
We make slow progress, mainly because I have to keep stopping. Suzie gave me some water and an energy bar whilst we waited for me to be hauled up, but I’m still starting to feel like my batteries are empty. I keep stumbling and feel exhausted and weak.
As the path gets wider two of the rescuers hook their arms with mine and guide me safely down. I don’t speak, although they keep asking me questions. My mind is with Ols. Oh shit, I don’t even know what to do when we get down. Will one of them give me a lift?
It’s nearly dark by the time we make it to the carpark. I am directed to an ambulance and someone asks me the same questions I have already been asked three times. I keep repeating that I’m fine, but for some reason, nobody wants to listen to me.
They insist on driving me to the hospital to get checked out and I refuse until they agree to take me to the same one where Ols is. I lie back on the gurney so the paramedic can strap me in. As we roll through the dark countryside, I pull Oliver’s phone from my pocket. There is twenty percent battery left. I open the message app and type:
Me
Hey, it’s Keeley. I’m on the way to A&E in Keswick. Apparently, that’s where they have flown Oliver. Not sure if anyone has told you yet and I thought you should know.
The reply is immediate.
Hannah
How are you???
Me
I’m fine.
I want to write so much more but I don’t think I should break the news about Ols’ injuries via text.
Hannah
We are at the hospital with Ols. We’ll see you when you get here.
I sigh in relief. At least he’s not alone.
When I’m handed over to the A&E staff I’m asked the same questions again, and I’m starting to get a little testy.
“Keeley,” a voice calls out just as I’m about to snap at a young male nurse that I’m fine.
“Marisa, what are you doing here?” I’m stunned.
“You can’t be back here,” the nurse tries to stop her.
“You listen to me, dude, my husband works here, and this woman has just been through a near death experience. She needs her friend there.” Marisa pushes him out of the way. He looks very unsure of himself and I have to grin because he’s probably wondering if her husband is one of the hospital bosses. He isn’t, he works in the accounts team. But neither Marisa nor I will divulge that information.
“Seriously, what are you doing here?”
“Tommy called and asked me to bring you some clothes to change into.” She holds out a small plastic bag, her eyes filled with concern. I don’t know what to say, but then the pesky tears start again. First one, then another, and soon the whole floodgate bursts open. I was so strong earlier, but now I can’t hold back the emotions any longer.
“Hey, hey.” She pulls me into a hug.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“You’re welcome. What are friends for?” she gives me a wink.
“There she is,” another voice calls out and Hannah and Jake are speed walking to us.
“You can’t all be here,” the nurse protests but Marisa just shushes him and he leaves us to it, mumbling under his breath.
“Oh my god, I’m so glad you’re okay!” Hannah pulls me into a hug. Her eyes are red rimmed.
“Where’s Ols?” I ask.
“He’s having all sorts of tests. They suggested we go home and come back in the morning, but no way.” She shakes her head.
“Sorry, Hannah, Jake, this is Marisa. Marisa this is—”
“No need honey, we know each other. This is Fellside,” Marisa stops me.
“Oh of course.” I feel a bit silly.
“This is not how this works here,” a stern looking doctor approaches us. She points towards the door Marisa stormed in earlier. “You all have to wait in the waiting room.”
“Go to Oliver, I’ll be fine,” I assure Hannah.
“I’ll keep you posted,” Hannah assures me.
“My phone was lost, but you can call me at the hotel,” I sniffle and hold out Oliver’s phone to her.
“Hang on to it so I can message you. Ols won’t mind. Get sorted, get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow. I know he’ll want to see you too, and you can give his phone back to him yourself.” She hugs me tightly, and I can feel the tears welling up again. I swallow hard and slide the phone back into my pocket, trying to keep my emotions in check.
“I’ll wait for you outside,” Marisa gives my arm a squeeze and holds out the clothes. I take the bag and smile.
“You don’t need to. I can take a taxi.”
“Keeley, no. We might not be BFFs yet but I consider you a friend and I don’t let my friends take a taxi home after something like this.” She gives me a final hug and marches back out to the waiting room under the impatient glare of the doctor.
It took another hour of probing and prodding until they finally let me go. All they found was the minor cut on my head and a mildly sprained wrist.
True to her word, Marisa had been waiting for me. By the time I was discharged I was barely able to keep my eyes open and hadn’t bothered changing into the clothes she brought me. All I wanted was a shower, some sleep and to see Oliver. There was no news on him and the wait felt like torture.
Marisa drove us back to Greenview Manor and showed me to my bedroom. She was organising some soup and bread for supper when I left her to take a shower.
The hot spray is soothing, but I can barely lift my arms to wash my hair because I’m so exhausted. When I can no longer stand, I turn off the shower and get dressed, ready for bed.
Marisa watches me with concerned eyes as I almost fall asleep eating and eventually decides I probably have had enough. She tucks me in and I’m too tired to protest that I’m not a small child. And secretly, I kind of enjoy the pampering.
My eyelids feel heavy. “Marisa, I—”