*notices phone ringing*

*answers phone*

Hi 👋 Tina. You are the last person I expected to get a phone call from today. I heard about the bus accident and just expected you to be busy at the hospital. Is everything ok?

Hi Brent. You're right. I'm super busy at the hospital. It's really crazy here. Are you busy right now? I know this is a bit of an out of nowhere request; but, (without asking me any questions because it will take too long to explain when I'm so busy); can you come into the hospital?

Ummm. This sounds like something I can't say No to. So, I guess I can come in. Should I rush in now and be there in 5 min, or is it ok if I arrive in an hour?

An hour is fine. Once you arrive, you may want to stay longer so bring yourself extra food.

Ok. I'll finish marking these papers and be there within the hour.

There are patients and staff everywhere. When you get here can you wait at the emergency door. I'll check for you everytime I walk past and when I notice you I'll come over. It'll be between patients so you may have to wait for me. You can also try msging me when you get here but I'm so busy I may not see it.

I can do that. See you soon. 👋

Bye Bye 👋

*Ends call before putting her mobile in her pocket. Takes one more lingering look at the lady lying there and moves back into the ebb and flow of tending to the requirements of the emergency room*

*hangs up his phone and continues marking papers*

(It's not like Tina to ask something without explaining.)

(I trust her completely with anything)

(I'd better do as she asks)

*spends about 15 mins marking papers*

Yes - Finally finished.

... just need to get food.

*goes to his apartment which is 5 mins from school and 10 mins from the hospital*

*quickly showers and gets into fresh clothes. Remembering Tina's suggestion to bring food, he raids his well stocked fridge. Absent-mindedly grabbing 2 flasks filled with soup and 3 of his school friendly lunchboxes. As an afterthought he also grabs a bunch of snack foods from his pantry. These foods, along with his wallet and mobile are shoved into his large, sturdy, well-used backpack.*

*Throws backpack on back and heads to car*

*drives the 10-minute drive to the hospital. Everything is a bit chaotic, so he has to be extra careful*

*After parking his car, he stops by the café and buys an Ice coffee for himself and a latte for Tina. Goes into the emergency room where Tina asked for him to wait*

*sends Tina a mob msg "I'm here"*

*Looks around at how busy the hospital is while he keeps looking for Tina and waits patiently for her*

(I'm so curious about why I am here)

*spots Tina and waves at her*

*busy with patients but notices Brent when he waves at her*

*looks at him, waves back and mouths "I'll be there as soon as I can"*

*👍 to Tina*

* 👍 to Brent*

👋 Hello. Here. This is for you

*passes her the latte he had bought for her*

It may be cold now but it's still better than nothing.

I also brought an extra soup flask and lunchbox for you. They are in my bag - do you want me to give it to you now, so you can store it with your stuff or keep it in my bag, and you'll grab it later?

Hi Brent 👋 That's really thoughtful of you.

*Greedily gulps down her latte in one go*

There have been loads of trauma patients today, so the latte is really appreciated.

Your Nan's soup is delicious. Her soup flasks are the best to have on a day like this and I haven't eaten yet. Can I have it now as we talk? And I'll get the lunchbox off you before you go.

*smiling as he grabs the soup flask out of his bag and passes it to Tina*

I thought you wouldn't say No to this

*passes the empty latte cup to Brent*

Here's your cup back too. Sorry to ask but can you deal with rinsing it.

You seem really busy. I can do it for you today and you can treat me another day.

Thanks

*Drinks some soup*

Yummy - it's even good when it's cold. It's just what I needed.

Ok - So can I ask you to walk with me a bit, and I'll explain what I can on the way through?

*assuming Brent says yes*

*begins talking while walking towards the female patient she had been looking at earlier when she called Brent*

When I was working today I was fortunate enough to tend to this patient. She's a female, maybe in her mid-twenties, with no ID. Due to confidentiality -I can't tell you too much more. I'm not sure if I've done the correct thing calling you in? But when I saw her all I could think of was calling you? She hasn't had any other relatives or friends come to check up on her or claim her, so I thought you may be able to sit with her. At least until she wakes up or her support people come. When we see her I think you'll understand without any extra explanation from me

Ta-da

*gestures for Brent to look at patient*

*odediently looks at the patient*

Ohhhh!

(softly) This is unexpected

*grabs Tina's arms tightly*

(voice soft and shaking) Tina - is she ok?

She was a passenger on the bus that crashed earlier today. She's not going to die, but she does have a couple of broken bones and some internal injuries that will heal in time as long as she rests well.

She'll be ok as long as she rests.

Yes. That's what I said.

Brent. I have to go. I'm overloaded with patients.

If anyone from the hospital staff asks you'll need to tell them you are her family or you'll get kicked out.

I understand. Thank-you for calling me. Finish your soup so you can leave the flask with me and go back to work. I think I'll be sitting here for a while so just come back when you are hungry.

*Gulps all the remaining half of the flask of soup before returning the empty flask to Brent and going back to her work at the hospital*

*Puts empty flask and mug into backpack. Gets his mob out of his bag before closing it and placing it on the floor next to his feet.*

*Slowly sits in the chair that is placed next to the hospital bed and gently holds the hand of the unconscious patient*

*staring tenderly at the patient as he looks her up and down and assesses how damaged she is*

*continues to stare lovingly at her face as he holds her hand. He stays like this for an unknown amount of time as he intermittently gets lost in thought, remembers broken long-forgotten memories and wakes up in the present praying she rests well and heals quickly*

Anna my love 💕

This time - please let me stay by your side 🙏💖🙏💖🙏💖

Anna my love

I've missed you so much

*happy crying at being reunited with the person he loves the most*

*sad crying because she's a bit damaged from the bus accident*

Why are you always getting injured. I hate sitting by your side at a hospital bed.

(Don't get lost in painful memories)

(It's too hard to get out once the nightmare returns)

(Remember happy memories)

(or make great present moments)

*sits in a trance at Anna's bedside enjoying the feeling of wrapping his fingers around the soft warm hand of his most precious person while his mind slips back into a memory from when he was 12 and Anna was 8*

*excitedly walks out of house door towards the tea party table with a plate of cookies in her hands.*

*Places tray on table*

*Sits at table*

Grandma, Nanna Town!

I made these for you to have with your tea!

I bet they will be yummy!

Oh hello Anna.

Look how big you have grown.

How is it possible - You shine even brighter than when I saw you last.

Do I really shine bright Nanna Town?

*laughing excitedly as she twirls around - she is wearing a dress so the bottom of her dress flares out as she turns*

Yes Little Anna

...as bright as an angel.

Does that mean I'm like a star?⭐

*watching Anna*

(Like the brightest star in the universe ✨⭐✨)

(but DO NOT 🚫 tell Anna that)

These cookies look very interesting Bubba

*looking at cookies*

Mmmm Choc chip is my favourite.

*looking at Child Anna*

*grinning mischievously*

Little Star - Did you bake any for me?

*looking at Brent and poking her tongue out at him*

I baked these for everyone but you.

I won't even talk about the last time you ate all my choc fudge brownies....

or the apple tea cake...

or the ham and cheese sandwiches...

I get too angry even thinking about you stealing all the food that I make. I make enough for everyone and you hog it all to yourself and don't share

...and Grandma and Nanna Town never tell you off so you behave badder and badder every time you visit.

Don't eat any of my cookies

(Gentle Scolding Tone) Anna please remember that Brent is out guest today and it's not kind to leave him out like that. That's not how ladies should act.

See - I get scolded and I've done nothing wrong but bake a plate of cookies for you all.

*runs back to her room*

(screaming and crying) I hate him. Why do I get told off and he doesn't.

*sitting at the table laughing at Anna as she gets upset... munching on the cookies she made.*

Whoops. I've accidentally done it again. I really didn't mean to eat them all. I was distracted watching Anna throw her fit and ate all her cookies.

*sitting under a tree in a garden on university grounds*

(Ah shit)

(What have I done?)

*shoulders hunched and slightly trembling*

*not really looking too good - almost about to cry*

*feels someone gently shaking his shoulder*

*gets transferred out of his thoughts and into the present*

*realises there is a beautiful young lady gently nudging his shoulder*

*looks at girl and waves*

Ummm - Hello 👋

*looking carefully with a concentrated effort at the person tugging his shoulder*

*I think I'm supposed to remember this person*

(I don't really want to take a stranger's lunchbox but I haven't eaten for 2 days and I am starving.)

*opens lunchbox. smiles as he appreciates how good it looks and starts munching on the sandwich inside*

Thank-you. I am actually really hungry and this looks delicious.

*starting to relax in the other person's company after eating something*

*still thinking I should remember this person*

(This lunchbox and this person's company really do make me feel comfortable - like I could blurt out all my problems - and she'd still be sitting here listening to me when I'm finished.)

*suddenly started crying*

Everything's all a bit mixed up right now.

I cut off all ties with my family.

So I have no money and nowhere to sleep.

This is the first thing I've eaten for two days

When I tell people I am not going back and that I'm not taking anymore money from my family - Nobody understands.

I'm sorry to blubber about this to you but you sounded sincere in your concern and you kept asking so I felt safe responding.

Yep

Yep

Yep

*finally recognising his Little Anna *

(Ahhh - silly me!)

(How could I not recognise her)

(Look how beautiful she's become)

(Don't let her catch me looking at her checking out how beautiful she is)

(Still the most beautiful person in my world)

(Just like Grandma used to say)

(How does she shine brighter everytime I see her)

*Hugging Anna tightly while crying*

Little Star - Thanks for understanding.

Thanks for helping.

I'll definitely eat everything you cook for me... and I'll especially eat everything you cook for everyone who isn't me.

*looking a bit sheepish*

It's been a while since we have seen each other

If you'd introduced yourself with the cookies first or by trying to kill me - I would have recognised you earlier.

So, I'll follow you to your home then.

Little Star - Thanks for recognising me, and staying by me and letting me stay by your side. I do feel better already.(but I never want to let you go)

Really - I knew you both liked each other, but I didn't realize Grandma was so special to you.

(I am in 100% agreement with my Nanna that you shine the brightest.)

(I had better start watching how much more I drink because it will be very hard for me to not blurt out how right I think Grandma is)

(If Little Star hears me say something like that right now - she'll be trying to kill me again)

(I'll be penniless and homeless and starving again)

(I'm glad she didn't teach me)

(If she'd taught me - I wouldn't have been broken down)

(and then I wouldn't have needed our Little Star to help me)

I don't know why mum stays.

I think she's too scared to leave

I begged her to come with me, but she wouldn't come

I couldn't stay with her anymore without it slowly killing me

Why should I spend my entire life doing what they plan for me

I just want to be me and do something that I enjoy.

Why does it have to be so hard to stand up to my Dad to do that?

Does he really think that his money is more important than my own self acceptance and right to live my own life?

Maybe once I am settled more financially she'll feel safer leaving with me.

*starts crying*

I know what you mean

I understand her

but I wish that she would leave him.

I hope in the future I am strong enough to help her leave him

Do you think I am a bad son for leaving her there?

During the past two days since I have left there have been times when I start crying because I feel so guilty for leaving her.

Little Star - You don't need to get scared. I'll never ever let you near him.

I was never aware of how much you knew about mum and Dad.

*looking at Anna directing his gaze directly into her eyes*

Little Star - thank you for listening to me and talking to me so honestly about this. I do not know what I would have done if you hadn't found me this afternoon.

... I'm starting to feel ok about my decision and I'm really tired. I'm going to go to bed.

(No matter how brightly you shine I just want you to be well and healthy)

Anna - My brightest Little Star

I've missed you so deeply.

I love you so much

Please wake up soon so I can tell you how brightly you shine.