Free The Bringer by Samantha Towle Page A

wanting to relieve us all from this going-nowhere conversation, and two pairs of eyes instantly flick to me. I focus on James. “If you need help, I can help you get home. I can’t drive but I can ride in the taxi with you and help you into your house, help with whatever you need,” thus meaning I can spend that little bit more time with him. Admittedly, my motives are not completely selfless in this instance, but who can blame me?
    For a split second I can actually hear a pin drop in this room, I can feel Sara’s sharp green eyes on me, but I just keep looking at James' warm, dark brown ones. I’m sufficiently up with reading human behaviour to know that, for some reason, Sara has taken an instant dislike to me.
    “ I’ll be okay,” he says to me warmly, his tone instantly changed from a moment ago.
    “ It’s not a problem, James, really.”
    He shifts his upper body turning toward me. “I’m sure you must have better things to do than help me home.”
    I stand behind the plastic chair, gripping hold of it with my fingers. I smile, suppressing a laugh. “Not really. I’d be happy to help you.”
    “ You sure?”
    “ I’m sure.”
    “ Well, I’ll take you up on the offer, then.” A smile plays on his lips. “I guess that’s two things which I have to thank you for.”
    “ So we're sorted, then?” the nurse says to James with a sigh.
    “ Yeah, we're sorted,” he says, his eyes drifting back to me.
    “ Good. I’ll book that taxi and be back this afternoon with your discharge papers.”
    “ Cheers,” he says, but she’s already gone, the door swinging shut in the wake of her departure.
    He turns back to Sara who is currently looking pretty vexed, at me, I assume.
    “ You should be getting yourself to work,” he says to her, seemingly oblivious to her annoyance. “You don’t wanna piss your boss off by taking too much time off.”
    She holds her hand up in protest, but then seems to change her mind, dropping it back in her lap. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll get off, but I’ll see you soon. okay?”
    “ Okay,” he nods. “Thanks for coming though.” He leans over to hug her.
    I feel a sharp pain at their embrace. It stabs me hard, right in the centre of my chest.
    “ Of course I was gonna come, you idiot.” She smiles bashfully, then kisses his cheek and straightens herself up, brushing her hands down her skirt. “Oh.” She reaches down and retrieves her bag from the floor. “I swung by your house on the way here and picked you up some clean clothes. Thought you might need them.”
    “ What would I do without you, eh?” He looks at her gratefully, taking the clothes from her. “You’re a real mate, Sara.”
    I see her eyes cloud over and she quickly forces a smile onto her lips. “You’re very welcome,” she chirps. “Okay, so I’ll see you later, then.” She turns to me. “Goodbye, Lucyna. it was nice to meet you,” and I can tell from her tone that’s far from what she really thinks.
    “ Nice to meet you too, Sara.”
    The door closes behind her and the room falls silent.
    I take my seat back beside James. “So I guess I’m staying, then.”
    “ I guess you are.”
    “ Can I do anything for you? Get you anything?”
    “ I could murder a coffee, if it’s not too much trouble?”
    “ Of course not. Where do I get one?”
    “ Just turn left out the door, the machine's a bit further down the corridor on your right.”
    I leave the room, feeling James’ eyes on my back, and happily go off in search of this coffee machine. I find it fairly easily, but have no idea how to work it. It’s got so many buttons and no visible instructions. In the end I have to get a passing nurse to help me.
    I’m gone a while before I return back with his coffee.
    “ Thanks,” he says, as I hand the steaming cup to him.
    I pull the over-bed table up for him to rest it on. “Sorry it took me a while.” I shake my head shyly. “I couldn’t work the machine.”
    “ Yeah they’re