Free Angel of Mine by Jessica Louise Page B

off the side of her face. The rise and fall of her chest assures me she is still breathing, and it eases the tortured thoughts running through my mind that she is not awake to feel the pain.
    The ambulance pulls up beside us and as the officers rush out, I step up to Carol’s side to give them room to work. “I’m so sorry. I tried to stop her. I really tried. She bit my arm and managed to get away. I’m so sorry I failed her.” I address Carol without being able to look at her, and hang my head in shame.
    She places her hand on my now trembling arm as the adrenalin wears off. “It’s not your fault Theo, I know how determined she can be. That is why I got her to stay inside for most of her life. She needs protection from herself, and she just can’t seem to help herself from running off to someone’s rescue.” The gesture that should be comforting seems to make me worry more. How can I stop her from doing this to herself all the time?
    As they wheel Ally into the back of the ambulance, I encourage Carol to go with her. I will meet them there after I have tried to sort out the gossiping neighbours. They drive away, and I stop to listen to what everyone is saying before going to the boy’s mother.
    From what I can hear, everyone else except the lady I’m approaching thinks that Ally fell from the tree while climbing it to help the young boy. As I get closer to her, she appears more and more apprehensive.
    “Please don’t tell anyone what you saw,” I plead with her. “She helped your son at her own expense. Please show her the courtesy of keeping quiet about her ability. She doesn’t need the publicity. All she wants is a normal life.”
    The woman looks shell shocked as she replies, “So I didn’t imagine that?” Shaking my head, I affirm what happened, “No, but please let’s keep that between us?”
    “Of course you have my word. Please let her know how grateful I am that she helped my son.” Nodding my head, I turn away and head over to my car so I can go to the hospital. I really hope that woman keeps her promises.

 
    My eyes open yet again to that familiar white wash and beeping of machines. My head feels heavy, and my brain is fuzzy. I’m aware I must be on some type of pain medication because nothing aches. I vaguely remember fixing that little boys arm. No matter how foggy I am, it’s impossible to forget the image of bones tearing through skin. My mind isn’t clear enough to worry about the consequences too deeply yet though.
    Dizziness washes over me as I turn my head slightly and see Mum. Worry is plain on her face, and she is staring at the far wall while chewing her nails. Her curly blonde frazzled hair frames her clear blue eyes that are laden with dark circles. Her head keeps twisting to see a clock over by the door. No words are necessary to know she must be anxious for us to get out of here so we can pack our stuff and move as far away as possible.
    What she doesn’t realize yet is that I’m not going to run this time. I have something worth the risk to stay, someone worth taking a chance on. It’s time we start to make fixtures that are more permanent in our lives. We can’t run forever. That’s no way to live.
    “Mum,” my voice is thick. It sounds like there is cotton wool stuffed in my ears. It’s not funny, but this makes me giggle for some strange reason. Peals of laughter keep rolling off me, sounding like they are in the air floating far away in the distance. These are no ordinary painkillers.
    Enjoying the cloudy waves that circulate in my mind, I start to form elaborate jokes and stories in my own head. Knock knock, who’s there? Hallucinating girl. Hallucinating girl who? I don’t know; I’m too busy hallucinating. I’m in hysterics now. I wonder what on earth type of drugs they have me on. Mum looks concerned by my bizarre behaviour and moves closer to me. I would love to tell her what is so funny, but I seem unable to voice my ridiculous thoughts.
    The