Page 96 of Meet Me in Berlin

Mum’s eyes open as I sit by her bed. ‘Hi, Mum.’

She blinks slowly before her pale eyes scan the room then focus on me.

‘How’re you feeling?’ I ask.

‘A little fuzzy.’ She rubs her chest. ‘Chest feels a bit tight.’

‘Are you in pain? Do you want me to get the doctor?’

She shakes her head. ‘No, it’s probably just a cough coming on.’

‘You don’t want to get a cold. I can get the nurse.’

She pats my hand. ‘It’s fine … erm…’

I give her a few seconds, but when nothing comes, I say, ‘Holly.’

She frowns. ‘Holly. I do remember you; I just can’t get names sometimes.’

‘It’s okay, Mum.’

The nurse who’s been on duty the past few days comes in and greets me with a warm smile. ‘Hi there, Holly.’ He moves to the monitor on the other side of Mum’s bed.

‘Any word on the MRI results?’ I ask him.

‘Nothing yet, but they can take a few days. Hopefully later today.’ He finishes what he needs to do and starts for the doorway. ‘I’ll be back a bit later with your lunch, Elaine.’

She grunts as he leaves the room. ‘He says that like it’s something to look forward to.’

I chuckle. ‘I can get you something downstairs if it’s that bad.’

She waves her hand. ‘I’m just having a moan. Besides, I should be out of here once that MRI is back. They don’t seem overly concerned about me.’

‘That’s true. Hopefully tomorrow.’ I take a seat. ‘Would you like to see some photos from my trip?’ I wanted to show her yesterday, but the doctors took her away for more tests and I didn’t get the chance.

Her eyebrows pull together. ‘Your trip? Have you been somewhere?’

I nod. ‘I went overseas. To Berlin and London.’

Her face brightens. ‘London? And you have photos?’

‘Yep.’ I pull out my phone and open the photo app, my pulse quickening as I land on the photo of Casey and me on Saturday afternoon in Berlin. ‘You remember Casey?’ I say. ‘The one from London I told you about?’

Mum shakes her head.

‘Well, we found each other. I thought it was fate, until she broke my heart again.’ My voice wobbles. ‘How could she do that to me?’

Mum shuffles up the bed and offers me her hand. ‘Oh, my lovely girl, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I don’t like it when you’re upset.’

I run my thumb across the delicate skin over her knuckles. ‘You always told me to aim for the best, not to settle. To be with someone who makes my soul sing, like you and Dad. I’ve always searched for that. I thought I finally found it.’ A tear falls onto our linked hands. ‘But Casey had that with someone else at the same time.’ Mum watches me as I wipe my face. ‘Sorry. Seeing the photos is hard. We need to focus on you, not me.’

‘No, you don’t need to focus on me. That’s why I’m here, so the hospital can look after me.’

I blow my nose. ‘Thanks, Mum.’ I find the London photos and pass her my phone. ‘I took some of Westminster Abbey for you.’

‘Oh,’ she breathes, staring at my phone. ‘So beautiful. London is so clear in my mind. Why is that? Why can’t I remember your name or what you said ten minutes ago, but I remember something from so long ago?’

My heart aches for her. ‘That’s just your condition, Mum.’

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