Soul to Take by Helen Bateman

knew from me feinting and my high temperature that I must have an infection and when they went to look at my notes, the clear conclusion was that it must be coming from my uterus. It would appear that sometimes, after a miscarriage, some of the pregnancy tissue is retained and then becomes infected. What was the procedure called that they’re going to take me down for later? A ‘D and C’ or something, which will clear out my womb. When she comes over, I’m going to ask the nurse more about that because I couldn’t really take any more in when the doctor was talking; that’s as far as I got. I’m so tired.
    I’m sure Ric will listen and remember everything for me when he gets here. I’ll get the nurse to try ringing him again. I know they said Rachel would be trying too but I’d have thought he’d be hear by now. Unless he’s had to pop to the suppliers this afternoon; sometimes his signal is dodgy over that way. Ah, well, I’m sure he’ll be over as soon as he hears. I’ll have to get him to bring me some better clothes in than this. It’s so embarrassing lying here in these old jeans and my fleece. It didn’t seem so scruffy for the park but a hospital’s different. Mind you, not many of my clothes are new or smart these days; there’s always something better to spend money on. I might need a nightie bringing in too if they do take me down to surgery.
    Here’s the nurse now. I’ll ask her all my questions ...

 
    SHANNON
     
    Okay. Think, Shannon, think. You need like a plan or somethin’. But what? I can’t talk to me friends ’cos they’ve all logged off and gone to bed, even Sian who’s usually on till eleven when her mam tells her to switch off. What was it old Howden told me? If I’m feelin’ mega stressed out and got too much goin’ on in my ’ead, I could write it down. I got bollocked for laughin’ at ’im when he said it but he’s alright really, so it’s worth a try. I got one ’o them secret diaries from when I was like nine or somethin’. That’ll do ..
     
    ‘Dear diary
    Today started out really good cos I got flowers off Rhys for valentines day or I thought I did I was well chuffed and couldn’t stop thinking about him all day even when Evan Jones kept staring at me in Isolation I even decided we probably would do it tonight me and Rhys that is not me and Evan LOL
    When I met him at the shops after he finished at the garage he looked totally fit in his overalls but he was more quiet than normal and funny with me he said he never sent flowers to me and wanted to find out who did so he could smash his face in
    I said I didn’t know and he said I must know cos people don’t just send you flowers for no reason he said it must be someone from school and that’s what his mates had always said would happen if he went out with a Year 11
    I managed to convince him I didn’t know who they was from and that I didn’t fancy any of the boys in my year cos they’re all like total geeks and freaks
    We was finally making up if you know what I mean ;) We was probably going to end up going down the park and doing it but my phone went it was Mum she said she needed me home straight away to bath Jack and put him to bed FFS I mean talk about timing but I’ll do anything for my little man he’s my number 1 so I kissed Rhys and went home
    Before I even got in the front door I could hear them shouting and screaming at each other I went in and they stopped for a bit Rob just looked at the floor and mum said Jack was watching telly so could I take him up for his bath that’s when I knew it was too bad to ask what it was about cos they went into the kitchen and shut the door
    Anyway I took my little man up stairs and ran his bath I made it really bubbly and put all his favourite bath toys in just how he likes it I got him stripped and we sang twinkle twinkle about 20 times while he had a nice play I got him some clean pjs on cos I don’t think mum has changed them for about two weeks the