LOSS... 

By Tessa Harvey

    Just then they heard sirens. An ambulance and police vehicles were visible at the top of the escarpment.
    "Look," asked Jack in a panic at all the unwanted attention and impending plethora of questions, "please could you contact my grandparents for me?"
    "My name's Reyna, and here's my phone." The girl crouched down. Carefully Reyna helped Jack hold her phone. Somehow he managed to focus enough to recall his grandparents' mobile number, and texted them.
    "Dear Ma and Pa, my phone is a bit damaged. So am I and my car. I think I will be going to..." he paused, and exchanged a few words with Reyna...."to Lewis Infirmary. Love from Jack, and sorry."
    "Thanks Reyna." He handed the mobile phone over. "You were kind to help."
    He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable landslide of authority to descend.
    The voices came nearer and Jack found himself withdrawing. He was aware of gentle hands assessing him carefully and knowledgeably, then a rough authoritative voice suddenly said, "this man blinked. He's fooling us!" There was a sharp poke in his side. The pain was so shocking and severe that he screamed.
    A voice spoke in a devastatingly calm way. "I can report you for this, sergeant. This man's ribs are fractured. If you have punctured his lungs, I will make sure the authorities know who is responsible."
    There were more voices then Jack heard a helicopter. He felt himself gently lifted and was aware of hanging between earth and sky. It seemed he slipped back in time to being a five year old boy, crouched in a corner with his Ipad, waiting...
    Then he was with his grandparents and his mum was saying: "They don't love you. But I do. You'll be coming home again soon, baby. I promise." And he cried.

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