LOSS... 

By Tessa Harvey

    "Bonjour, mon ami!" called a friendly voice. Jack opened his eyes, puzzled. Who was talking to him in French? It was a dark-featured nurse checking his chart, blood  pressure etc. "J'ai mal?" he muttered. "Headache and pain if I move. Why did you say hello in French?" "Because you were mumbling in my language for a while," the smiling young man answered passing him some very cool water with a straw, and holding it for Jack.
    He drank thirstily and asked, "What time last night did they bring me here?" "Last night? This is your second night. You lost a day, my friend."
    Jack paused, thinking everything still felt vague, a bit unreal. "Have I had visitors?" he finally asked. "Yes, they are just near, waiting for the doctor to give permission. Here she is now."
    A middle-aged Asian lady came in, swishing round the gold bed curtains. She smiled, happy her patient was awake. "Visitors here!"
    When his grandparents walked into his hospital room tears poured down Jack's face. It had been so long. They looked more stooped and old. So many wrinkles and grey hair. But their faces were beaming with wonderful unconditional love.
    "Please," Jack stammered, "I am sorry. For a long time I tried to be in touch. Grandma was also crying. Very carefully she hugged him. "Look Will," she whispered, "we have our boy again."
    "Got lots of your favourite ham, Jack. The barbecue is all set up for your favourite sausages."
    Grandad tried to wink, but ended up turning away and rubbing a sleeve across his eyes a few times.
    "You were coming to visit, were you Jack?" checked his grandma. "Of course," Jack replied, "I would have come anyway, but I also need to find my dad. It took a lot of work, but I saved up and got a car. Not much use now, though," he added, sadly.
"No worries, lad," said Will, softly. "We set up a fund for you and your siblings. And  Jean is great at getting bargain cars!" 

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