WestFiction- "Out of the Darkness" by Sue

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OUT OF THE DARKNESS

by Sue

Westlife were in a happy mood. They had just finished an interview with a top American radio station and things were going really well. The boys made their way down the corridor towards the back entrance. Bryan was fooling around as usual. He had Kian in an arm lock.

“Stop it McFadden. You’re breaking my arm” cried Kian.

Bryan immediately let go only to be grabbed in a headlock by a grinning Kian.

“Oi, no fair Egan” said Bryan trying to free himself.

Shane and Nicky were ahead of them talking about the interview. Mark was lagging behind the wrestlers as he was engrossed in dialing on his mobile.

The two bandmates continued wrestling. Shane and Nicky passed through a fire door and the wrestlers followed. The heavy, solid door swung back, catching an unsuspecting Mark squarely on the forehead. He fell to the floor in a crumpled heap, his mobile still clutched in his hand. Shane heard the thud and spun round.

“Mark!” he screamed, rushing to kneel down beside Mark who lay unmoving on the cold, hard floor.

Mark’s forehead was bleeding from a cut just under his hairline. An enormous lump was already noticeable.

“Oh my God, get Anto” said Nicky as Kian ran off.

Shane was trying to wake Mark up.

“Come on Marky” he pleaded. “Open your eyes.”

Bryan knelt beside him.

“It’s no good Shane, he’s out cold” Bryan whispered, his voice barely audible.

Anto arrived and took control. He ‘phoned for an ambulance and then took off his jacket and gently placed it under Mark’s head. They waited in silence for the paramedics. Mark was taken to the hospital.

The waiting room was quiet. The boys were trying to remain calm. They had been there an hour. What was taking so long? Suddenly Bryan jumped up.

“I can’t stand this “ he said. “This is all my fault. If I hadn’t been messing about this wouldn’t have happened.”

Kian got up and went to him.

“I was doing it too” he said.

“Yeah, but I started it” replied Bryan.

Shane sighed.

“It’s o.k. Bryan “he said “It was an accident. Mark wasn’t looking where he was going either you know.”

He tried to lighten the mood.

“You know what he’s like. He didn’t even let go of his mobile!”

Bryan smiled weakly and sat down. He still felt really guilty.

The door opened and Anto came in followed by a doctor. Everyone started asking questions. The doctor held up his hands.

“Please” he said. “If you will calm down I will tell you what we know.”

Silence filled the room. The doctor looked at their anxious faces. This wasn’t going to be easy. He cleared his throat and began.

“Well, Mark has a severe concussion. He was still unconcious when he was brought in. He woke up about ten minutes ago.”

Relief flooded the room. The doctor looked grave.

“However” he continued. “There is a problem.”

Shane swallowed hard.

“What is it?” he croaked fearfully.

The doctor paused before speaking.

“Erm, it appears that the trauma to Mark’s head has caused some swelling. It is pressing on his optic nerve. At this moment in time Mark cannot see.”

Nicky gasped and began to cry. The others looked at each other unsure what to do.

“But” began Kian. “He’ll be o.k. won’t he? I mean it’s only temporary, right?”

Everyone looked eagerly at the doctor waiting for him to confirm Kian’s words.

“I’m afraid it’s too early to tell if there will be any permanent damage. We will run some tests when he wakes up.”said the doctor.

“I thought you said he woke up” said Bryan getting up again.

“He did “ replied the doctor.” However, when he realised he couldn’t see he became very distressed. We had to sedate him.”

Shane spoke up.

“Can we see him?” he asked.

The doctor looked at them. They were all shocked.

“Not right now” he said. “Maybe later. I’ll let you know when there is any news.”

With that he left the room.

“Oh my God!” said Nicky, still crying quietly. “Poor Mark. What are we going to do?”

Anto looked at them with a worried face.

“We wait” he said. “And we stay calm, for Mark’s sake.”

The time passed slowly. Anto called Louis who contacted Mark’s parents. They caught the first plane out. After about three hours the doctor returned.

“Mark is awake now” he said. “He is still groggy but one of you may go and see him.”

Shane stood up.

“I’ll go “he said.

The doctor looked at him and said

“O.k. But please try and remain calm. Although Mark is unable to see you he may pick up on your tone of voice. You must try to be positive.”

Shane nodded and followed the doctor out. The others didn’t envy him.

Shane entered the white, sterile room. The blinds were drawn against the glare of the sun. Briefly Shane wondered why, what difference would it make as Mark was blind.

The thought scared him. It was the first time he had admitted to himself that this could happen. After a few hesitant moments Shane composed himself and approached the bed. Mark had his eyes closed and seemed unaware of Shane’s presence. Shane sat by the bed and took Mark’s hand. He took a deep breath.

“Hey Marky” he said as cheerfully as he could. Slowly Mark turned his head towards Shane. Shane’s words stuck in his throat as he looked at the small bandage that covered the cut on Mark’s forehead. It couldn’t disguise the enormous, purple lump that surrounded it. Mark opened his eyes and stared vacantly in Shane’s direction.

“Shane?” Mark mumbled.

“Yeah mate, it’s me” replied Shane. “How ya doing?”

He immediately cursed himself for asking such a stupid question.

Mark drew in a shaky breath.

“I can’t see Shane” he said. “I can’t see.”

“I know mate” replied Shane watching the panic spread across Mark’s face. His usually expressive eyes stared blankly.

“It’ll be o.k. Mark” said Shane” Probably just some temporary thing . You know, swelling and stuff.”

He didn’t sound convincing and he knew it. Stay positive he thought.

Mark gripped Shane’s hand hard.

“What if it’s not?” he said in a small scared voice. “How will I be able to go on with the band? The touring, the performing, everything will be over. Westlife is my dream.”

“Well, “ Shane began “Well, we’ll just go on as before with a few changes. It won’t make any difference to us.” Stay positive he reminded himself. “We’ll help you, you know that.”

Mark started to cry, softly at first, then he lost control and sobbed helplessly. Shane sat on the bed and held him, murmuring words of encouragement. Finally the sobbing subsided and Mark fell asleep. Carefully Shane layed him down and quietly left the room. Once outside he slid down the wall and let his own tears go.

Anto persuaded the boys to return to the hotel. There was nothing they could do at the hospital so they agreed. By this time Louis had arrived with Oliver and Marie. Louis left them at the hospital and went to the hotel. He found the boys in Nicky and Shane’s room.

“Well” he said. “what the hell happened?”

Bryan tried to take the blame but the others were having none of it.

“No-one is to blame Louis” said Nicky. “It was an accident.”

Louis sighed.

“O.k.” he said “but this is bloody awful.”

Later that night Bryan crept out of the hotel and took a taxi to the hospital. He still felt very guilty and could not rest. He found Mark’s room and slowly opened the door. Marie sat by the bed. Her eyes were red from crying. Oliver was flicking through a magazine, not really concentrating on the pages.

“I’m so sorry” Bryan began.

“Stop it” said Marie. “Louis told us what happened. It was nobody’s fault.”

Bryan hung his head and approached the bed. His face turned white when he saw the lump on Mark’s forehead. His tears fell silently as he watched Mark sleep.

About an hour later Mark started to mutter to himself and his head moved from side to side. The doctor was worried. Mark’s temperature had risen sharply and he had a fever. The pressure on Mark’s optic nerve was growing. If it wasn’t released soon the damage could be permanent.

Mark’s fever continued into the small hours and Bryan called the others who came to the hospital. Mark’s room was soon full of people and they all watched as Mark struggled to fight the invisible demon’s his fevered mind was creating. They saw him toss and turn in his delirium, his breath coming in gasps.

Suddenly Mark opened his eyes wide and screamed. His eyes slowly closed and he lay still. No-one dared to move. Louis ran for the doctor.

“Please, what’s happened?” asked Marie as the doctor quickly examined Mark.

He turned to them and sighed.

“His fever has broken” he said.

He felt relief flood the room.

“We will know for sure about his sight when he wakes up” he continued. “And that may not be for some time.”

Everyone decided togo to the hospital chapel and pray for their friend.

Mark slept for about eight hours. The fever had exhausted him. It was now mid-morning and Marie and Oliver were the only ones there. The boys had returned to the hotel. Marie was dozing and Oliver was looking out of the window.

“Mum?”

Oliver turned and looked at his son. Mark’s eyes were open and he was looking at his mother, blinking rapidly. Oliver woke Marie and she leaned over Mark.

“It’s o.k. darling. Dad and I are here” she said gently stroking his cheek.

“Mum, I can see you” whispered Mark.” It’s a bit blurry but I can see you.”

A tired smile spread across his face and his huge blue eyes filled with tears.

“Oh Mark, thank God” Marie sobbed.

Oliver fetched the doctor who bent to examine Mark. He turned with a smile.

“It’s good news” he said. “Everything looks good. Mark will make a full recovery.”

Mark watched as his parents hugged each other. His eyes closed and he drifted back to sleep.

Two days later Mark was released from hospital. The huge bruise on his forehead was turning a myriad of colours and the small cut was healing well. His parents had returned home, satisfied that the boys would take good care of him..

Later that day Mark wandered into Shane’s room looking for him. Shane was in the shower so Mark sat on the bed to wait. A piece of paper on the bedside table caught his eye and he picked it up. As he read it the tears poured down his cheeks. Shane emerged from the bathroom and saw the paper in Mark’s hand.

“Hey Marky” he said taking the paper. “We won’t be needing that now.”

Mark looked at Shane unable to speak. On the paper were ideas from all the boys about how to make life easier for Mark if he remained blind. Everything from touring and luggage to simple dance moves. Shane tore up the paper and threw it in the bin.

“Thankyou” said Mark quietly. “I was so scared that you wouldn’t want me in the band anymore. That I’d be a liability.”

“Well” said Shane.” You’re still a liability but we can live with that.”

He laughed at the look on Mark’s face.

“O.k.” said Mark joining in the laughter. “I promise to pay more attention in the future.”

“No Mark” said Shane. “Don’t do that. Don’t change the habits of a lifetime. It wouldn’t be you if you weren’t on your own planet most of the time. Just a glance up every now and then will do. Deal?”

“Deal” replied Mark thanking God for his friends.

“Now, about those dance moves!”

THE END

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