WHIRLPOOL 

By Tessa Harvey

    Esther felt strange and in pain. She knew she must not let go of her son, but rocks or something seemed to be ripping into her belly. She wanted to protect her unborn child, but what about her son? 

    "Lady," a male voice spoke with calm authority, "your son is safe. You need to concentrate. Your baby is coming. I am a doctor. Can you hear me?" The woman nodded, stunned. "It's too soon," she cried. A nurse held her hand. "Esther, Mrs. Watson, we are here to help, to save your baby." And you, she thought to herself.....Lucas was sat with Thomas. He was tired and bewildered. A male patient wandered past. "You ok?" Lucas blinked, puzzled.

    "Talk to him," the man said, "it's not all about you, you know. Tell the boy it's ok."

    Lucas was annoyed, but the man had gone. "Thomas," he said softly, "come back, we need you." He looked at the boy's pale face and forgot his own self-pity for a while. He kept talking to his son quietly, encouragingly/. Far away, his little boy heard, and marvelled. Dad, he thought. Dad's home. I want to be like my dad. And he began his long journey home.

(soon to be continued)