Half Life (11 page)

 
“
At least I
‘
ll always know where you are at night now,
”
smiled Sabrina at the corpse.

  She leaned back in her seat and sipped her wine while her guests stared at her in horror.

THE END

SNOW DANCE

  Michael took another swig from the vodka bottle as he stared up at the Christmas tree, which blurred as fresh tears filled his eyes.  It was a huge living pine reaching right to the ceiling, decorated in reds and golds.  Adele had wanted a Victorian tree this year and she
’
d done a wonderful job, it looked beautiful.  Now she
’
d never get to see it on Christmas day, not unless a miracle happened and she woke up.  She
’
d been hit by a drunk driver a week ago and left to die on the road.  Now she was clinging onto life, swimming in a coma and no one knew if she
’
d ever wake up.  He
’
d spent the last seven days at the hospital, refusing to leave her side until both their families had intervened and sent him home for some rest.  But he couldn
’
t sleep.  He couldn
’
t eat or breathe or do anything except think about Adele unconscious in her hospital bed, linked up to tubes and drips and machines that made terrifying noises.

  The gifts they were going to exchange were wrapped up beneath the tree in coordinating red and gold paper, maybe never to be opened.  He thought of the selfish pathetic drunk driver who had hit her on her way home from work.  He
’
d driven off, leaving her with a broken arm, shattered pelvis and internal bleeding.  Fortunately the police had caught the bastard so he would pay for what he
’
d done.  But that didn
’
t help Adele wake up. 

  He took another swig of vodka, grimacing as it burned a path down his throat then slumped to his knees, the tree towering over him.  This was their first Christmas as husband and wife, they were supposed to be together.  Adele was going to make dinner for the whole family, a massive Christmas day gathering full of fun and laughter.  Now he was here alone with a bottle of vodka for company, struggling with the knowledge that his wife might die.  Taking another drink his vision swam and he let the bottle drop, making a sloshing sound as its contents spilled onto the floor. 

 
“
Adele,
”
he groaned, the word full of longing and despair.  If she died he
’
d die too.

  Movement from the doorway caught his eye and he turned to see his wife walk into the room, looking radiant in the long red dress she
’
d bought especially for Christmas day.  She strode towards him, a tender smile on her lips.

 
“
Adele?
”
he murmured, pushing himself up to a sitting position, jaw falling open with astonishment.

  She knelt before him and ran her fingertips along the line of his jaw, just as she always did. 

 
“
Look at the state of you,
”
she said in her soft husky voice.

 
“
You
’
re not real.  You
’
re in hospital.
”

 
“
I
’
m here with you Michael.  That
’
s all that matters.
”

  A sob escaped his lips as he reached out a shaky hand to touch her face.  She looked just the same as always; glossy black hair cut into a neat bob, full red lips, liquid brown eyes.  Beautiful.

 
“
Is it really you?
”

  She grasped his hand with her own. 
“
Can
’
t you feel my skin, my warmth, my touch?
”

  He closed his eyes, better to savour the sensation. 
“
Yes I can.
”
  He pressed her hand to his lips and kissed it, smelt the perfume she always wore. 
“
Baby it is you,
”
he breathed, tears rolling down his face.

  He pulled her to him and held her close, burying his face in her hair.  She felt so solid and real in his arms.

 
“
It
’
s snowing outside,
”
she smiled, gazing out of the window.  Snow was one of her favourite things.

 
“
Come on,
”
he said, taking her hand and leading her to the patio doors. 

  They stepped out into the biting cold and it was only then he realised she was wearing just a strappy dress.

 
“
You
’
re going to get cold.
”

  She gave him another disarming smile. 
“
I
’
ll be fine.
”

  He was only wearing a thin shirt himself and shivered.  Adele rested her head on his shoulder and instantly he felt a warmth start to seep into him.  Wrapping her in his arms the warmth engulfed him, flowing from her into him and suddenly it wasn
’
t cold anymore. 

  Despite how real she felt he knew he must be dreaming.  His exhausted grief-stricken mind had created this illusion to help him deal with the trauma but he wasn
’
t complaining.  It was glorious.  He looked down at her, the white snow settling on her black hair and she smiled up at him.  Taking her little pointed chin between his large fingers he dipped his head to kiss her and the kiss she returned was pure Adele; warm, passionate and soft. 

 
“
Dance with me,
”
she smiled, pulling him onto the lawn that was now blanketed with snow.

 
“
But there
’
s no music,
”
he frowned.

  Suddenly a slow haunting tune started up in the air.  He looked around for the source but was unable to define it.

 
“
Relax,
”
she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. 
“
It
’
s not the first time we
’
ve danced together.
”

 
“
Okay,
”
he replied, sliding his hands around her slim waist and kissing her cheek. 

They moved together gently from side to side and he couldn
’
t stop looking at her.  There wasn
’
t a mark on her to indicate she
’
d been in an accident.  She was healthy and whole and so very achingly lovely.

 
“
Has the pain gone?
”
he said softly, pressing his lips to her forehead.

  She gazed up at him with her liquid eyes. 
“
It doesn
’
t hurt anymore.
”

 
“
Good,
”
he said, resting his cheek on the top of her head.

  In the distance they heard the church bells strike midnight.

 
“
It
’
s officially Christmas day now,
”
she said, excitement shining in her eyes.  She
’
d always loved Christmas. 

 
“
Want to open a present?
”
he said, smiling at her eager nod.

  He led her back inside and shook the snow from his hair while she raced to the tree.

 
“
Here,
”
she grinned, handing him a gold parcel.

  With a smile he tore off the paper to reveal a first edition of his favourite book and a lump formed in his throat. 
“
It
’
s perfect.  Thanks.
”

  His reaction pleased her and she kissed him. 

 
“
Now your turn,
”
he said, picking up a small red gift.

 
“
I like small presents.  They
’
re usually the most exciting,
”
she smiled.

  He loved how she tore the paper off like an excited child then writhed open the lid of the little black box.

 
“
Oh Michael it
’
s beautiful,
”
she breathed.

  It was a white gold locket in the shape of a tiny heart set with genuine diamonds.  It had cost him a small fortune but she was worth it.

 
“
I saw this in the jewellers a few weeks ago,
”
she said incredulously.

 
“
I know.  I remembered how much you liked it.
”

  Her eyes filled with tears. 
“
I do.  I really do.
”

 
“
Here, let me put it on.
”

  She turned, revealing a bare expanse of back and after fastening the clasp on the necklace he kissed her shoulder, following the slim curve up to her neck, making her sigh with pleasure.

 
“
What do you think?
”
she said, turning round so he could see the pendant.

 
“
Gorgeous,
”
he grinned, leaning forwards to kiss her.

  But she took a step back with a mischievous grin.  When he gave her a puzzled look she glanced up at the ceiling, indicating the mistletoe hanging there.

 
“
Oh I see,
”
he smiled, stepping towards her and this time her lips met his passionately.

  Michael woke to light streaming in on his face, causing his aching head to throb.  For a moment the despair that had been his ever present companion for the last week returned only to be dashed away by his memories of the previous evening.  With a smile he turned over on his side and froze.

  He stared at the empty space in the bed beside him with disbelief.  Tentatively he reached out a hand to touch the spot where Adele had lain with him just a few hours ago to find it cold, the bedding crisp and straight.  He pressed his palms to his face and bellowed in pain.  It had all been in his head.  Adele was still in a coma in the hospital and he was alone.

  Sudden panic engulfed him and he sat bolt upright.  The thought was insane and went against the rational, practical part of himself but what if she really had come home to say goodbye?

  Frantically he snatched the phone off the bedside cabinet and punched in the number of the hospital.

 
“
Ward Seven.  Sister Cartwright,
”
answered a voice.

 
“
I
’
m ringing to check on Adele Ramsay.  I
’
m her husband.
”

 
“
I
’
m afraid there
’
s no change,
”
she replied gently.

  He breathed a sigh of relief, for the first time glad to hear those words. 
“
Right, thanks.
”

  He let the phone drop and fell back into the pillows, closing his eyes better to relive the best dream of his life.  Hot salty tears spilled from beneath his lids as he recalled every look and gesture, how it felt to hold her again and hear her speak.  He had to see her.

  Leaping out of bed purposefully he took a shower and shaved for the first time in days.  Then he went downstairs and actually ate some breakfast, grimacing at the smell of the vodka permeating the room. 

  He ordered a taxi to take him to the hospital, not trusting himself to drive after the drink he
’
d put away last night.  He wished the scum who
’
d hit her had done the same thing.  Just before he went out the door he paused to pick up the small red gift he
’
d given Adele in her dream.  After all it was Christmas day.  It didn
’
t seem right he turn up empty-handed, even if she was unable to open it.