The Matchmaker

Chapter 24

Shannon stirred and woke up. The room around her was white and it only took her a few seconds to realise she was in hospital. She tried to piece together what had happened but nothing was clear. Her head pounded and her whole body felt like lead.

Feeling a hand holding her own, she looked around half expecting to see Amy beside her but got a surprise when she saw Brian instead. He was slouched over the bed asleep and had a firm grip on her hand. She didn’t want to wake him but knew she had to; after all it didn’t look right holding the hand of someone who was engaged.

She felt her stomach churn as things started to piece together again. The all too familiar stab in her heart reminded her of the party that night. She wasn’t sure why she ended up in hospital; let alone how long but she hoped she would be there for a few days. That would mean she would get out of taking the photos for the party. The closer it got the more she felt she couldn’t do it.

She gently shook Brian’s arm to wake him and he stirred. Upon noticing she was awake he sat up and kissed her hand. He held it against his cheek and she saw tears in his eyes which shocked her. What had happened to make him react like that?

For a long moment they didn’t talk. She enjoyed the close intimacy with him, even though she knew she shouldn’t, because she knew it wouldn’t last long.

“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Brian said at last squeezing her hand. “We’ve all been worried sick about you!”

“We?” Shannon asked weakly.

“Amy, Nathan, your boss, Jim is it? And I. Nathan has been ringing every five minutes asking how you are. I need to call him back.”

Shannon shook her head in confusion. “But why? I don’t understand! What happened?”

“You don’t remember anything?”

Shannon wracked her brain but she could only remember up to leaving the police station. Everything after that was a blur. Shaking her head she waited for Brian to explain. He looked concerned and tried to think of what to say. He had hoped the doctor would be there when she awoke but no one knew how long that would be.

Finally Brian said, “You and Amy were hurt in a truck accident. Do remember anything at all? Amy told us all about it.”

“Truck?” Shannon tried to think back to that day and things were coming together in small pieces. She recalled the car not starting then she got out of the car to call Brian. She saw a flash of an image of a truck hurtling toward her. “I remember! I was on the phone to you when Amy grabbed my hand. The last thing I remember is seeing the truck coming toward us.”

“You scared the life out of me, Shannon. One minute you were talking and the next minute all I hear is you screaming something about a truck and an almighty crash. I had no idea where you were, I had no idea if you were alive -” Brian trailed off and stared at Shannon intently, tears glistened in his eyes. “I thought I had lost you for good.”

They held eye contact for a moment and for a split second Shannon wondered if that was their moment. Perhaps they would finally have a chance to talk things out and make things work. She dismissed the thought as soon as it entered her mind as she grudgingly reminded herself of the engagement. She broke the gaze and looked down at his hand still holding her own. He noticed that and pulled it away as though he had been stung. That was all she needed to confirm nothing would ever happen between them.

“It wouldn’t make any difference to you.” Shannon said barely above a whisper. “You’ve got a whole new life ahead of you.”

Brian looked as though he was about to cry. “I can’t lose you Shannon. Regardless of what happens, I still want you in my life.”