‘Billy? Is that you, Billy?’
The old man’s voice was barely audible in the bustle of the ward. His near-sightless eyes peered up, then closed as he lay back, his breathing fast and shallow.
‘Yes, it’s me.’
‘I’m frightened, Billy. Don’t leave me, son.’ He stretched out a gnarled hand to be held.
‘It’s OK. I won’t leave you.’
The old man’s breathing slowed, slowed and finally stopped, his hand releasing its grip.
The nurse stood at the bedside, arms folded. ‘You’re not his son, are you?’
‘I was for a few minutes,’ said the orderly.
The old man’s voice was barely audible in the bustle of the ward. His near-sightless eyes peered up, then closed as he lay back, his breathing fast and shallow.
‘Yes, it’s me.’
‘I’m frightened, Billy. Don’t leave me, son.’ He stretched out a gnarled hand to be held.
‘It’s OK. I won’t leave you.’
The old man’s breathing slowed, slowed and finally stopped, his hand releasing its grip.
The nurse stood at the bedside, arms folded. ‘You’re not his son, are you?’
‘I was for a few minutes,’ said the orderly.
