The Cellar. Continuing the adventures of Colin, Melissa and

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Sean Bracken
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The Cellar. Continuing the adventures of Colin, Melissa and

Post by Sean Bracken »

The Cellar
Sean Bracken

Melissa Sharpe charged under the low hanging branches of the trees that lined the narrow trail. Rebel, her favourite horse had carried her through Cushing's Meadow with the grass almost shoulder high, up the steep twenty foot high embankment at the far end and down the other side to Beaver's Brook. There, she paused at the riverside to let Rebel rest briefly and to quench his thirst. Then a steady canter along the river bank, taking in the sound of water coursing it's way over and around the stones and rocks and enjoying the sweet scent and colour of wild flowers being raided by bees and butterfly's for the rich nectar.

Melissa loved these early morning gallops and now she was riding over her favourite part of the trek. The shaded path through the woods held many dangers. Jumping over the fallen trunks of long dead trees, ever mindful of the risk posed by the branches overhead, Melissa felt no fear.

One slip could be lethal, but she trusted Rebel completely. The sure footed beast had never let her down. No one else in the yard dared to ride him. He was too spirited and powerful for most people. It was precisely for that combination of power and spirit that Melissa loved him so much. He brought her fully to life when she rode him.

The ride was nearing it's end. Only the six foot leap over an old stone wall at the far end of the woods and then back to the stable's to start mucking out. As they approached the wall Melissa could sense her heartbeat rise in anticipation of the soaring freedom she felt every time she cleared the jump.

Suddenly Rebel slammed on the brakes. Melissa flew over his head and the last thing she heard was the sickening thud of her helmet hitting the rock solid ground on the far side of the wall.

“Jeez. What time is it?” she thought as she woke to a throbbing God awful headache and pitch black surroundings. “It must have been one hell of a party.” She struggled to remember where she was and what had happened. She realised that someone was gently shaking her shoulder and softly urging her to wake up. She opened her eyes and saw that it was still dark. All she wanted was to be left alone and to lie still. She needed to get rid of this hangover before she could talk to anyone.

The soft voice and gentle shaking persisted and Melissa eventually tried to respond. “Hush now Pet. Don't try to get up. You've had a bit of an accident, Luvie” the quiet voice whispered. “You're in The Mater Hospital, Pet. Your husband is here beside you.”

Suddenly wide awake, she remembered her morning gallop on Rebel and flying over the old stone wall. Her mouth felt dry as she tried to speak. “Would someone please switch on the lights.” she rasped. “And could I please have a glass of water?”

Colin's voice came to her out of the gloom. “Lay still darling. You've had a nasty fall and you've been out cold for nearly a week.” he said. “The lights are on, but you have a very bad concussion and your sight is affected. Don't worry, you'll be fine in no time.”

The following days blurred into one another and the days became weeks. Melissa endured test after test. X-Rays followed by MRI's. Blood tests accompanied by urine tests. But she was still blind.

After a couple weeks they decided to move her to the National Rehab Hospital in Rochestown Avenue. She had three fractures in her spinal column and would need six months of therapy and recuperation to allow her back to heal and to avoid any risk of permanent damage or paralysis.

Melissa found the stay in rehab unbearable. She was forced to stay in bed with a sand pillow under her back for the first few months. After that she started exercises to strengthen her back and get her walking again. Despite the pain she never complained about the therapy and various treatments. It was the blindness that terrified her. She could hear paraplegics out in the corridor, doing wheelies or having races in their wheelchairs and she envied them. She'd have gladly swapped life in a chair to get her sight back.

The doctors were convinced that the blindness was somehow psychologically based and that her sight would return in time. A counsellor called Dr. Conlon visited her every day. He insisted that she call him George and she suspected that he had more than a professional interest in her. Nurse Keating told her that George was, as she put it 'Drop dead gorgeous'. He was six foot two, with dark brown closely cropped hair and looked remarkably like his namesake George Clooney.

Melissa was convinced that the doctors were wrong and that she would never see again. This made her feel despondent and hopeless. Despite visits from Colin every day and the attentions of her handsome doctor nothing could raise her spirits.

Colin had avoided bringing their daughter Megan to visit her. Colin believed that Megan would be too upset to see her Mammy in the strange surroundings of a hospital ward and Melissa agreed. But as her depression grew deeper Doctor Conlon formed the opinion that a visit from Megan would help. Despite her objections he convinced Colin, and Megan was due to visit that afternoon.

Melissa had no idea how she was going to handle the visit. She felt that she wouldn't be able to endure the pain of having her little girl beside her without being able to see her. She had only agreed to the visit to put an end to the non-stop pestering from both Colin and her doctor. She also felt that she had to make an effort for Colin's sake.

She had been a complete bitch with Colin ever since the trauma of Megan's birth. Colin had tried over and over again for the first couple of years, but she grew more distant despite his efforts. Colin had eventually admitted defeat and threw himself into work. Melissa felt so guilty at the way she had treated him. She knew he loved her but she just couldn't get her old feelings and passion back.

Up until her fall she had spent more and more time alone in her study. She preferred to sit watching TV with a bottle of wine to going out and socialising with their large circle of friends. That and the freedom of wild gallops across the fields on Rebel were all she needed or wanted. She had even started to resent Megan for intruding into her life.

The excited high pitch of Megan's voice echoing down the hospital corridor roused Melissa from her revelries. She lifted herself up from the bed to greet her daughter. Megan's happy screams burst into the room and Melissa's heart ached to be able to see her baby just one more time.

Megan climbed up onto the bed and wrapped herself around Melissa. “Mammy, Mammy, I missed you. I missed you so much.” the words spilled out of Megan's mouth so fast that they tumbled over each other. “Mammy, Mammy, guess what? Mammy. I saved you. I saved you.” said the little girl.

“ Whatever do you mean? Pumpkin” asked Melissa “How did you save me?”

“She did you know.” said Colin, his voice coming from the foot of the bed.“

Megan came into my office the morning of your accident. She was screaming and crying that you were hurt. She said that the bold horsey had thrown you. I didn't know what to make of it, but to be on the safe side I sent some of the stable lads out to look for you. Don't ask me how she knew, but if not for Megan you could have lain out there for hours...............


To be continued.

-- 14 Sep 2016, 16:59 --

And here's the rest

The couple marvelled at how the intuition and love of a child could manifest itself in such a way. Melissa hugged Megan even closer to her. She was filled with a deep sense of gratitude that Colin had paid attention to Megan's instinct.

After Megan's visit Melissa felt a little more at peace with her condition and thanked Dr. Conlon for insisting on it. She decided to put more trust in his opinions from here on in.

Funnily enough she realised that she always felt more at ease and content after George's visits. She often felt drowsy and rested when he spoke with her. She smiled to herself as she remembered that she had actually fallen asleep listening to him on more than one occasion.

It was no secret among the nursing staff that George had a soft spot for Melissa. Nurse Keating often remarked that the doctor gave Melissa much more attention than his other patients. She wondered if the feeling went both ways. She certainly felt attracted to the man. But then again she had no real idea of what he looked like. For all she knew he could be a fat little bald man. It was his voice that she was attracted to.
*********

The months passed by. Every day was filled with tests, therapy and exercise. And of course the daily visits from Colin which at times were strained by the lack of feeling between them. Melissa felt sad that they had lost the spark that had brought them together and felt guilty that she now preferred having George coming in for a chat every evening.

Melissa was due to be released from hospital in four weeks time. George suggested that she should start to prepare for by taking little trips out once or twice a week. He said that it would help to lift her depression and get her used to living in the real world as a blind person.

She decided to take the doctors advice and went out a few times for coffee or a couple of drinks with Colin. This was a bad idea as far as Melissa was concerned. She pretended to listen as Colin went on and on about his plans for her homecoming. It was all too much for her. Her mind constantly drifted to thoughts of a life with George.

One evening George suggested a night out might do her good. She objected and admitted to him that she found the trips out with Colin a strain to put it mildly. George considered this for a few minutes and asked her would she like to try a night out with him instead.

Melissa jumped at the chance and without even thinking of the consequences said yes, she'd love a night out with him. They decided on Friday night and George warned her not to talk to anyone about their plans. He explained that it was unethical for him to date a patient and that it could cost him his career if the secret got out.

They agreed that Melissa would get a nurse to organise a taxi for her and that she would meet George at his house in Foxrock. Melissa couldn't wait. She felt like a schoolgirl again. Even her blindness took second place in her mind to her date with George.

Nurse Keating helped Melissa to get ready on Friday afternoon. She applied her make-up and picked out some clothes for her. Melissa wondered if the nurse had any idea of what was really happening or did she believe the story that Melissa was having a girls night out with some friends. Melissa didn't really care either way. All she could think of was that soft gentle voice. She dreamed of their first touch, their first kiss and what might follow.

At exactly eight o'clock an orderly helped her into a wheelchair, handed her a cane and pushed her out to the waiting taxi.
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zero_macabre
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Post by zero_macabre »

Will you be continuing this short story? I really liked how you described the scenery in the first paragraph. The plot does sound quite interesting, and I do hope you will continue it!
Latest Review: "No Simple Miracle" by Meggan Haller
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Sean Bracken
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Post by Sean Bracken »

Hi Zero_macabre.

I'm glad that you like the story. I intend to develop it into a supernatural romance/tragedy novel. I'll post updates here as the story develops.

Regards,

Sean
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DATo
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Post by DATo »

Greetings Sean,

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your second installment. Like zero_macabre I anticipated more forthcoming so I thought I'd wait for it before offering a response. The story is developing well. The secrecy of the date opens many avenues with which the story could proceed. It will be interesting to see where this goes. Looking forward to the next installment.
“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”
― Steven Wright
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Sean Bracken
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Post by Sean Bracken »

Hi DATo,

Nice to hear from you. My idea for this book is Melissa's slow descent into madness, sparked by post-natal depression. The effect this has on her family, especially Colin, who fights to save her from herself. It will carry the reader through both joyful and tragic episodes in the family's lives. As a backdrop to this, Megan, the oldest child has a supernatural gift/curse. Melissa will eventually commit suicide and this will lead to Colin becoming an alcoholic. I have two endings in mind. One is tragic and leave the book as a stand alone story. The other ends with hope for Colin and maybe book two.

I see it as a tragedy. As far as I know Amazon etc, don't list tragedy as a genre. Romance or supernatural don't really describe it properly. What genre would you pick or how would you classify it?

Thanks for taking so much interest in my writing.

Sean
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