Left Alone
Dusk falls beyond the windowpane and still, her mum hasnt come home. Emily, spinning the wheels of her wheelchair, rolls herself to the table, picks up the phone and dials her mums number.
The person you are trying to reach is unavailable or out of service, announces a distant, unfamiliar voice.
Emily gazes uncertainly at the phone, then remembering theres not much credit left, switches it off.
Her mum went out to the shop but hasnt returned, which has never happened before. She never stays out long; after all, Emily has been disabled since birth and cannot walk. She uses a wheelchair to get around. Other than her mum, she has no family.
Emily is seven now and isnt frightened to be alone at home, yet her mum always tells her where shes going and when shell be back. The little girl tries to understand what could have happened:
Today, Mum went to the big Sainsburys thats a bit further away, because things are cheaper there. We often go together. Its supposed to be far, but you can walk there and back in an hour, she glances at the clock. Its been over four hours. Im so hungry.
She wheels herself into the kitchen, boils the kettle, retrieves a pork pie from the fridge. After eating and sipping her tea, she waits. Her mum still isnt home. Unable to bear it, she picks up the phone again and dials.
The person you are trying to reach is unavailable or out of service, repeats the mechanical voice.
She gets herself into bed, sliding the phone under her pillow. She leaves the light onwithout her mum, the dark feels terrifying. She lies there for a long time before she finally drifts off.
***
Emily wakes as sunlight streams through the window. Her mums bed is neatly made.
Mum! she calls towards the hallway.
Silence answers. She grabs the phone and tries again. The same cold, metallic voice.
Now shes truly scared. Tears slip down her cheeks.
***
Colin is on his way home from the café. Every morning, they sell freshly-baked pastries, and its a family ritual: his mum cooks the breakfast, while he goes out for the buns. Colin is thirty and still lives with his mother. Women rarely notice him: hes gawky, thin, and sickly; hes struggled with ill health since he was a child. Treating his illness required expensive care, but his mother raised him on her own. His last diagnosis, delivered in adulthood, made clear he could never have children. Colin resigned himself to never marrying.
In the grass, he spies a broken old phone. Mobiles and computers are both his hobby and his jobhes a programmer and a blogger. Of course, he owns the latest gadgets, but from professional curiosity, he picks this one up. The phone looks crushed, as if its been run over and tossed aside.
Maybe somethings happened, the idea occurs to him. Pocketing the phone, he thinks, Ill sort it at home.
***
After breakfast, Colin takes the found phone apart, retrieves the SIM, and slots it into one of his spares. Most numbers are for the NHS, social services, and other such institutions, but the top contact is labelled Daughter.
Colin thinks for a moment, then calls the number.
Mum! cries a delighted childs voice.
Im not your mum, Colin stammers.
Wheres my mum?
I dont know. I found a smashed phone, put the SIM in mine and rang you.
My mums disappeared, the voice starts to sob. She went shopping yesterday and never came home.
Wheres your dad, your gran?
I dont have a dad or a grandma. Its just me and Mum.
Whats your name? Colin realises the child needs help.
Emily.
Im Uncle Colin. Emily, pop into the hallway and tell your neighbours youre alone.
I cant get out, my legs dont work. The next flats empty, anyway.
You your legs dont work? Colin can barely process this.
I was born like this. Mum says she just needs to save up and theyll operate.
How do you get about?
Ive got a wheelchair.
Emily, do you know your address? Colin gets into action.
Yeah, number Seven, Addison Road, flat Eighteen.
Ill be there soon and well find your mum.
Colin hangs up.
His mum, Susan, appears in the doorway.
Whats the matter, Colin?
Mum, I found a smashed phone, put the SIM in mine and called the first contact. Theres a little girl, all by herself at home, and shes disabled. No other family. Ive got her address. Im going to check on her.
Ill come too, Susan says at once, starting to get ready.
Susan raised Colin alone, nursing him through endless childhood illness. She knows how hard it is for a single mother with a sick child. Now shes retired; her son earns well.
They phone for a cab and set off to help the girl.
***
They ring the bell.
Who is it? comes a childs sad voice.
Emily, its me, Colin.
Come in!
They make their way up the block. The door is already ajar.
Inside, a thin girl sits in a wheelchair, her eyes big and solemn.
Will you find my mum? she asks.
Whats your mums name? Colin asks at once.
Helen.
And her surname?
Bennett.
Wait, Colin! Susan interrupts. Emily, are you hungry?
Yes. There was a pork pie in the fridge, but I ate it yesterday.
Colin, run to the shop we always use. Buy what we usually get.
Right! and he darts out.
***
When he returns, his mum is already bustling in the kitchen. She unpacks the bags, lays out lunch.
Once theyve eaten, Colin starts the search for Emilys mum.
He checks the local news site, scrolling through yesterdays incidents.
There we go On Parkside Avenue, a woman was hit by a Ford Fiesta. She was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
He calls the hospital. On the third attempt, someone answers.
Yes, a woman from Parkside Avenue was admitted yesterday. Shes in a serious condition, hasnt regained consciousness.
Whats her surname?
She had no ID or phone. Are you a relative?
Well Not yet
Come to the hospital
I know the address. Ill come now.
He turns to Emily.
Do you have a photo of your mum?
Yes. She wheels to her dresser and takes out an album. Here we are together.
Your mums very pretty!
Colin snaps a photo on his phone and grins at her.
Im offto find your mum.
***
She opens her eyes. White ceiling. Her mind tries to piece things together: the sight of a speeding car
She tries to move; pain sears throughout her body. A nurse comes over and quietly asks,
Youve woken up?
Helens eyes widen in horror.
How long have I been here?
Two days.
My daughters alone in the flat
Helen, calm down! the nurse gently presses her back. A man came yesterdaya young one. Left his phone for you, says your own was wrecked in the accident.
Can I call her?
Of course! She taps the contact Daughter and holds the phone to Helens ear.
Mum!
Emily, darling, how are you?
Im fine! Granny Susan is looking after me, and Uncle Colin calls in.
Whos Uncle Colin?
Dont worry, miss, says the doctor entering. Or Ill take your phone away. Time for a check-up.
Ill call back, sweetheart, Helen cries, ending the call.
After her assessment, the nurse puts the phone away. Helen pleads softly,
May I talk to Emily for a minute?
Doctor said you mustnt get worked up, but the nurse relents, dials Emily again.
Darling
Helen, Im Susan Williams, comes a warm, unfamiliar womans voice. Please listen. My son found your broken phone, used the SIM to find your daughter. Im a pensioner. While youre in hospital, Ill look after her. Dont worry. Im passing you to Emily.
Mum, dont be sadjust get better! Emilys voice chirps in.
Listen to Gran Susan, darling! Helen clings to the phone.
Miss, phone off please! comes the nurses stern voice.
***
The next day, Helen is moved to a general ward. That evening, during visiting hours, a young man entersrather plain and thin.
Hello, Helen, Im Colin, he smiles. Hope its all right I use your first name?
Of course, she replies, still dazed.
He sets a large bag on the table.
Mum packed this for you.
I I dont know who you are, Helen stammers.
I found your smashed phone, used your SIM, rang your daughter, and then found you.
Hows my Emily?
Wait right here.
He grabs the phone hed left before and tinkers for a moment.
There you go!
On the screen, Helen sees her daughter.
Mum! Emily squeals. Are you hurting?
No, darling, not now. How are you?
Granny Susan comes over to see me.
Helen talks with her daughter for some time, while Colin waits patiently. When the call ends, Helen bows her head.
Ill forever owe you both.
No worries, Helen, he smiles. Do use my first name, please.
Thank you, Colin.
Let me show you how to use this phone.
***
Two weeks pass.
The man responsible for the accident brings Helen a cheque for £6,000 right to her hospital bed, accompanied by his solicitor.
The next day, shes discharged. Colin comes to collect her and takes her home.
Mum! her daughter shouts in delight.
For a moment, it seems she might leap from her wheelchair altogether. Helen kneels beside her, hugging Emily tightly as happy tears pour down her cheeks.
Then she turns to Susan.
Mrs. Williams, thank you ever so much!
Nonsense, Helen. Emily feels like a granddaughter now.
Mrs. Williams, the drivers paid compensation, Helen says, producing the envelope. Please take it. Ive nothing else to thank you with.
Put it away, Helen! Susan says firmly. Colin and I wont go hungry, but Emily will need treatment. Colins already found a private clinic.
Mum! Emily interrupts excitedly. Uncle Colin said you and I are going to hospital, and theyll fix my legs!
***
Helen and Emily spend two weeks at the clinic. The doctors put in pins; in three months, theyre due back. The treatment will be repeated next year, and the year after. In three years, after three operations and much rehabilitation, the doctors promise Emily will walk.
For now, Emily still uses her wheelchair. And the pins are uncomfortable too.
But fate, as ever, isnt finished testing this little circle. Susan suffers heart trouble and is admitted to hospital, in a serious condition.
For three nights, Helen stays at Susans bedside. She goes home only to cook for everyone and snatch a little sleep. At night, Colin keeps Emily company.
On the fourth day, Susan finally wakes properly. Her eyes, full of sadness, linger on Helen, then she softly says,
Dear, Im afraid my times nearly up. Marry my Colin. Hes a good, steady man. Together, youll help Emily get through it all.
Mrs. Williams, do you really think he would want me?
He will, Susan smiles faintly, he will.
***
A silver-haired lady holds the hand of a tall girl with a backpack and a bouquet of flowers. If not for the girls height, it would seem shes heading to school for the very first time.
But thats exactly what shes doingthough already joining the fourth year. Emily spent three years learning from home. She scored good marks. Now, at last, shes walking to school on her own two feet.
Gran, Im a bit nervous.
Whats this, Emily? Youre ten already! Look, theres your mum and dad!
Helen hurries over. Why so glum, little love?
Shes worried about school, Susan explains, shaking her head.
Take my hand, Colin offers his palm. Lets go!
With you, Dad, Im not scared at all, Emily beams.
They head off toward school, chattering happily, with Helen and Susan following behindjust as joyful.
