I shake him, but nothing happens. There is no movement or sound at all from him. I place my hand at the side of his head to straighten it, so he is able to breathe better. When I slowly lift my hand away from the back of his head, I instantly notice blood. Mark’s blood is all over my hand.
“Annabella, call an ambulance!” I shout, trying not to wake Lucy, who had fallen asleep a little while ago in Annnabella’s arms. It is normal for her to take a nap at this time. “Mark, you will be fine. I love you. Please stay with me.”
I walk around him to see his face. I notice that his head isn’t elevated enough, so I move him a little bit more, ensuring that he is definitely able to breathe. I then bend one of his knees, moving him slightly. I’m scared to touch him. I don’t want to hurt him any more than he already is. I don’t know if he has broken anything. I’m not a mind reader, but I wish I were because I need to know what happened. Right now, I need to make sure he is safe. I need him to be in some kind of recovery position since I don’t know what’s happened. All I do know is he is unconscious, and there is blood coming from his head.
I turn to see Annabella standing there with tears streaming from her eyes. “He is going to be okay,” I state, attempting to reassure her. I don’t know if he will be all right. I don’t know what will happen to him, because I don’t know what happened. I should have gotten him to come with me. Did he fall over? Is the puppy injured? Oh, my head is such a mess, but I can’t let Annabella know that. She will worry more.
“I hope so,” she responds in a shaky voice. “I haven’t gone into the house.”
“Why?” I exclaim harshly. “We need an ambulance. We need help for Mark.”
“No, someone has broken into the house. The door has been smashed through, and I can see from here there are things on the floor in the hallway. Everything I can see is destroyed and all lying over the place,” she states, visibly trembling.
“Oh, no. Use this,” I say, passing her my mobile. “We need an ambulance for Mark.”
I reach into Mark’s pocket and grab his little monogrammed handkerchief, the one he always carries with him. I place it gently on his head where the blood appears to be coming from, applying enough pressure to try to stop the bleeding. I hope Mark will not be mad at me for using his granddad’s hanky. He passed away when Mark was six, and it is one of the most treasured items he owns that belonged to his granddad. His name was William, but his dad used to call him Bill. The name stuck with him throughout his life, and everyone knew him as Bill.
I remember the night Mark told me about his grandad Bill. We were sitting on the sofa with my head on his lap. As I listened to the stories about his granddad, he held the handkerchief close to him.
Granddad Bill passed away suddenly of a heart attack at sixty-nine years old. He used to spend hours with Mark, teaching him about vegetables. He told him how to plant them and to look after them like a keen gardener should. He used to come and visit Annabella and help her with the garden. Mark told me all about the hours they spent chatting and shopping for the garden. I wish I had met him.
Tears roll down Annabella’s cheeks as she leans over and passes my mobile back to me. “Annabella, is everything okay in the house?” I question.
“I didn’t really notice what was damaged. I saw bits of things, but I’m not sure what,” she replies.
“I’m going to ring Connor,” I state.
I reach for my mobile that I had placed on the ground beside me.
“Connor?”
“Mark has…I don’t know. We are at Annabella’s, and he is lying in the driveway unconscious with blood pouring from his head. Can you come here and check the house, or get someone to? I’m scared to go inside.” I pause. “The house has been trashed. From what we can see, things have been smashed, and I don’t know if anyone is in it or not.”
It’s not like Mark to fall. He is the most coordinated person I know. I have never known him to be clumsy, even when he has been drinking. I don’t know what is happening. I stay at Mark’s side with one eye on the door of the house. I hope no one in in there.
“Shhh…He will be all right,” I say, trying to comfort the puppy, who has been running around and barking. He has finally settled at Mark’s side, whining.
I hear the sound of the ambulance coming up the driveway. I’m so happy to see some help. I sit there unable to move, listening to Annabella tell the responders about Mark. As one paramedic looks down at Mark and prepares to move him, another one runs to get the splint board. I move out of the way, letting them care for the man I love. He is so lifeless, and it pains me to stand here and do nothing.
“I’ll go place this little one away in the house,” I finally say, trying to regain my composure as I walk towards the house. “Come on,” I call to Jessie, the puppy, while entering the house. I suddenly stop, looking to the side. For as far as I can see, there is broken glass everywhere. There is no way I can walk through there, and I can’t leave Jess. I don’t know if anyone is in there. I should have thought about that possibility.
“Stop!” I shout at Jessie. “Come on. You can come with us.” I walk hastily over to Mark’s car, placing her into the backseat. I don’t like the thought of locking her away, so I will have to drop her off somewhere safe. With the unexpected heat, the car is unsafe.
“What’s going on?” Annabella asks.
“The house feels weird,” I inform her. I know that must sound silly, but it does. I felt like I was being watched while I was standing at the door. I really don’t want to be near the house any longer than I am. I want to get away now.
“I need to go in,” Annabella states, walking towards the house. I run in front of her. I can’t let her go into the house, just in case someone is still inside. I need to protect everyone.
“No,” I demand. “You need to go with Mark.” I pause. “Lucy and I will follow in the car, and I’ll go find Connor.” I take Lucy from her arms and watch her climb into the back of the ambulance with the help of one of the paramedics.
I can feel the tears begin to fall down my cheeks.