Sunday, 31 July 2011

Lonely Girl Part Ten


Walking home from school one day a little girl called Louise comes up to her house but someone else is waiting outside in the rain. She thinks to herself how odd this is seems her mother said she would be late home that evening. As she opens the gate the figure outside her house turns and stares watching Louise come up to the door. “Who is it?” The young girl calls to the figure but there is no response. As she gets closer she can see it is an old lady but she doesn’t recognise her from the village. “Hello?” the old lady turns to look at her again and puts down the hood on her coat;
“Hello” the old lady says back with a smile, “Is this your house?” Louise nods her head at the old lady who chuckles to herself, she takes a step backwards and looks up and the large house. “It’s a very nice house isn’t it?” Louise nods again unsure what to do. “Is your mum not in?”
“No she isn’t” Louise manages to get out. “Do you need me to take a message?” she offers
“Oh no, that’s quite alright” she sighs “I just wanted to see the house one last time was all”
“You lived here?” Louise asks.
“Yes I did” the old lady doesn’t look at Louise as she says this still staring at the top room of the house. Louise knew she wasn’t to talk to strangers but she couldn’t see what harm the old lady could do and it was raining rather hard;
“Would you like to come in for a bit?” The old lady looks at the young girl and begins to well up.
“Yes please” Louise takes out her key and opens the door to be greeted by her pet dog that jumps up and down at the excitement of her being home. After being made a fuss of the dog calms down and sits back in its basket and as Louise turns the door is shut but the old lady is nowhere to be seen. Just as she goes to check she isn’t outside she sees her climbing the stairs.
“What are you doing?” Louise begins to follow her up the stairs.
“I left something here a long time ago” she stops on the stairs and looks back at the girl, she doesn’t protest so the lady carries on up the stairs. She reaches the top but is out of breath and holds onto the banister for support. “It looks so different” she mutters to herself and the little girl watches as she enters her parent’s room. She walks over to a spot where her parent’s small chest of drawers sit. “Could you help me move this?” Louise struggles but manages to move it over by herself and watches as the lady gets to her knees and digs her fingernails at the side of the wooden floorboard.
“I think we should wait for my mummy” Louise now regrets her decision to let this lady in and wonders what she is going to do. The floorboard slowly comes up in her hands and a small hole is left. The old lady puts her hand into the whole and her face fills with relief as she pulls back out a photograph. Louise looks over her shoulder to see the photograph is someone’s wedding picture. The couple are beaming from ear to ear and are looking at each other in the eyes with such joy. She flips over the picture and on the back is some writing which is hard to read. “What does that say?” The elderly lady spins around and loses her line of thought and is brought back into the room.
She sits up on the girl’s parent’s bed and pats next to her and Louise jumps up next to her.
“It says”

I love you and our love will never fade

“Who is on the front?” The lady points to the man in the picture and says;
“He is called Jonathon Berrington and she is called Grace Berrington and they were madly in love”
“Is that you?” The lady seems taken back and not sure what to say. She stands up and heads towards the stairs “How did you know that was there it is you isn’t it?” the young girl shouts to her following behind. The lady turns and doesn’t respond for a second wondering what to say before she looks up at the girl. The lady turns and heads down the rest of the stairs holding onto the banister and then walks out of the door without turning round leaving the young girl confused at the top of the stairs. The young girl runs to the window of her room and watches as the lady walks out of her gate and up towards the bridge and river bank.

The lady reaches the bridge and says out loud to herself “My name is Grace Elizabeth Berrington. I see no reason to stay here any longer, why prolong what’s going to happen to me sooner rather than later”. It’s a cold autumn day and the rain has been raining for the past few weeks non-stop. She looks over the edge of the bridge to see the river flowing faster than usual and appears as if it will burst its banks within a few days. The clock in the local village chimes eight o’clock in the evening she takes a deep breath in. After managing to sit up onto the brickwork of the bridge and swivels herself round so her feet are dangling over the edge towards the water. As she stares at the water she sees some rubbish fly past and thinks to herself that really that’s what the rain is good for. To wash away the rubbish from everyone’s lives just like I will be, no one will know I'm gone as this river leads to the sea. She feels the photograph in her pocket and the thought of Jonathon springs back into her mind but she shakes the idea of Jonathon out of her head and looks down at the water and slides herself forward ever so slightly nearer the edge. Grace takes in a deep breath and....


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All content copyright Michael Sweeney Photography. Well thats it. Lonely Girl is finally over all ten parts are complete. I am so happy everyone has stayed with it and its been my longest series that I have ever written on here and you have all kept coming back each time. So thank you so much again for all the support.

I would like to dedicate this series to my Grandma Joan Cross who always supports me and although my Grandad has passed away, with us here she will never be a Lonely Girl.

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Lonely Girl Part Nine

If you haven't read parts ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN or EIGHT click the numbers to read the ones you have missed before coming back.

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Grace eyes open to the sun shining into the car. Her head is pounding and she can hear voices shouting. She looks around the car and realises she is alone. Turning she sees out of the back window Jonathon and relief spreads over her face. As she goes to get out of the car her whole body aches and she remembers the moments before the crash. The front of the car is nearly all crushed in and Grace catches her face in the reflection of the mirror to see a big stream of blood trickling down. Grace pushes open the door with some force as it had been crushed in from the side. As Grace steps out the shouting becomes clear to her and Jonathon now stands aggressive with a gun in his hands.
“I WILL SHOOT YOU TOO”
“Sir. Please put down your weapon” the policeman stops and looks at Grace “Move away from the car and put your hands up” Grace does as he says but stares at Jonathon who then gives a quick darting look back at her.
“GRACE” Jonathon realises his voice is shouting and clears his throat before toning down his voice “Grace please, run get out of here” Grace does stops with her hands still in the air and she glances down near the policeman’s car to see a pool of blood and a body on the floor. Grace looks over at Jonathon horrified “Grace I had no choice they were going to take me away from you” Grace stares into Jonathon’s eyes and isn’t sure whether the man with the gun is even her husband and if she has done the right thing. She had never seen him with a gun before and she didn’t like it at all.
“Miss please come here now” the policeman shouts and Grace obeys moving away from her husband. Jonathon watches her and she can feel him thinking she is betraying him, she moves behind the officer and behind his car and slips down onto the grass. “Now please can you put the gun down sir” Grace looks over at the dead body next to her but it doesn’t seem to bother her as she feels numb from everything that is happening. “I WILL SHOOT, PUT THE GUN DOWN” The policeman gives a warning fire and shoots into the air. Looking down at the other policeman she slips her hand into his holster and pulls out the gun. It feels heavy and misplaced in her hand. Standing to her feet she holds onto the car for support. “I WILL SHOOT” The policeman takes aim but so does Grace, she raises the gun over his head and brings it down hard on his head. As she does so the gun drops to the floor and hits the grass shortly followed by the policeman. Jonathon lowers his gun and looks over at Grace.
“I’m not sure if I'm meant to be proud or not” he says. She looks over to him and gives him a pained smile,
“I did it for us.” He walks over to her and holds he tight in his arms, but Grace cannot relax into him like she usually does. For her the future seems very unclear. “We have killed and assaulted a policeman Jonathon” He moves back slightly so he can see her face but she holds it down to the ground. As she looks down her skirt is now covered in blood which she didn’t see before, she touches it and sees that it is fresh blood. She now looks up at Jonathon “I’m bleeding” She pulls away from him and pulls her skirt forward to see down but the blood is only on the outside of her skirt. Her eyes dart back at Jonathon whose shirt is covered in blood. “Jonathon” her voice is shaky as she says this praying that he isn’t hurt. He moves a rip in his shirt to reveal a gaping wound.
“I jumped in your way when we hit the trees.”
“How can you be so calm.” She puts her hand close to the wound and looks at it. “We need to apply pressure to it.” She looks around frantically and runs over to her suitcase in the car and opens it up looking for a bit of material she can use. She grabs one of her tops and heads back to where they stood but Jonathon is no longer standing. “Jonathon?” He lays still on the grass. She runs over and slides down next to him. His eyes are closed and his face is very pale. She picks his head up and puts it in her lap. “Jonathon can you hear me” His eyes flicker as he looks at her,
“I need you to promise me something” he interrupts;
“What are you talking about?”
“Grace, you need to disappear.”
“We need to drive to the next village” she looks around.
“Even I don’t know where we are, it would be pointless and you need to get out of here. Take your clothes and go leave me.” Jonathon purists.
“I’m not going anywhere” she runs her hand through his hair;
“Grace you are an incredible lady who has done so much for me.... and I'm sorry that I went to war and did this to us, if I had just stayed”
“No stop that we can’t change the past” She tries to stay strong in her voice. Jonathon doesn’t speak for a while and just looks up into her eyes, she can feel his heart beat slowing and he smiles at her
“I love you Grace” he closes his eyes smiling and Grace holds him tight with her hand on his chest as she slowly feels him slip away.

“Just a room for one?”
“Yes please” Grace puts down the suitcase on the carpeted floor of the small cottage.
“It’s nice to have people new staying each night, where are you from?” The lady behind the counter gives a grin showing her stained teeth. Grace is starting to feel weak and tired, struggles to hold back her tears but doesn’t respond. “And your name is” Grace considers her answer for a moment and then replies;
“Grace Elizabeth” she looks up at the lady proud “Grace Elizabeth Berrington”. The lady hands over the key to the room and Grace picks up the suitcase and heads up the stairs.

This was the last trace police could find on Grace. No name ever popped up again of Grace Elizabeth Berrington and it was as if she had disappeared into the night.


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Lonely Girl Part Nine is done. Sorry it has taken me so long I was just unsure what I was writing was how I wanted to story to go. So thank you for reading it and I hope you have enjoyed part nine as much as the others.

However part nine wasnt the final part and that is still to come.

Friday, 15 July 2011

40 Things You Didn't Know About Me

I was going to just do tweet after tweet but then thought it would be ten times easier to post this blog post and do one link. How many did you already know?

1. My idol is Miley Cyrus – I have never watched a Hannah Montana episode but ever since she left Disney I have been fixed on her and can’t wait to see her evolve even more and she is on top of my list “Most Like To Photograph” .

2. I LOVE Elle magazine and I have been collecting it for over 2 years now and one day I hope to work for and do a cover shoot for them.

3. I mainly like mainstream pop music but I do love a bit of country when in my car alone.

4. My favourite author is Sadie Jones who wrote “Outcast” and “Small Wars”.

5. When I was young and I watched Shrek 2 in the cinema when the fairy godmother died I stood up in front of the whole cinema and screamed NOOOOOOOOO.

6. Although everyone says Vogue is the bible I actually hate it and find their magazines boring.

7. I hate really fat people.

8. I drive a Vauxhall Corsa called Sally.

9. My favourite place to be is by the sea in Cornwall.

10. I love to be in water and feel most safe and free around it.

11. I’m not pro size zero but I am definitely not pro giant sizes being on the catwalk.

12. My favourite film is “Black Swan”.

13. But when I was a child it was “Chicken Run” and I watched that video at least 300 times and can still say all the words.

14. I got on T.V on Kylie Minogues Les Folies tour filming and she actually sung to me!

15. I love a good BBQ.

16. I did my first fashion week when I had just turned 17.

17. My most played song on my ipod is Miley Cyrus “The Climb” with 488 views.

18. I have two goldfish.

19. My room has 4 massive posters in of Miley Cyrus, Lady GaGa Katy Perry and one of the Black Swan movie posters.

20. I hate working in retail but it’s what I have to do to make some money for now.

21. I only just finished my first year in university.

22. I am an xbox geek and love a good game but my favourite is the Mass Effect series.

23. I have a cousin that is 4 days younger than me who I grew up with and will always love and be close too.

24. Every Saturday I go up to my Grandmas who makes me lunch and feeds me way to much chocolate.

25. I am a writer of an award winning film.

26. I own a blackberry.

27. My first gig was the Ting Tings where me and my friend waited until after the show and got their autographs.

28. I have an amazing supporting family and partner who I know will back me no matter what route I choose to go down.

29. I'm learning Italian.

30. I love vintage fashion.

31. I hate all fast food except Dominos.

32. I didn’t realise I wanted to do photography until I chose it at college to fill a gap and then fell in love with it.

33. I have to have a shower everyday even if I'm not leaving the house.

34. I feel really dirty when I get back from London.

35. I have seen in tour : Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry x2 , Lady GaGa, Leona Lewis, Kylie Minogue, P!nk, La Roux, Pixie Lott, Lily Allen , The Ting Tings, Selena Gomez and Alphabeat.

36. I love a good World War 2 film and book.

37. I hate spiders.

38. Easter is my favourite time of year.

39. I am an atheist.

40. I love and live for fashion photography.

Sunday, 10 July 2011

Lonely Girl Part Eight

If you haven't read parts ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX OR SEVEN click the numbers to read the ones you have missed before coming back.
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1944

Grace slams the door of the apartment still panting from running all the way home. She chucks her bag at the bottom of the bed and as it hits with a loud thud she hears a jingle. Grace looks over at the bag and begins to rummage through it. There at the bottom she finds the set of keys from the hospital. Her first thought is to take them back but then a thought crosses Graces mind and she tucks them away in one of her drawers of the apartment.

1945

Jonathon and his parents decide the go home for Christmas as they have other family coming over but said Grace could stay in the apartment that they had now brought as they spent so much time here. It had been so long since Grace had seen the Grace or their loving home by the river bank and Grace wanted nothing more than to be back there with her Jonathon.. Christmas day arrives and Grace takes a visit to see Jonathon. She had since seen him since she broke in and luckily no one recognised her. Jonathon’s condition had improved and Grace was able to calm him down herself and so the doctors would leave them alone but only for about 5 minutes before checking through the window everything was okay. It upset Grace to see her husband affected by the war and what the war had done to him but she knew one day she would have him back and she just hoped it would be soon.
“Mrs Berrington” Grace turns around to see a young nurse stood by the door. She smiles at Grace and says “He won’t be long is there anything I can get you?”
“No I'm fine thank you” Grace turns back around and shifts the present a few paces one side of the table. Grace didn’t have much money so she had brought him some new pyjamas after he complained he didn’t like the hospital ones.
“Grace” Grace spins around and half stands up from her chair as she turns to see Jonathon all dressed up in with his hair nicely done and face well shaven. This was the first time he had recognised Grace as soon as he walked in the room since he had arrived here and this brought a smile to her face. They both embrace and give each other a kiss and he sits down the other side of the table. The nurses leave them both alone and once the door is closed they give each other their presents. Grace receives a rose and a very nice necklace which she knew one of the nurses would have chosen as he wasn’t allowed out of the grounds but this didn’t matter she was just grateful to be with him. Jonathon seemed pleased with his present but she couldn’t help saying to him,
“Sorry it’s not a lot it’s just I didn't have much time or money and I didn’t know what you would like” Jonathon takes her hands and stops her from talking, he smiles at her and replies
“Don’t be silly Grace but...” he lowers his face and looks away,
“What is it?” Grace pushes
“Nothing, it’s too much to ask” Grace gives his hands a squeeze and she says
“Jonathon nothing you will ever ask me will be too big or too small now what is it?” Jonathon doesn’t answer for a while and Grace doesn’t question and its only when the nurse does the 5 minute check that he leans in and whispers
“Can you get me out of here” Grace pulls back stunned for a second and isn’t sure what to say “sorry I shouldn’t have asked you to do such a thing” he begins to say but Grace stops him,
“You know I want you out of here but” Grace isn’t sure what to say as she doesn’t want to start him off again “We need you to be better before we get you out” Jonathon looks Grace in the eyes and she can see that he’s serious and his hands grip tighter on hers,
“Unless I get out of here I never will Grace, I need to be with you to be better not being with you is killing me” Grace takes her hands away from his and puts them in her lap. Grace can feel her body stuck between the two points where you want to do something that you shouldn’t but it’s something that you want more than anything else. Grace looks up from her lap into his eyes looking back at her and she knows what she will do.

1946

Grace walks up to the guard who no longer asks who she is as he recognises her face. Grace gives a small nod and smiles at him as she walks inside and into the large hospital grounds. Grace takes the corridors that she almost considers her second home now. Grace feels inside her bag and finds the cold keys in her hands and checks around. She feels the lock in the door and gives it a twist and hears the click of the door. Once inside she walks down to Jonathon’s room and quickly lets herself in and pulls the curtains shut. As she turns Jonathon is under the bed covers and his head is looking back at her. Grace lets out a sigh “I told you to be ready” A smile spreads across his face and he pulls the covers back to reveal he is all dressed up in his ordinary clothes and Grace runs over and gives him a kiss. “Now are you sure?” Jonathon gives her a look and Grace stands up and leads him to the door. She opens the door slightly and checks down the corridor which is clear and quickly leads him out. Grace begins to run down the corridor. They reach the reception area and Grace lets out a sigh and gives Jonathon a smile and he looks around as if he were a child again on Christmas day opening all his new toys. Grace feels herself tense up and gives his hand a big squeeze as they walk through the reception in case someone realises but no one says anything and Grace can barely believe her luck. As she walks across the car park when someone calls,
“EXCUSE ME” Grace freezes on the spot and her face sinks to the ground and she turns around admitting defeat knowing there would be no way of getting out of this but it’s not a nurse but a lady who Grace doesn’t recognise is holding out a scarf “Is this yours?” She holds out the scarf looking at it but she can’t move and is frozen to the spot. The lady begins to look at her strangely and Jonathon leans forward and takes it,
“Thank you” the lady smiles and walks back towards the hospital. Jonathon looks over at Grace and shakes her hand in his a little,
“Grace are you sure you want to do this” Grace comes back around and looks at him.
“Yes I'm sure, We can catch the train just down here and we can be where we want before they will even know you are gone”
“Train?” Jonathon stops just outside the grounds of the hospital and that little boy excitement has faded. “We can’t go by train we need to go by car” Grace looks over shocked
“We can’t I can’t drive and you haven’t for years and where will we get a car?” Jonathon holds tight onto her hand and pulls her along the streets looking down each one “where are we going? What are we looking for?” Jonathon stops by one road that leads down into another car park where lots of cars are parked up. “How did you know this was here?”
“I could see it from my bedroom window” he looks up at the window and the dull grey building and Grace knows she is doing the right thing by getting him away from here. Jonathon looks at Graces hair and takes out one of the clips which lets her hair fall down one side. Jonathon looks her in the eyes and smiles at her. “You look beautiful and I can never thank you enough for what you are doing for me”. He walks over to the car and starts to fiddle with the lock.
“What are you doing” Jonathon glances back at her,
“Stealing it how else are we going to get out of here Grace”
“We can’t steal a car and when did you learn to do that”
“In the army” Grace looks behind her into the busy street hoping no one can see them. A car door shuts and Grace sees Jonathon sat in the driver’s seat of the car. He leans across and opens the car door in the passenger side. Grace slips in next to him and feels half with joy and half with sadness at all the years they had missed together and all the car trips they could have had together if this hadn’t happened. The family they may have had together and all the trips they would take to the beach. The car engine starts up and Jonathon looks at Grace and gives her a big kiss “Are you sure Grace. You could get out now” Grace leans across and kisses him again.
“I will never leave you” Jonathon begins to set off in the car and Grace holds onto the side handle on the door very tightly. The journey begins well and they manage to navigate themselves out of London and back down towards their home. Grace couldn’t wait to see her home once again and spend the night with Jonathon. “I can’t wait to be home with you again”
“Grace you know we can’t stay long”
“Why?”
“They will notice that I am gone and we will have to grab some things and go right away, We can no longer live there” Grace doesn’t respond for a while and for the first time wonders if she is doing the right thing. “Grace we will find somewhere new and make it our own it will be our own fresh start”
“With what money!” Grace snaps back “We haven’t thought this through it wasn’t meant to be like this it was meant to well” Grace isn’t sure what’s she’s saying anymore and begins to regret what she has done and said. At that moment a car behind honks them both very loudly. Grace spins around to see who it is and sees the little blue sign on top of the car POLICE.
“Jonathon it’s the police” Graces voice is filled with fear and Jonathon tries to reassure her,
“Its fine just act calm and we will be okay”
“Jonathon just pull over” Grace shouts
“No Grace, I haven’t got this far to give it all up now” Jonathon puts his foot down in the car which pushes Grace back into her seat.
“JONATHON STOP” Grace shouts louder and puts her hand on his arm.
“NO GRACE I HAVEN’T GOT THIS FAR WITH YOU TO GIVE IT ALL UP NOW WE CAN LOOSE THEM” Grace looks at his eyes darting from the mirror to the road to the woods either side and back behind them at the police car that keeps honking. Grace begins to feel scared in the car and decides to lower her voice.
“Jonathon for me, please pull over” His eyes now add Grace to the sequence, mirror, Grace, behind, woods, mirror, Grace, behind, woods, mirror, Grace, behind, woods “Jonathon please” He then looks just at Graces pleading face and begging him to stop but for some reason he can’t and he knows he can’t stop. He glances back at the road too late to see the bend in the road and skids off sending the car flying through the air lifting them both slightly out of their seats. Jonathon feels the world moving around him very slowly as the car rushes through the air and he sees the fear in his wife’s face. The woman that he loves he has done this too, he has created this fear and put her in this situation. Asked her to do something that will get them in trouble, the woman who has stuck by him through all of this. Then just before they hit the trees of the woods he lunges in front of her and then everything goes black.

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I can't believe that we are on part eight of Lonely Girl. I never excpected it to be this long or for everyone to be enjoying it as much. Thank you to everyone for the feedback you have sent me about how much you are all enjoying it. It really does make me happy that even one person likes what I am doing. So thank you again for coming back and reading all the parts and staying with the story.

All content (imagery and writing) copyright Michael Sweeney Photography.

Friday, 8 July 2011

Lonely Girl Part Seven

If you haven't read Lonely Girl Part ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX click the numbers to read each before reading this one.


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1944

Grace hadn’t seen Jonathon since the day he had fallen in the river. Jonathon’s parents said he had been taken to a specialised unit for people who had suffered from the war. This was in London and Grace didn’t have the money to get to London, she barely had enough money to support herself as the cafe had hardly any customers. But one day a few months after Jonathon’s parents came to see Grace to tell her they were going to London and if she wanted to come she could and all would be paid for. Grace was even ready to go in her apron and rags she just wanted to be near him. The driver drove them to the station and then dropped them off where they caught the train that would take them to London.

“Grace wake up dear we are here” Jonathon’s mother whispered in Graces ear. Grace slowly opened her eyes and saw mass of buildings and grey sky. She wasn’t sure what she was thinking she would find but this wasn’t what she had planned. Jonathon’s father pulled the suitcases down from the storage space and they all got off the train. The apartment they were staying in was very nice and clean with basic furniture but Grace would have settled for an empty room if it meant she could see her Jonathon. They took a short walk along the streets of London and Grace could see the damage the war had done to London, some buildings weren’t even standing anymore and Grace couldn’t believe how different it was here to the little village in the hills where she knew she belonged with Jonathon. They arrived at a tall gate and Jonathon’s father walked over to a man in the guard box who then let them all inside. They were seated in a very cold room where the chairs were plain and hard and Grace kept feeling herself slide of them and had to re-adjust herself. A nurse opens the door and leads in Jonathon who is in some form of trousers and shirt and Grace was happy she had brought him some clothes with her which she held next to her in a bag. Grace stands up and goes to walk over to him but Jonathon doesn’t even look up as he enters and the nurse sits him down the other side of the room. Jonathon looked so skinny and Grace could see the bags under his eyes where she hadn’t been sleeping, at that point Grace looks up to see several other male doctors and one man who appeared to be in army uniform walk in and stand by him.
“Jonathon it’s me” Jonathon’s mums whispers across to him. He looks up at his mother with a confused expression and then says straight out,
“I don’t know who you are” He looks back down at the floor and at that point Jonathons mum burst into tears and walks out of the room followed by his father who glances back at Grace and as he leaves. Grace doesn’t follow and walks over to Jonathon, he heels clonk on the floor and echo around the room. Grace finds herself shaking as she takes the steps and when she gets close to Jonathon she kneels down. All the doctors and nurses give each other a concerned look.
“Try not to get to close please” One of the female nurse says to Grace, but she ignores this and touches out for his hand. As she feels his skin it isn’t how she remembered, it has lost its soft touch and feels rough and dry.
“Jonathon... it’s me Grace, I’ve come to see you my dar” Then at that moment Grace feels herself fly backwards and hit her head on the floor. Her face starts to sting and she holds onto it as Jonathon is screaming ,
“I DON’T KNOW YOU” over and over again and Grace slides backwards to the other side of the room where Jonathon is restrained to the floor where the man in uniform sits on him. Jonathons father rushes in and sees Grace on the floor, he picks her up and leads her outside. Even when the door is closed however all she can here is his screams “I DON’T KNOW YOU” Grace looks up at Jonathons father and then to the floor and whispers,
“What's happened to him” A tear breaks free of Graces eyes and hits the floor and Grace walks out of the hospital.

They don’t visit Jonathon for a few days and Grace spends most of her time in the hotel even when his parents are out visiting London. All Grace can hear is his screams over and over again. Grace looks in the mirror at the bruise on her face that is rather purple now and attempts to cover it up with some makeup. Grace then puts on one of her best dresses and heads back to the hospital. Grace finds herself again in a smaller waiting room this time and waits for Jonathon to arrive. The doctor enters and sits down opposite her and Grace smiles and looks back at the door but it doesn’t open. “I'm afraid Jonathon isn’t fit to have visitors today I'm so sorry” Grace looks back at the man and shakes her head.
“You don’t understand I need to see him, I'm on the only one that can make him better” The doctor gives her a sympathetic smile and says,
“I am ever so sorry. Maybe try again in a few days” He stands up and gestures to the door and Grace stands up and leaves the room. “Do you need me to walk you out”
“No” Grace snaps “Sorry no I can find my own way out” she says and gives the doctor and smile “Thank you anyway” Grace begins to walk down the corridor and turns the corner and then stops and backs herself up onto the wall. She gives it a few seconds and then looks back and the doctor is gone. Grace takes off her heels and holds them in her hands and tip toes down the corridor. The cool floor is welcoming on Grace hot feet and she finds herself lost down a corridor with several ways to turn. Grace picks the first left and is reaches a door that appears to be locked. Grace pears through the glass and sees lots of men laying in beds either side of the rooms. A nurse spots her and walks to the door and unlocks it and pushes it open.
“Can I help you” she smiles at Grace but then looks at her bruise and her face becomes worried.
“Oh I'm here to see my husband could you let me in”
“Sorry no visitors are allowed down here if you like to back to reception then we can arrange a time for you to come back it’s a much safer way” Grace thinks of a way to get through the door but gives in and smiles back at the nurse and walks back admitting defeat. But as the nurse closes the door Grace doesn’t here her lock it. She spins round and walks over to the door. The nurse is nearly at the end of the corridor past the door and Grace slowly opens the door and closes it as quietly as she can. Once past that door she begins to look down each room seeing many men most asleep or ones just sat looking at the floor. Suddenly there’s a massive bang on one of the doors which makes Grace jump and her heart beats pounding at her chest, Grace turns to see a man with his face pressed up against the glass with some saliva dribbling out of his mouth, the man continues to then bang his head and stares at Grace. She holds her hand up to her face and forces herself to continue down the corridor. All this time she is thinking I need to get him out of here. Then she sees him sleeping in one of the rooms on his own. Grace runs to the door and tugs at the handle but finds its locked shut again and she curses under her breath. Grace frantically looks around and on the table lay a set of keys, Grace checks the corridor and runs over and grabs the set. She tries a few keys and finally one clicks and the door is free. Grace enters the room and closes the door with a small click and closes all the curtains of the window and one on the door. She places her bag and shoes down on the floor and walks over to where Jonathon is sleeping and sits herself down in the chair next to him. His breathing is heavier than when they used to sleep in each other’s arms. Grace pulls the chair up closer to his face and puts out her hand and touches his face. There are many scars from the burns still on his face and they feel strange to touch. Suddenly his hand flies from under the covers and grabs hold of hers and Grace lets out a little cry. His eyes focus on hers and harsh and angry and then they soften and his grip loosens and he lets her hand go and sits up in bed. Grace looks at Jonathon half frightened and delighted that he let go. He clears his throat and softly says,
“G..G..” Grace nods encouraging him to speak “Grace” Tears begins to fall from her eyes and she can’t stop nodding at him.
“Yes, yes it’s me Jonathon” she sobs. He then leans forward and embraces Grace and pulls her close to him stroking her soft hair. Grace feels the warmth of his body against hers and she melts into his body. He slowly pulls away and looks into her face and wipes a few tears from her face,
“I have missed you so much my darling Grace” he leans in and begins to kiss her passionately forcing his tongue inside her mouth. Grace lets out a small moan of pleasure at the touch of him again and feeling his hands on her body. He slowly calms his kissing down and lays back down holding Grace in his arms.
“Where are we” he says looking around the room looking confused.
“We are in the hospital, you know whe”
“Why?” he cuts her off
“Because the doctors need to help you with your”
“Why?” He lets go of her and gets up off of the bed and backs into the corner, Grace looks at him begging him to come back to where they were five minutes ago.
“Jonathon listen to me” He then looks directly at Grace
“Who the hell are you” he tries to back further into the corner
“It’s me Grace, Jonathon it’s me”
“I don’t know who you are, GET OUT” he begins to shout. Grace gets off the bed and walks around to come the same side as him but he grabs hold of a jug of water next to him and chucks it at her soaking her and the room. Grace backs away but slips falling to the floor, Jonathon runs over and jumps on top of her and stares into her eyes and scream,
“WHO ARE YOU” some spit hits her in the face and she grabs his face with both of her hands and tries to push him away. She then looks directly in his eyes and screams back at him
“ITS ME GRACE, YOUR WIFE YOUR DARLING WIFE WHO LOVES YOU VERY MUCH AND JUST WANTS YOU TO COME HOME WITH ME” Jonathon stops fighting and looks at her and blinks a few times.
“Grace, it’s you” He sees her face and looks at her bruise “What happened to you? Who did this to you?” He gets off the top of her and stands up offering his hand to her which she accepts and stands up and brushes herself down. She walks over to the her bag and shoes and picks them up just as the door flies open and three doctors storm in and run over to Jonathon shouting at him to get down. Grace walks out of the door leaving them behind and runs back down the corridor,
“EXCUSE ME” one of the nurses calls after her but Grace doesn’t listen or stop running until she is outside of the hospital grounds.

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Thank you for reading Part Seven of Lonely Girl and I hope you all enjoyed it. Sorry I took a break from posting a part to it, its just I felt I needed to make sure I was writing the story how I wanted and I spent some time writing possible ways it could go and im finally happy for you all to read the one I want to post. Again thank you for coming back and reading the series each time and hope you come back for part eight.

All content (imagery and writing) copyright Michael Sweeney Photography