1.
The thing I’ve learned through all this? Stay present, stay
in the moment, stay human.
“Mum, how far left?” I asked.
“About 10 miles,”
I grumbled in annoyance.
“It would take about half an hour if we could drive a normal
speed, but with all this traffic-”
“I’m so bored,” I complained.
We’d been sat in the car for hours. Staring at sign posts,
trees, other cars. All the cars with all the other bored people in. So much
traffic, moving so slowly.
“We all are, Brett. It’s not our fault; just be quiet,” She
demanded stressfully.
“I was just trying to make conversation, seeing as we’re all
so bored, why don’t we put some music on, plug my phone in? I’m kind of cold,
mind putting the heater on? I know it makes that weird smell-”
“Sorry love, I haven’t cleaned it yet, but I’ll put it on,”
“Dad, how’s the driving going? Will you need to switch soon?
Maybe we should stop for a toilet break…”
“For god sake Brett, shut up!”
“Oh, yea, sorry,”
The roads aren’t usually busy in the country, and it’s never
been that bad. I hardly ever get to go to Bristol, I was born in the hospital
were going to and I’ve never been back. I was quite excited about going to the
city.
There was so much traffic because everyone from the
surrounding areas, 20 miles around Bristol, had been given the same message we
had, ‘go to the centre’.
I also remember watching a documentary about the development
and early stages of the treatment on channel 4. The reporter said “It’s been
sold for about a year to anyone in the country who could afford it.” That of
course was only the richest people. The documentary also shared the story of
how King George VII founded an organisation which encouraged the rich to pay
for the country to also have the treatment. Apparently Princess Diana first had
the idea, but being twelve thought she’d just get her dad to do it instead.
So the country was given a week to get into their nearest
city hospital, which were staffed 24/7 this week from Monday through to Sunday.
The treatment was free; we just needed to get to town.
All I was really listening to, once my mum had yelled at me
to shut up, was the radio cutting in and out with the signal, playing stupid
songs, boy bands, and the occasional epic rock ballad. Then the odd song my mum
sang along with, One Direction apparently, ‘classic’ she called it - sounded
like a load of shit to me.
2.
“Welcome, Mr, Mrs and Miss Harrison,” The nurse said while
she checked the name on the folder she was holding. “Thank you for traveling to
the hospital, must have been a nightmare, so, you’re all getting the treatment
today then?”
We all nodded our agreement. “Okay then, so we recommend our
patients to have physical contact of a loved one while they have the treatment.
So I suggest you all hold each-others hands during one another’s treatment.”
We all looked at her with puzzled expressions, like a litter
of new born puppies.
“Okay, bit weird?”
We nodded.
“The chemicals affect the brain, the brain develops somewhat
of a defence to things which can be bad for the body, but the part of the brain
that has the defensive abilities also has the ability shut down the part of the
brain which stores information about people and relationships. To counter this
we recommend all patients for you to spend time with the people you most love
and care about as a preventative strategy.” She read from a leaflet, stock
answer.
“I haven’t seen any bad cases from using it though, you’ll
all be fine.” She said in an unconvincing voice. “Just… Spend time together.
Anyway, we probably have about ten minutes left to get you all treated, who’s
first?” Mum got up and sat in the chair which was clearly meant for the
patient. Mum might not always be the nicest to me, but she’s really into that
whole ‘protect the baby’ thing. She had the injection first, and as an apology
for being annoying in the car, I held her hand. After she had hers I had mine
because I was already stood next to the chair, mum returned my favour. Probably
because she’d just experienced how weird it felt and wanted to comfort me, it
felt far thicker and gloopier than most injections. It put me instantly in
quite a hazy state.
