FIRE 

By Tessa Harvey

    Bart came to and found himself lying in a high hospital bed. Something was very painful, tied high on his left arm. It was tight. It was dark, and then he remembered nothing for a while.
    A male orderly was helping him bathe. His left hand would not work properly.
    The staff in the ward treated him with disdain. Only after a few days was he sent to physiotherapist who got him to soak the hand in warm water and gave him exercises.
    His wife Leanne visited. By now he was feeling very ashamed and asked about Joey, desperate to know if he had survived. Joey was home again, as was Leanne, but he had been a very sick little boy.
    Humbly, Bart asked if he could go home. His wife hesitated. "it is only a trial leave for a few days. If you are not managing, you have to return. The doctors are concerned for our safety."
    "Why?" Bart demanded, truculent once more. Leanne sighed and left.

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