Extract from Take Me Out by Martyn Clayton There lying in bed with his eyes closed was a stranger. ‘Robert?’ She whispered, not really sure she wanted to wake the sleeping figure. It seemed impertinent. It wasn’t Francis or her dad lying there. It was someone who seemed to bear a passing resemblance to a person she once knew years ago. The figure opened an eye, followed by another and those eyes then began to focus. ‘Lauren, is that you?’ ‘Well, last time I looked it was.’ She walked into the room and sat down on the hard plastic chair next to his bed. What did you say to a guy with whom you were never really that close, who you hadn’t seen in ten years and who was now lying in a hospital bed after having attempted to take his own life? ‘So Robert. How’s things?’ As soon as it left her mouth she cringed at the improper inanity of her words. ‘I think I’ve felt better.’ Robert’s voice was the same monotonous drone it had always been. ‘It’s nice to see you.’ Lauren wished she could say the same thing about setting eyes on this odd hospitalised stranger. What was she doing here? ‘Robert, look I don’t know why you asked for me to be here, but I’m really sorry to see you like this.’ Whatever this situation required, hesitation or uncertainty wasn’t it. ‘That’s OK.’ He went back to staring at the wall. ‘Are there any friends or family I could contact for you? People who can help you out?’ ‘No one.’ He still didn’t look in her direction. ‘At all?’ 'Not at all.’ ‘But, Robert there must be someone who…’ ‘There is one.’ At last they were getting somewhere. ‘Good. Right, well tell me who they are and how I can get in touch with them for you.’ She rummaged in her bag and pulled out her mobile. ‘I can put their number in here and I can phone them straightaway. I’ve explained to work that I won’t be in till later so it’s not a problem. Right…’ ‘It’s you.’ ‘I’m sorry?’ ‘You, you’re the only friend I’ve got.’ She looked down at her waiting mobile, switched it off and roughly shoved it back in her bag. Another escape route had just been closed. ‘But Robert, I’ve not seen you in ten years ? There must be someone else surely.’ ‘No one.’ This was hard work. ‘So you’re telling me that a woman you’ve not seen in ten years who never really knew you that well in the first place is the only friend you can call on?’ He nodded. ‘I really don’t know what to say.’ So they both stayed silent. This was becoming beyond weird. ‘And you did promise.’ | 
