Andy’s sister moves up so she is close to the bed, she looks calm but as she makes eye contact I can see a fierce anger in her deep black eyes. And I notice for the first time that I feel better with these people here, none of them pitying me but instead supporting me and reassuring me and ready to fight for me with no questions asked.

“So doc how bad is it?”

The fire in anger in her eyes is pushed away as I talk to her, I know that she is angry at him and not me and as such I miss the fire it had created in her but it is replaced with a look of kindness and if I didn’t know better admiration, as she begins to speak in that same melodic voice as her sister.

“Well firstly please call me Libby. I am sorry Helena but I can’t soften this it will not benefit you so I will stick to the facts and we can then go through the practicalities with you okay?”

“Sure”

Feel Tina’s grip tighten briefly on my hand and a soft pressure on my shoulder from Andy. Before Libby speaks once more.

“You have serious bruising to the face with a broken nose but no other obvious fractures, though I would like some x-rays to check. Eight stitches above the right eye that should hold the laceration until it heals. You are missing five teeth all from the top row from the centre round towards the left. You will need to see a surgical dentist as soon as possible there was little we could do about that. Bruising to the neck but no serious damage might be sore for a week or so as the windpipe area heals itself. Your left shoulder was dislocated but we have reduced it and it will need to remain immobilised for six weeks at least to heal and you will probably need physio to regain full function after that.  Bruising on your right wrist indicates a sprain but we could not detect a break so it should heal in two weeks, give or take. Again I would kill for an x-ray just to be sure.  Appears to be four ribs on the left and one on the right broken. We bound them but other than that they will have to heal on their own. If you experience sharp pains when breathing let us know straight away, as a possibility with this is tears in the lung. More bruising to the abdomen and upper pelvic region, same goes with strange feeling and pain we should get a scan but if not we must be on the look out for internal bleeding for the net few days. Most of the leg area is ok except the ankles you have a fracture of the right tibia just above the ankle joint and severe bruising on both ankles. Your lower left leg will need to remain in a cast for four to six weeks in order for the bones to heal.”