Page 126 of The Sun Sister

‘Why don’t you go back and get some sleep? I’ll stay with her. One of The Ranch nurses has arrived to drive you back in their jeep. There’s nothing more you can do here.’

‘I will. I feel totally out of it, to be honest. I’ll come say goodbye to Vanessa first.’

‘Okay, then I’ll just use the facilities while you do.’ He smiled at me and walked off down the corridor.

‘Vanessa? Are you awake?’ I asked as I stood looking at her. I got a shrug in return. ‘Listen, I just wanted to tell you that the doc says you’ll be out of here as soon as you’re feeling better.’

‘An’ then they send me to a funny farm, right?’

‘No, Vanessa, I swear on my life I won’t let that happen to you. I’m going back to New York tomorrow and—’

‘So you’re leavin’ me after all?’

‘No! I’m going back so I can sort stuff out tohelpyou. And other kids like you who get into trouble. Please, Vanessa, trust me. Miles and I are gonna make sure you get the best care we can find. I won’t abandon you, I swear.’

‘Then take me with you. I wanna get outta here now,’ Vanessa moaned.

‘Listen to me now, and listen good,’ I said, my grandmother’s words suddenly coming to mind. ‘You’ve had a shit time, but when you needed it most, help appeared. And now you’ve got it, when a lot of kids like you don’t. I’m not saying I’m your fairy godmother, or Miles either...’

I watched the tiniest of smiles appear on Vanessa’s lips.

‘But,’ I continued, ‘wearehere, and you are safe and we are gonna get you well, okay? And one day, you are gonna help others like you’ve been helped.’

I don’t know how I knew this, but somehow I justdid.(‘Tiggy’ was becoming my middle name.)

‘So, missy, you do what the docs tell you and count yourself lucky, okay? And I’ll see you in New York and when you’re fixed, we’ll go for a fancy dinner someplace. And everyone, including Tyler, will see you with me in a magazine and know you’re a winner, not a loser.’

‘That’d be cool,’ Vanessa said eventually. ‘Swear on that?’

‘I already did. And you know what?’

‘What?’

‘Your hair will always look better than mine. Love you, Vanessa. See you soon.’

I kissed the top of her head and left the room. Miles was waiting in the corridor.

‘All okay?’

‘Yup. I’m off now. Keep me updated.’

‘I will.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Oh, and the jeep’s parked discreetly round the back of the hospital,’ he called before disappearing into Vanessa’s room.

As I stepped into The Ranch jeep, for the first time ever I appreciated my fame and what it could do for others. I had power. And now it was time to channel that into something positive.

‘So, are you sure you want to leave tomorrow morning?’ said Fi later that afternoon, after I’d had some sleep and we had discussed the events of the night before. ‘Why not stay on? Last night was a traumatic experience for you, Electra.’

‘Because I need to go,’ I said simply. ‘I want to get back to my life and begin making some changes, rather than just sitting here thinking about them.’

‘Would you like to share with me what those changes are going to be?’

‘Well, firstly, I’ll be clearing the booze from my apartment and deleting my dealer’s number,’ I joked.

‘Well, that’s a start. And?’