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darling?”
    He blinked his eyes but couldn’t find his voice yet.
    “We’ve been so worried about you.” She squeezed his bruised fingers and he grimaced.
    “Hello, Richard, everyone’s been very worried about you.” A portly matron leaned over the bed, shining a torch into his eyes. He flinched from the painful beam, closing his eyes shut. “I know this is uncomfortable, Richard, but I need to see that everything is working as it should be.”
    “I’m thirsty,” Richard croaked. His throat felt like he had been swallowing sand for a week. His vision began to clear and the sounds around him came with more clarity.
    “Do you know where you are?” the matron asked, shining the torch again. He squinted at the probing light, wanting it gone. His head ached enough as it was. The smell of disinfectant drifted to him as his senses began to jump back to life.
    “Hospital,” he groaned. His broken teeth ached and he hurt
all over.
    “Good boy,” she said patronisingly. “Sip this, don’t gulp it.”
    Richard sipped the soothing liquid, the plastic cup hurting his split lips. Scabs had formed on his wounds, but they were still painful to touch. His body felt strange; there was pain and numbness all over.
    “Is he going to be okay?” his father asked.
    “It’s too early to make any predictions yet, but he seems to be aware of where he is, and his reactions are normal. I’ll get the doctor to see him immediately.” The matron left them, her starched uniform rustling as she walked across the highly polished flooring. She left a waft of Charlie behind her.
    “He could be brain-damaged,” Sarah said a little too loudly.
    “Shut up, you stupid girl!” her father snapped. David senior was becoming increasingly short-tempered with his daughter.
    “I think she was brain-damaged at birth, anyway,” David said. Richard laughed painfully, and his mother had to hide her smile. Mr Bernstein wasn’t as amused as his family, but that was the norm. David senior despaired at his children, especially the youngest two. Richard was clumsy socially and hideously overweight for his age. He was bright and intelligent, but David senior knew he would be hampered by his weight if he did not sort it out before he got older. His wife spoiled him and was a major part of the problem. She encouraged his overeating by buying bulk packets of cookies, crisps and sweets. Sarah was a constant worry, becoming very aware of her sexuality far too young for her father’s liking. The attack on his youngest son had been a shock, and he was finding it difficult to cope with while maintaining his decorum.
    “Welcome back, Einstein,” Richard heard as his brother stood up and walked to the bedside. He took his left hand gently. “Who did this to you?” David looked after his younger brother and sister at school. Physically he was tough, socially he was popular, and he utilised both to protect his siblings, although sometimes his sister wasn’t happy at being protected, especially if she was being protected from good-looking suitors.
    “David, he has only just opened his eyes, leave that for now,” his mother scolded. Sara Bernstein loved her children with a passion. Richard needed more support than the other two, and she overcompensated by smothering him. Seeing him unconscious, swollen and cut with a knife broke her heart. Sara tried to protect him every day of her life, and she felt as if she had failed him.
    Richard looked into his brother’s eyes and a silent message passed between them. Although they were like chalk and cheese, they loved each other a great deal. Richard struggled to answer questions if he was embarrassed, much to the annoyance of their father, who saw his silence as contemptuous. David would wait until they were alone, and he squeezed his hand gently to let him know that he understood.
Later, Bro
.
    “How long have I been asleep?”
    “You weren’t asleep, you were sparked out!” Sarah chuckled.
    “Sarah!” Mr