Adam C. Prince

Fighting through pain, Josie spots a red car at an abandoned warehouse but will she find Justine.

Written and produced by Adam C. Prince.

Digitally narrated using the voice clone of a real Brummie.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): 

Neon Glow - Tobias Voigt

https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/neon-glow

License code: EWRXFLWPHBMBBYKS

For more information about the issues in this episode please visit: https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/about-sickle-cell/

Transcript:

Girl in Control. Episode 4. Girl in Crisis.

The red car was gone, Justine was gone, and I was having a complete breakdown in a corner shop. Classic Saturday afternoon, right? I cried. Big, ugly sobs that ripped through my whole body.

The kind of crying that makes you look like a drowned rat. The kind that leaves you hiccuping and snotty and completely undignified. I didn't care.

Pain was overtaking everything. The cold. The running.

The stress. It had all caught up with me. There's something I haven't told you yet.

I have sickle cell anaemia. There. I said it.

My parents never wanted it to be the centre of my story. They never wanted it to stop me from being me. Doing the things I love.

But sometimes, sometimes it stops everything. Here's the deal with sickle cell. It's a blood disorder.

My red blood cells, some of them, aren't always round like they should be. They can turn into tiny sickles. Sharp.

Hard to move through my veins. And when they jam up, it's called a crisis. It hurts.

A lot. Most of the time I'm fine. I live my life.

I do normal teenage stuff. I complain about homework, obsess over music and eat too much junk food. But sometimes, sometimes I end up in hospital.

I'm grateful to my specialist team at Birmingham Children's Hospital. They're on hand whenever I need them. Which is luckily not that often.

But at least they know my name. And honestly, I never feel sorry for myself. Because when you're sitting in that hospital, you see other kids.

Kids going through things way worse than me. Kids who are braver than I could ever be. That puts things in perspective pretty fast.

So yeah, I have sickle cell. It sucks sometimes. But I'm still here.

Still fighting. I'm usually okay. As long as I look after myself.

Stay warm. Stay hydrated. Don't do anything stupid.

But right now, I was in pain. I'd left my coat at home in my rush to find Jussie. Brilliant move, Josie.

Really thinking ahead. Now I could feel the crisis taking over. I could barely move.

But honestly, I didn't care anymore. Maybe it was better this way. Better than going home without my sister.

Better than facing my parents' faces full of heartbreak and disappointment. Better than admitting I'd completely, utterly failed. I closed my eyes.

Ready to let the pain swallow me whole. And then, something caught my eye. A flash of red.

A car. Pulling into a run-down garage across the street. Could it be? What were the chances it was the same car? Pretty slim.

Like lottery-winning slim. But what if? I took the painkillers and chugged as much water as I could. My hand still shook, but I forced myself to stand.

Every step burned like fire through my bones. But I made myself walk towards the warehouse. Stumbling, gasping, probably looking like a zombie.

It was a complete wreck. Boarded windows. Graffiti everywhere.

The heavy, sour smell of alcohol hanging in the air. Definitely not the kind of place my little sister should be. I crept to a broken window and peered inside.

My heart stopped. Tears. Climbing out of a red hatchback.

A couple of girls. One I recognised. Sarah, from Jussie's orchestra.

I recognised the driver too. Aaron, Sarah's older brother. Slim, curly brown hair.

Always dressed in black like he was auditioning for a vampire movie. Then the others got out. Another guy with a scruffy beard that looked way too old to be hanging with teenagers.

And then, there. A flash of colour. Braids.

Bright hair bands. It was Justine. It was really her.

Relief flooded through me so fast I nearly collapsed. She was alive. She was okay.

She was laughing. Wait, what? My little sister was standing in an abandoned warehouse with a bunch of teenagers. And she was laughing.

Not scared. Not crying. Not calling for help.

Just hanging out. What on earth was going on? Justine had some serious explaining to do. And I was going to get answers.

The girl in control was back. And she was not happy.