Manchester Ménage 01 - Saving Samuel Read Online Free PDF Page B

first lady over to him who was now dressed in her jeans and sweater.
    “If you’re going home, don’t let me keep you.”
    “You’re not. I was just chatting to my friend. You look so good.” She lifted a strand of hair and smiled. “You need a brush?”
    “Yes please.”
    “Sit down and I’ll bring mine over.”
    “Thank you.” Samuel smiled softly and sat down in the plastic chair by the door and waited for her to return.
    “Here you go.” She tutted when he reached for the brush. “I used to work as a hair stylist’s assistant in college. Let me work these knots out for you.”
    Samuel sat still, letting her tease the ends of his hair. She was far gentler than anyone who had ever touched his hair before. The last person to really care for him like this was Claudia. It brought tears to his eyes when he thought back to the kindly older woman who took him in the last time he was in hospital. This nurse was the same, and no matter how much he trusted her, and how much he wanted to let her help, he knew it wouldn’t happen. He wouldn’t put another person in danger again.
    “You have lovely hair.”
    “Thank you.”
    Finally she was running her fingers through his hair. “All knot free and very silky. Let’s dry it.”
    She took him back into his room and came back with an old hair dryer. When she was happy it was all dry, she helped him stand and placed him in front of the mirror on the wall. He stood still for a long time, not knowing who the person was in front of him. It had been so long since he actually looked at himself. He was shocked by what he saw. He’d become thinner—he’d always been slim, but this was a little too thin for him—and his hair… He dragged his fingers through the shiny, thick, blond mane hanging around his shoulders and opened his mouth in shock.
    “I had no idea it was so long.” He turned around, looking how far it reached down his back. It ended at his waist and it was truly a shock seeing it like this.
    “It’s beautiful.” The nurse ran her fingers through it and smiled. “I wish I had hair like it.”
    Samuel turned back to the mirror, leaning in and looking at his pale complexion and big eyes. They weren’t usually this big. It must be the weight he’d lost. The blue stood out more against his skin and his lips were flushed and bright pink. Samuel stood still and just looked at the person in the mirror. Was this really him? The last time he saw himself was when he’d got over his withdrawal symptoms at Claudia’s, and he swore then he wouldn’t look in another mirror again, but he was different now. He may be thin, and he may have been living rough for five months, but he was drug free and not in the clutches of those men now. He looked so much better, it shocked him.
    “What’s wrong? Forgot how beautiful you were?” His nurse laughed and he shook his head.
    “I’m not beautiful, I’m strange.”
    “Oh, sweetie pie. You’re so wrong. Everyone who’s seen you would say the same. Honestly, I’ve had people from the other wards come round to just watch you sleep. You’re our very own Sleeping Beauty.” She laughed at him as he slammed his mouth shut. “Come on. Lunch will be ready now. Let’s get you back in bed and some more food inside you.”
    Samuel sat on the edge of his bed, swinging his legs and looking at his toes, his hair teasing his face and floating around him like curtains. It smelled nice and felt so soft and healthy.
    “Samuel?”
    Samuel jumped, quickly swiping his hair from his face and looking into the friendly green eyes of his firemen standing at the door. Samuel quickly looked over him, taller than him and bigger built. Usually bigger men frightened him, but Daniel had a soft look in his eyes and how he stood so casually didn’t make Samuel worry.
    “It’s me. Just cleaner.” Samuel dropped his head a little, peeking out through his lashes and letting his hair cover most of his profile again so he could watch Daniel