Her Name Was Violet

By Billy Curry

It was a breakup Evan didn’t expect. He and Kate had been serious for five years, and it finished abruptly over coffee and cake.
Four days later, Evan awakes from a coma in hospital, having no idea how he has arrived there. He learns he was in a horrific car crash, and his plans for the year are finished.
Then he meets a physiotherapist named Violet.
Violet, sick of work-sleep-work, feels like life is slipping away from her until she’s offered a full-time role helping Evan on the road to recovery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Billy Curry
• Release date: Mar 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463533017

Billy Curry

Billy Curry is the author of Unlonely Planet, No Time for Postcards, and Her Name Was Violet. He grew up in Bairnsdale, Australia. Later he moved to Melbourne where he completed high school and a business degree. He has represented his state and country in surf lifesaving and sprint kayaking. Curry has also worked as a corporate marketing manager. Currently, he’s a marketing contractor and spends his weekends surfing and writing near Lennox Head.Her Name Was Violet – available 2nd March 2020.

Book preview

Chapter 1 - The Meeting

The warm March sun shone across the balcony of  the riverside restaurant where twenty-seven-year-old Evan Edwards sat at a table alone. He wore navy chinos, a white polo shirt and black sunglasses.

Evan sipped his coffee with a smile when Kate arrived. He admired the floral summer dress that clung to her athletic frame. Her black heels emphasised well-exercised calves. Kate took a seat and leaned across the table. She wore a citrus perfume, the one he liked. They kissed, as they had done a thousand times before, but this time her kiss was stiff, and Evan sensed something was up. He was slightly puzzled and glanced at his TAG Heuer watch. It was five past ten.

You’re late, Evan declared with a cheeky smile.

Kate stared at him with an unreadable expression. Her soft eye makeup and blood-red lipstick complemented the twenty-eight-year-old’s natural beauty. In fact, it was her natural beauty that made him notice her in the first place six years ago. Kate had a pretty face, with smooth lips that made way for her perfect smile, the type cosmetic companies outbid each other for. She scanned the room for a moment. It’s time, Kate stated as she looked back at him.

Pardon me? Evan asked, confused.

It’s time, she said, holding her stare.

Time for what? He had a slight idea as to what she meant.

You know, Evan. Kate gazed into his hazel eyes, looking sorry, but not sad. You know what I want, Kate continued.

Evan looked away. He was never great at heavy conversations. They made him feel awkward, and he never knew exactly what to say. He thought this was true for all men, yet he knew he had to make an effort.

Kate, this is who I am, he said, shaking his head.

We’ve already talked about this, she shot back.

This is what I do.

Kate bit her top lip and nodded. Evan was unsure what else to say. He could feel sweat in his armpits. At the same time, he took note of her platinum-blonde hair, which she carefully maintained. It reminded him of the first time she’d dyed her hair that colour several years ago and how they were happier then.

Well, that’s it then, Kate declared as she stood up from the table.

Hold on! Here, have something to eat. I’ll pay.

Kate shook her head and quietly chuckled. I’m going.

Evan grabbed Kate’s forearm. She was taken aback.

Kate, sit down, he said calmly in an attempt to reason with her.

She stepped towards Evan.

Goodbye, Evan.

Kate leaned in and placed a short, firm farewell kiss on his lips, then turned and walked towards the door. Evan was shocked. This didn’t feel real. This was not the way the morning was supposed to go. He stared at Kate, who was already halfway to the door. Evan suspected this was their last goodbye.

Kate marched out of the restaurant, leaving Evan alone. The clouds now blocked the sunlight and a cool breeze had arrived. Evan looked below to the brown slow-flowing water of the Yarra River, taking a minute to figure out what had just happened. He had no answers, and questions were beginning to come to him. Suddenly he could hear the background music, which he cared not to listen to as he gradually closed his eyes.

Chapter 2 - The Room

Evan’s eyes were closed as his head rested on a white pillow. He lay motionless in a hospital bed. He was in a  small, modern white room with his friend Rupert, who sat in the far corner looking at his phone, and Evan’s tired-looking mother, Martha, who sat in the other corner. The two guests hadn’t seen each other since an argument they’d had years ago about local politics. Rupert wore a white pressed business shirt and dark orange pants. His wavy light ginger hair was parted to the right. Rupert was in a healthy shape for a middle-aged man with a six-foot-tall frame. He had broad, rounded shoulders, the kind usually seen on elite swimmers. Martha had short brown hair that matched her eyes and a petite build. She wore a white blouse and kept a handbag close to her side.

Evan had wires connected to his pale chest, and a clear oxygen tube was under his nose. His torso was bandaged, and the new digital monitors beside him beeped regularly. He wore a white hospital gown and his short brown hair was in need of grooming. Evan’s right wrist was in a cast, and he had a large scar on the thumb on the same side.

Rupert searched for girls on Tinder on his phone. It helped him pass the time and distracted him from being alone in a room with Martha.

Evan’s thumb wiggled a little and then he coughed.

Rupert looked up and lunged at the bed. It had been the first sign of life in four days.

Wow, shit! Evan! Rupert called out with relief.

Evan’s eyes opened slightly.

You’re alive, thank— Rupert continued.

Evan nodded as he tried to process where he was.

Stay right there. I’m going to get a doctor.

Rupert sprinted out of the room as Martha went to Evan’s side and combed his hair with her hand, the way she had when he was young.

Oh, Evan! she cried out, thankful to see her son’s eyes open.

In the quiet hospital corridor, Rupert ran to the nearby doctors’ station where a few doctors, dressed in neat, casual clothes, were talking with navy-uniformed nurses. Farther along the beige corridor, a few casually dressed middle-aged men and a woman sat quietly in a waiting area with bags by their feet.

Doctor Cooper! Doctor Cooper! Rupert yelled.

Dr Cooper, a man with short neat hair and round glasses, looked up from a computer monitor where he was examining some test results.

Yes, can I help you?

He’s awake! Come quick! Rupert said.

Well, let’s have a look, shall we?

The doctor stepped away from his station and followed Rupert. He knew precisely who Rupert was, as Rupert had been pestering every doctor that had been assigned to observe Evan, and even those that hadn’t. The doctors were more familiar with Rupert than their patient. One doctor even privately suggested medicating Rupert just to shut him up.

By the time Dr Cooper got to the room, Evan was more awake. Dr Cooper moved closer and smiled gently.

Hi, Evan, my name is Dr Cooper. You’re at The Alfred Hospital. I’m just going to have a quick listen to your chest. The doctor pulled a folded stethoscope from his pocket. He carefully placed it against Evan’s chest and listened while studying several monitors.

Martha gave her son a gentle kiss on his forehead. I’m going to call his sister, she informed Rupert as she departed the room.

Okay, he replied quietly.

Rupert hovered close to the doctor.

How are you feeling, Evan? the doctor asked.

What happened? Evan enquired, squinting. He needed answers. He attempted to think back but couldn’t remember anything of the previous week—it had all been erased.

You had a serious crash and suffered significant injuries.

And?

You’ve been unconscious for four days.

Dr Cooper walked to the end of the bed where there was a blue medical folder. He pulled out three X-rays and held them up to the light. The first showed a rib cage. You have two broken ribs. And your right lung has collapsed. He held up another. Your right thumb is broken. The doctor lifted the final X-ray. And your left femur is broken.

Evan didn’t move. Rupert screwed up his face, realising he was lucky to have his good friend still alive.

You’ll need plenty of rest and physiotherapy.

Evan shut his eyes and shook his head.

Rupert cleared his throat and imagined the impact this news would have on his closest friend. Thank you, Doctor.

I’ll be back later today, announced Dr Cooper. I’ll organise some pain relief for you. You will need to just slow down for a while.

Dr Cooper grinned and left the room. His parting words left Evan feeling sick.

Rupert closed the door.

Rupert, Evan said with a dry throat.

Yes.

This was going to be my year, Evan protested.

I know. I know.

What happened?

You need to rest.

I can’t remember a thing. Evan was starting to sound a little anxious as he tried to sit up higher in bed.

Rupert put his hand on Evan’s shoulder to calm him down.

Evan, you heard what the doctor said.

Just leave me. Please.

Let me get you—

Just, just leave me alone.

In the hospital corridor, Rupert pulled out his phone and made a call.

He’s just woken up.

And? asked the older man on the other end.

He’s upset but alive. You’ll need the backup.

Rupert terminated the call and walked slowly to the doctors’ station. He was about to be the messenger of bad news.

Evan stared out the window. He could see the blue sky and sunlight; it was a warm autumn day in Melbourne. A middle-aged female nurse walked into the room and held a small plastic cup containing numerous coloured pills. She put the cup on the bedside table and then looked up at the name board above the bed—Evan Edwards.

Hello, how are we feeling, Evan? Ready for a game of tennis, are we? she asked with a brazen smile, while she simulated using a racquet with her arm.

I’ve been better, he replied.

The nurse took the medical file from the end of the bed and made notes while she checked the monitors. She poured water into another cup and handed him the pills.

Here you go. Take these. They should take the pain away or put you to sleep, whichever comes first. I’ll check up on you in a few hours.

Another lady entered the room. She had violet hair and a nose ring and wore navy shorts and a black V-neck blouse.

Evan swallowed the pills and drank the water. The nurse took the empty cup.

Just rest. You’ll feel better soonish. She then turned to her colleague.

Hi, Violet.

Hi, replied Violet with minimal interest as she placed her purple bottle on the bedside table.

The nurse gave Evan a cute smile and gazed into his eyes. She then left and closed the door. Evan and Violet