Looking Down
They’ve got my number now so they can talk to me. It’s a video
call so I can see the police guy who’s talking. He’s not bad
looking. If things were different, I could fancy him. He says,
‘Jackie, we just want to help you.’
‘Well you left it a bit bloody late,’ I say. ‘I’ve needed help
for the past five years.’ And I laugh. Not often I feel
powerful, but watching them all panicking, makes me feel very
powerful. The window’s wide open, the door’s locked and
barricaded. They don’t dare come up the stairs cos I said I’ll
jump if they do and I will.
‘What about your kids?’ he says. ‘Do you want to leave them
without a mother?’ ‘No!’ I say. ‘That’s what you want to do!’
I take another swig of the vodka and I can see an almighty
flutter as their heads go together. It goes quiet then for a
bit so I swing my legs over the window-sill and shout out.
‘Just promise me I’ll get my kids back, that’s all I want.’
The police guy speaks again. Says his name’s Sean and he
understands how I feel. Says he can make me a promise.
‘Oh yeah?’
‘I can promise that if you stop this, you can see your
kids.’
‘Today?’
‘Yes, today.’
‘That’s not what I’m asking for. I’m asking to keep them and
you won’t let me!’
‘Jackie, you have to understand…’
Have to shut him up so I swing my arm into the air and throw
down my mobile. It goes out into the wide, empty air and then
hurtles down fifteen floors and smashes to bits on the
concrete. Shame really. I liked that phone.
Goes quiet again after that. Then it’s back to the megaphone.
Sean again.
‘Jackie, I’ve got someone here wants to talk to you.’ He
passes the megaphone but I can’t see who it is. Then I hear a
voice. A small voice.
‘Mummy, please come down.’ There’s a pause. ‘Mummy, I’m
scared.’
I can’t speak. I’m crying. I try.
‘Mummy’s here. Don’t be scared.’
I’m crying my eyes out. Then Sean says, ‘Jackie, there’s a way
out of this.’
‘Is she all right?’
‘Tilly? She wants a cuddle.’
They’re not playing fair, but I know when I’m beaten. I swing
my legs back into the room and go to unlock the door.
I see Sean when I come down. He’s lovely, close up. For a
second I imagine what it must be like to be married to Sean.
He’s holding Tilly in his arms and I can see she trusts him.
She sees me coming and she bursts out crying. I’m still
holding the vodka bottle when I realise I need both arms to
hold her. So I put it down.
I stretch out my arms to her and she comes running.