Chapter Five.

It’s six months now after their first kiss and the lads all now know about Shane and Michelle seeing each other.

Anyway, they’re walking around Dublin with the rest of the lads and Shane says, “ Michelle,” “Yes,” Michelle replied, “You know I love you, don’t you?” “Yes of course I do. Excuse me, I need to go and get a mag, I’ll meet you across the road and then we can see what happens from there. Ok?” “ Yeah, fine, see ya in a minute.” “ See ya.” Michelle goes into the newsagent, buy’s the mag and leaves. She begins to cross the road and suddenly a car comes out of nowhere and heads straight towards her. The car hits her, and as it hits her Shane sees what has happened and Shouts “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!” The car comes to a halt and Michelle falls to the ground. Shane rushes to her side and tells Kian to phone for an ambulance. The ambulance comes and takes Michelle to the hospital with Shane holding her hand the entire way…

Chapter Six.

At the hospital, Shane is walking up and down the corridor waiting for Mark, Bryan, Nicky and Kian to arrive. They all arrive and Kian says, “ How is she?” “She’s still in the operating theatre. The doctors say that her chances of survival are slim. And even if she does survive, there is a slight chance that she will be paralyzed from the waist down, as she has a blood clot on the area of the brain which controls the lower body.” “I’m so sorry, Shane. But Michelle will pull through, she always does. ” Replied Bryan sympathetically.

About 10 minutes later the doctor comes along and asks Shane and the others to go into the relatives room. When in there the doctor says, “Before I continue, I need to tell you something.” “Yes?” “Michelle has had a miscarriage.” “Wha’?! Are you serious?” Shane said. “Yes, I’m deadly serious.” The doctor replied. “How long?” Nicky asked. “Three months.” “ She is going to be alright, isn’t she?” Shane replies, “ It’s to early to say,” the doctor answers as she leaves. “ I can’t believe it.” Shane said still in shock. “No, neither can we.” Mark answered. “Why didn’t she tell me?” “ Perhaps she couldn’t.” Kian said. “What do you mean?” “ She told me she was pregnant.” Kian replied. “ She told you? And you didn’t think to tell me?” “ I promised I wouldn’t. She was going to have an abortion next Tuesday.” “ WHAT??” “Sorry. Like I said I was sworn to secrecy. She was going to tell you but she didn’t want you to worry, so, she decided to tell you after she had had the abortion.” “Well, its to late now.” Shane answered, leaving the relatives room and heading towards the Intensive Care Unit. Mark, Kian, Nicky and Bryan all follow him. When he arrives there, he walks into the room and over to Michelle’s side and takes hold of her hand, sits down beside her and says holding back the tears, “Michelle, please don’t die, I miss you.” He then cannot hold the tears back any longer and begins to cry.

Chapter seven.

Michelle awoke to find herself in a hospital bed with Shane holding her hand and Kian, Nicky Mark and Bryan standing around. “ What happened?” she asked. “ You were hit by a car. You rolled onto the bonnet and then fell to the ground. The doctors said you were badly injured and that you had a slim chance of survival.” “But I’m here aren’t I? Also, I can tell by the look on your face that you know don’t you, about the pregnancy and the abortion? ” “Yes. I do. But that doesn’t matter anymore. The only thing that matters is that you’re here.” And Shane leans over and kisses her on the forehead.

Michelle has been told that she would never walk again and has to go into a rehabilitation unit to learn how to live with her disability. Shane is finding it hard to cope with the fact that the only person he has ever really loved will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Because of that, Michelle decides to learn to walk again: “ I can’t do it.” Michelle said as she tried to stand up for the tenth time. “Of course you can.” Her physiotherapist says. “Try again.” Kian says standing in the doorway. “Hi. How are you all?” “We’re fine. It’s Shane I’m worried about. He really finding it hard to come to terms with it.” “Yeah, well he won’t have to for much longer.” Michelle then tries to stand up again, this time succeeding. She has to lean on to her physiotherapist and Kian as she takes her first steps since the accident six months before. “Well done!” Kian says as Michelle sits down. “Thanks. How long do you think it will be before I’ll be able to walk without any support?” Michelle asks. “About a month. But that means a lot of hard work. Are you sure you’re ready for all that?” “ Yeah, I’m ready. Kian,” “Mmmm?” “Could you not tell Shane about this? Its just that I’d really like to tell him myself.” “ Yeah, I’ll do my best, but its really tearing him apart.” “Please?” Michelle asks. “Alright. I’ll do my best not to tell him. Look I’ve got to go, so I’ll see you soon yeah?” “Yeah, see ya soon.” And Kian leaves.

A Month later...

“ Hi Shane how are you?” Michelle asks as he walks into the room. “Fine.” He answers staring at the floor.“ Your not alright are you?” “ No. The truth be told I’m not. It’s just… well… I can’t accept the fact that you’re going to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.” Shane says sitting down on the bed. “I’m not going to.” “What? What do you mean I’m not going to?” Shane asks. “Well…” And with that Michelle stands up. Eventually Shane says: “Michelle… I thought… I mean… I thought that you’d never walk again.” “Well, they have come a long way in medicine you know.” “I know and you’re the proof.” Shane moves over to Michelle and pulls her closer and kisses her the same way as he did the first time they kissed, warm, soft, intense and deep. Ten minutes later Shane walks out to the car holding Michelle’s hand.

Chapter Eight.

Five Years later Michelle is to be married to Shane and because of the fact that her mum are dead, she asks Mark and Bryan to give her away at the wedding: “ Please??” “ Why us?” Mark asks, surprised. “ Because Shane has asked Nicky and Kian to be his best men, I didn’t want you left out and you were there for me when I was in hospital. Does that explain it for you?” “ Yes.” They say in unison.

A month later…

“Hurry up Michelle, we’re going to be late!” Bryan shouts up the stairs. “ I thought brides were supposed to be late.” Mark says. “ Don’t say that, or she’ll never come down.” Just as a fight is about to begin, Michelle comes to the top of the stairs. “Well?” She says inquisitively. “ WOW!!” Bryan and Mark say in unison as they look up to see Michelle. “Is this alright?” Michelle says as she walks down the stairs. “Alright? You look gorgeous.” Mark says. “ I can see why Shane’s marrying you now!” Bryan adds. “ Shut up and help me get into the car.” Michelle says in pretend annoyance. They get to Sligo Cathedral and help Michelle out of the car and inside.

Once inside the music begins to play and they walk Michelle down the aisle and towards the altar. As Michelle is walking down the aisle Shane turns to see Michelle in an absolutely gorgeous white wedding gown with a tiara in her hair and white lilies as her bouquet.

The ceremony then begins…

“ Do you, Shane Steven Filan take Michelle Laura Thompson to be your lawfully wedded wife?” “ I do.” “And do you, Michelle Laura Thompson take Shane Steven Filan to be your lawfully wedded husband?” “ I do.” “Now, if anyone knows any reasons why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace” There is a silence.“ The rings, please.” Kian places the rings on the bible and Shane takes one of them. “Repeat after me… I, Shane Steven Filan,” “I, Shane Steven Filan,” “Take thee Michelle Laura Thompson,” “Take thee Michelle Laura Thompson,” “ To have and to hold,” “To have and to hold,” “To love, honour and protect till death us do part.” “To love, honour and protect till death us do part.” Shane places the ring on Michelle’s finger. Michelle then takes the other ring, “Repeat after me… I, Michelle Laura Thompson,” “I, Michelle Laura Thompson,” “ Take thee Shane Steven Filan,” “Take thee Shane Steven Filan” “ To have and to hold,” “ To have and to hold,” “ To love, honour and obey till death us do part.” “ To love, honour and obey till death us do part.” Michelle then places the ring on Shane’s finger. “ Now, by the power vested in me by the government of the Republic of Ireland, I now pronounce man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Shane leans over and kisses Michelle. The two of them then, after signing the marriage certificate, walk out of Sligo Cathedral to a welcoming reception. “ Well Mrs. Filan how do you feel?” “ Fine, Thank you Mr. Filan.” Michelle replies happily. They get into the car that will take them to the wedding reception.

During the reception…

“ Shane, can I have a word?” “Yeah sure.” “What is it?” Shane says as Michelle takes him to the middle of the dance floor, “I’m pregnant.” “What?” Shane says in shock, “ You’re joking right?” “ No. I’m not.” “ Well, I’ll just have to get used to it, won’t I?” Shane says in a mock anger voice as he pulls her closer. “ Yes, Yes you will.” Michelle says happily as they kiss in the middle of the dance floor…