Mistakes



"Keep the noise down! I'm trying to get the baby to sleep." Hannah sighed, she'd told her friends that she was baby-sitting tonight but no they still had to come over and insist that they celebrate whatever holiday it was today.

She had never cared much for socialising with alcohol, and had no wish to know what exactly it was they were celebrating. Some of her friends would use anything as an excuse to party, whereas she would prefer to sit at home and quietly read a book, and if she could do that whilst earning some money by baby-sitting then that was even better.

Humming softly to the baby, Hannah's golden hair fell over her eyes and hid the glare she was now aiming at those of her alleged friends who were still shouting to each other, the music she had previously turned off now ominously back on.

Trying to get a baby to sleep in this racket was like fighting a battle with no weapons, there was no way that she could win. Pushing her anger and annoyance down, Hannah stood up and headed towards the stairs, ignoring the shouts from her friends.

So angered by her friends' behaviour, Hannah did not notice the bottle that had been left on the foot of the stairs. Slipping, she pushed a hand against the wall to stop her self from falling but in the process dropped the baby. Her eyes widened as she heard on ominous cracking sound.

"Hayley!" She screamed, kneeling down on the floor and picking the baby back up. Checking for a pulse she hugged Hayley tightly and sobbed.

"OUT!"

Hannah's voice was so loud that her friends all turned to look at her, the music hastily switched off as they saw what had happened. Everyone quickly left. Well, almost everyone.

"Hannah, I'll call 999."

Hannah nodded slightly in thanks to her best friend, Linda, even though she knew it was far too late.


She did not get up when the ambulance arrived and took the dead child from her arms, and did not even speak when the paramedics asked for the contact details of the child's parents. She glanced briefly at Linda through tear filled eyes in thanks as she told the paramedics the details they needed, but pushed Linda away when she tried to comfort her. As far as Hannah was concerned she did not deserve sympathy, she should have been more careful.

Aware of the door opening and closing for one final time as Linda left, Hannah wrapped her arms around herself and wailed. She would never forgive herself for what she had done.