Me-Before-You-by-Jojo-Moyes

‘Gissa smile, sweetheart. It’s Marky’s stag weekend,’ one slurred, slamming a
ham-sized hand on to my shoulder.
‘It’s Monday.’ I tried not to flinch as I peeled it off.
‘You’re joking. Monday already?’ He reeled backwards. ‘Well, you should
give him a kiss, like.’
‘Actually,’ I said. ‘I’ve come over to ask you for help.’
‘Ah’ll give you any help you need, pet.’ This was accompanied by a lascivious
wink.
His mates swayed gently around him like aquatic plants.
‘No, really. I need you to help my friend. Over in the car park.’
‘Ah’m sorry, ah’m not sure ah’m in any fit state to help youse, pet.’
‘Hey up. Next race is up, Marky. You got money on this? I think I’ve got
money on this.’
They turned back towards the track, already losing interest. I looked over my
shoulder at the car park, seeing the hunched figure of Will, Nathan pulling vainly
at the handles of his chair. I pictured myself returning home to tell Will’s parents
that we had left Will’s super-expensive chair in a car park. And then I saw the
tattoo.
‘He’s a soldier,’ I said, loudly. ‘Ex-soldier.’
One by one they turned round.
‘He was injured. In Iraq. All we wanted to do was get him a nice day out. But
nobody will help us.’ As I spoke the words, I felt my eyes welling up with tears.
‘A vet? You’re kidding us. Where is he?’
‘In the car park. I’ve asked lots of people, but they just don’t want to help.’
It seemed to take a minute or two for them to digest what I’d said. But then
they looked at each other in amazement.
‘C’mon, lads. We’re not having that.’ They swayed after me in a wayward
trail. I could hear them exclaiming between themselves, muttering. ‘Bloody
civvies … no idea what it’s like … ’
When we reached them, Nathan was standing by Will, whose head had sunk
deep into the collar of his coat with cold, even as Nathan covered his shoulders
with another blanket.
‘These very nice gentlemen have offered to help us,’ I said.