The flame nobody sees

From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: Landed safely

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Hello number 1 son,

Just a quick one to say I landed on the platform ok. These chopper pilots are very temperamental so when they said the weather had calmed down enough to fly, I almost laughed! The flight was a rough one, nothing but turbulence we hovered above the helideck for fifteen minutes before we finally landed don’t know what that’s all about. Hope you’re not too worried about going back to school, I know your friends will have questions, but you only need to answer if you want.

Love Dad

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: How did school go?

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Hello Henry,

Did school go ok? I know your friends must have heard about what happened and I’m sorry if it upset you. It’s over now, next week some idiot will fall down a well or something and this will be forgotten about. There’s a new DC animated batman out, I know you prefer those to the live action stuff we could give it a watch? I liked the last live one, did you know some of it was filmed in Liverpool? Right round the corner from us! Anyway, back to it now, had to go through another evaluation before they let me back to work on the platform. But don’t worry about that all’s clear everyone agrees I’m fit to work. You know you can talk to me about anything.

Love Dad

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: Busy

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Sorry Henry,

I know it’s been a few days since the last email. The higher ups are hoping for first oil by the end of the week. Can’t see that happening there’s been some problems with the drill collar. I had just managed to fall asleep yesterday when the alarms stared blaring, I thought it was another drill when the whole platform lurched to the side. I was thrown out of bed and just about crapped myself! A few of the fellas have minor concussions but nobody went overboard at least! I just want nothing but the best for you.

love you son,

Dad

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: Green seagull!

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Hey son,

The weirdest thing ever happened today I had to tell you about it. I had just come out of the locker room into this thick fog and spotted a green seagull perched on the railing! It saw me and began squawking, but it didn’t sound like a seagull it was deeper more like a crow! Andy came out after me and spotted it too! He grabbed a bolt and threw it, he did hit the seagull, but it didn’t move! If that wasn’t weird enough, we then get a radio call from the helideck landing officer saying the entire deck is covered in these little baby squid things! Had to spend the rest of the night hosing them off, left behind a weird slime. Even found one of the little squid bastards curled up in my work boot! No idea how it got in there, but it reminded me of that time you were angry at me for one reason or another and put a toy dinosaur in my shoe remember that haha?

Drop me an email anytime:)

Love Dad

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: Last email

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Henry,

I’m sorry about my last email, I know how it must sound after what happened. I read it back a few times, I know it sounds strange, but I don’t want to worry you. I’m not having another “episode” Andy even tried to get a picture of it, but the fog out here is thicker than soup. All choppers are grounded, so some of the lads are stuck here. Always gets tense when that happens, just hope a fight doesn’t break out and it lifts before it’s my turn to go! You still haven’t told me how school went, maybe once I get back, we could talk about it? You could even stay with me whilst I’m home, you have a key to my place in case you just want to chill out somewhere. Order what you want on the firestick.

No need to worry,

Love Dad

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: A simple reply

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Henry,

I understand if you don’t want to speak to me, but could you please send me a reply? All calls to the mainland have now been stopped and I’m starting to worry. Your mother never picks up the phone, but I need to know in case of an emergency. Please Henry. I had a nightmare last night you were stood on the helideck your skin was pale white and puffy. When I ran over you vomited little squid things, I slipped over, and they were crawling all over me trying to get in my mouth! It was the most vivid dream I’ve ever had in my life.

I love you very much son,

Dad

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: I’m sorry

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I shouldn’t have said anything about that dream son I’m sorry if I frightened you. It’s very tense out here you see, this fog won’t move until we get some wind and nobody can call home. We normally wouldn’t be sent out in such bad conditions, but nobody can seem to find Andy. We think he’s fallen asleep on an emergency cot on the mezzanine deck. Wouldn’t be the first time! Can’t get him on the radio.

Just need to you know how sorry I am if I scared you. You know I want nothing but the best for you and your mother. The medic thinks a sedative might help me get some sleep, I supposed to report to him after my shift.

Love you son,

Dad

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: So nice to hear your voice!

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Henry!

I almost burst into tears when I heard you, you’ve no idea how much better just hearing your voice made me feel! Even with the sedative I didn’t sleep all night, I think I’m just worried about Andy. We went up to the mezz deck but there was no sign of him, just more of those bloody squid things covered in slime. The installation manager told us not to touch these ones, potential biohazard. Guess it was fine when it was the helideck and he’s due off hahaha!

But that will all be fine, it’s you I want to talk about. I heard you over the radio clear as a bell! I don’t think I’d ever felt so relieved. Thank you for reaching out to me, I knew you didn’t really blame me for it all.

Speak soon,

Love Dad;)

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject: I promise I will!

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Sorry son, I know you asked for me to go down to the drilling platform. I promise I will but like I tried to tell you in weather like this all the lowest decks are completely shut off. I know you told me Andy is down there, and I do believe you but when I told the managers they got worried and made me to go see the medic again. Horrible to think he might be trapped down there on his own. We’ll find him don’t worry, he always liked you he asks about you all the time. I’m supposed to stay in the clinic but as soon as I send this off, I’m going down to the drilling platform don’t you worry.

Speak tonight,

Love you

Dad

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From: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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To: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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Subject: You’re scaring us

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Dad please just come back. Mum says you’re not well. These emails you send are really weird. Just tell them your sick and it’s an emergency. We want you to go to a hospital and just be alright again.

Come back please,

Henry

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From: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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To: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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Subject:

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Hey Son,

I’m not supposed to leave the clinic but I wanted to make sure you got this. I know Andy is on the drilling platform, when I went to my locker his ID card was inside. I’m going down there now I don’t care what the medic says I’m to do. I wanted to let you know I’m hearing you now even without the radio so there’s no need to for any more horrible nightmares ok son? I’ll go down there and find him don’t worry I’m just so happy we’re speaking again.

There is never an end to this sea, you once asked me what that fire that comes out of an oil rig is called. It’s a flare stack, it burns away useless gas. At night you can see it miles away, sometimes I feel like it’s the only proof I’m alive out here. As long as it burns I think I’ll be alright. Once I find a way past the others I’ll head down to the drilling deck I promise you son. Then I’ll come back and see you, no more episodes I promise. I think I’m sicker than people realise.

I love you

Dad

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From: Henry (hardcorehenry@gmail.com)

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To: Elijah (elijahkirkham1@shelloil.com)

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Subject: Help

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Dad please respond ok im not mad at you or anything please just stop and go back to the medic and let him take care of you were on our way to meet you at the heliport that fog will go soon and you can then come back I promise ill reply just let me know your okk mum got a call there worried about you and so are we