37. NOT ALONE
Bobby pulled up the emergency room doors. Emily jumped out of the car and ran inside. She came back out with some nurses with a gurney. They got Patrick out of the car and onto the gurney. I followed them inside the hospital.
The nurse asked me if I knew what happened as they wheeled him through the ER. I filled her in. She made me stay in the waiting room. The crew quickly flooded into the waiting room and were at my side. I could hear them talking, saying something, but I couldn’t make it out. I didn’t try. My head was throbbing. My heart was racing. I felt sick to my stomach when I realized what I had to do next.
I had to call his parents. I wanted them to hear it from me, instead of the hospital. Not that I knew what his condition was. God, he has to be okay. Please, let him be okay.
I took out my cell phone and dialed his home phone number. The line rang and I wanted to throw up. Mrs. Connor picked up. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mrs. Connor.” I managed to stammer out.
“Liz? What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” Her tone went from polite to worried instantaneously when she heard me.
I knew that delaying what had to be said wasn’t making it easier on either of us. But her world was perfect before I called and now I was sending it into a tailspin. “Uh…no. It’s Patrick. We’re at the hospital.”
“Oh, God. What happened? Is he okay?” She yelled to her husband and I could hear her frantically moving.
“I don’t know… I don’t know.” I mumbled and rocked back and forth in my seat.
“Liz?” Mr. Connor took the phone from his wife. “We’ll be right there. Where are you?”
I told him which hospital. They were on their way. I desperately tried to keep it together. Kraig sat down next to me and tried to comfort me. He tried to convince me to get myself checked out. I didn’t want to hear it.
I should have been there sooner. It should never have happened. I should have gotten him out of there quicker. God, I hurt. My head was throbbing, my face stung. My sides hurt. I think the adrenaline was wearing off.
Falling (Bits and Pieces, Book 1) Page 82