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Tyler sprang to his feet, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. One nurse softly closed the door behind them as they entered the room, their faces drawn with solemnity. My heart raced, knowing what was about to be said. I knew that look well. I stood up, clutching onto Luke’s elbow for support as I intertwined my other fingers with his.
“Mr. Prescott, may we speak with you now since there are children present?” the surgeon asked cautiously.
Jenna gently laid Naya down across two chairs before stepping up next to Tyler, her arm hooked through his and her head resting on his bicep. He towered over her. We all braced ourselves for what was to come.
“We did everything we could, but Camila’s injuries?—”
“Just Mila,” Tyler corrected.
“Apologies,” the surgeon dipped his head. “Her injuries were too severe from the accident,” the surgeon began.
“No!” Tyler barked, causing the children to stir awake. “Go back in there and save my wife!”
“Mr. Prescott, we did everything we could, but there was simply too much damage?—”
“I SAID, SAVE MY WIFE!” His voice echoed through the room, filled with desperation.
Jackson and Evan stood, their faces contorted in shock and anguish. “My mom’s gone?!” Jackson’s words hung heavily in the air, the weight of them crushing down on everyone present.
“Come here,” Tyler held his arm out in a comforting gesture, but Jackson was frozen in place, his mind unable to process the devastating news.
Naya broke down into uncontrollable sobs, quickly followed by Evan, who collapsed to his knees.
Jenna sprang into action, picking up Naya and handing her to Tyler, who wrapped her in a tight embrace. Then, without hesitation, Evan joined them, clinging onto his dad’s side as he cried. Jenna stood behind Evan, rubbing his shoulders in a soothing motion.
Giovanna, sensing that Jackson needed someone close by, helped him sit back down, then sat next to him, and put her arm around his shaking form. He laid his head on her shoulder, whimpering before breaking into sobs. She rubbed his back in a gentle circle, trying to offer some comfort in the midst of his grief. Giovanna cried as she held him. Tears streamed down Amber and Jenna’s faces as well and I soon realized that I too was crying just as hard.
Meanwhile, Chance, Ian, and Luke struggled to keep their emotions in check, their faces strained with sorrow. Tyler was barely holding it together. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he listened to the doctor’s explanation of what happened during surgery. The burden of the tragedy was almost too much for any one person to bear.
Tyler’s gaze, filled with distress, briefly met ours before turning back to the medical staff. The harsh reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks, causing my vision to blur and my knees to weaken. Mila’s accident was no mere coincidence, it was deliberate. My heart sank as I watched Tyler and his children, tears falling down their faces.
“I need some air,” I whispered, feeling suffocated by the pain and guilt overwhelming me.
“Jade,” Luke’s hand grabbed my arm before I could leave his side.
I spun around to face him, meeting his watery gaze.
“Not without me,” he squeezed my hand.
“I’m just going to the bathroom.” I jerked from his grasp, wanting to be alone.
“I’ll go with her,” Amber sniffled, her voice quivering.
The sound of Tyler, Ian, and Jenna trying to console the crying children echoed in my ears. I couldn’t bear it. I needed to escape from the room and confront the heaviness of my guilt alone. But I knew Luke would never let me go by myself, so I didn’t fight it. Reluctantly, he released my hand and rotated to Nico.
“Go with them,” he instructed in a quiet tone.
Nico gave a single nod before opening the door for us. Amber and I hurriedly made our way into the hallway, heading toward the bathroom. But as we passed it, my feet carried me further down the hall toward the exit.
“Jade,” Amber’s confused voice called after me, followed by quick footsteps as she and Nico caught up. “Where are you going?”
I didn’t answer or slow down. The ambulance doors opened, and paramedics rushed past us with someone on a stretcher. In that moment, all I saw was an opportunity to escape the suffocating environment. Without hesitation, I made a beeline for the forbidden exit, determined to get as far away from this place and my guilt as possible.
“Jade, stop!” Amber barked. Her nails dug into my arm as she grabbed hold of me, just in time for us to dodge the second ambulance pulling underneath the carport. The flashing lights and hurried voices filled the air.
Nico appeared on the other side of me. “Girls, come over here.” He held his hand out, steering us around the corner to a quiet sitting area tucked away from the chaos. A peaceful fountain gurgled softly nearby, surrounded by a garden of lush green shrubs. A small bench sat facing the fountain, looking almost like a memorial in this moment of crisis.
My legs could no longer support my weight, and I stumbled forward. Nico caught me, sitting me on the bench, then squatted in front of me as Amber sat next to me, holding her arm around me.
