One of them pulls the tape off my mouth and I’m finally able to cough out, and can hear the blood splat on the ground at my side.
My head flings backwards with another force…
And then there she is, smiling back at me.
“What do you mean?” I ask the women behind the glass as she’s handing me my ID back.
“I just know what it says here. He isn’t available for visitation today
“And why the fuck not?” I snap, shouting at her.
“I don’t know, ma’am, but you need to lower your voice, or I’ll have someone remove you.”
“I don’t give a fu—”
“What’s going on?” Zeke says at my side, coming over. I can only imagine because of the scene that I’m creating.
“He can’t…” I know I’m growing hysterical, but I woke up this morning with the worst feeling and I just needed to come and see him to calm myself down. “They said he can’t… but won’t tell me why.”
“Miss.” Zeke smiles at her as he leans in. “Why is it that?”
She gives him a hard time as well, but Zeke’s phone rings, and he looks down, confused, before he answers it.
“Yeah?” He turns to walk towards the door and nods for me to follow.
Reaching over, I snatch my ID back and sigh. “I’m sorry, it’s just…” I can feel the tears burning my eyes and the woman actually sighs, looking up at me.
“I can’t give you any information because his paperwork is still processing.”
I want to ask her fucking how it’s been months already.
“And any information I give out could break HIPAA, so they tell us to err on the side of caution.”
“He’s hurt?” I whisper it as she looks at me, not confirming or denying, but I know she’s giving me as much as she can.
“Tate!” Zeke shouts at me from the door.
I glance back at the door before looking at her one last time. “Thank you.” I whisper to her before I bolt for the door and look at him.
“Well, how the fuck do they not know?” Zeke shouts into the phone as he’s stomping back over to the SUV. “I don’t give a fuck, Eli, get us the fuck in there.” He hangs up the phone as he flings his door open, throwing the phone inside and yelling.
I slide into the passenger seat and look over, seeing him gripping the top of the door as he settles himself.
“Let me drive.” I tell him.
He looks up and I can see him visibly shaking from where I’m sitting. And he shakes his head as he slides into the car.
“Zeke, seriously…”
“You don’t understand!” He screams at me.
“Whoa, you need to calm the fuck down.” I’m shouting now too. “I know he’s in the hospital.” He looks at me curiously.
“And you’re not furious.”
“Sure, I’m mad, but reacting like that will not do any good for any of us. The only thing it may do is get us killed on the way there. And regardless of how mad I am, I’m worried more than anything.”
Looking over, he nods again, sliding out of the car, and we switch spots.
