Page 23

I shoot one last glance back at my home, everyone except the kids are clustered on the front yard. My heart stutters seeing Sage standing with my family. When I was unable to take care of my family, Sage stepped up. She was there, level-headed and prepared to do what needed to be done.

I’m doing my best to stay out of the way as the paramedics work to make mother as comfortable as possible during the ride to the hospital but once they start to drive, a cold hand grips mine, holding on fiercely. I keep a hold of her hand for the whole ride. I don’t let go until I can’t hold on any longer.

I’m put into a room while mother is taken into imaging. I’m forced to sit and wait, every minute feels like an hour while I wait for either my siblings or mother to come back into the room.

As I wait, my minddrifts to Sage. My thoughts work themselves into a circle.

How beautiful she is.

How light she makes me feel with just a look.

How she’s saved my family twice now.

How it feels to have her body next to mine.

How strong she is.

How quick to respond to the emergency.

How it feels to be inside her.

How I’m pretty sure I’m already in love with her.

22

SAGE

I’d barely registered that York was telling me to stay in bed, still half-asleep and waiting for him to come back. I almost peed the bed when York’s agonized scream for his mother exploded through the house. I couldn’t believe no one else had awoken by his exclamation. Thankfully, I had grabbed my phone as I rushed upstairs. My hindbrain must have recognized the fear in York’s cry even before I fully registered what was happening.

Finding Bea on the floor like that scared the shit out of me but seeing York frozen like that, it was like a bolt of lighting had struck me. Jolting me into action. My movements were jerky as I rushed upstairs, I did my best to not disturb anyone else but I didn’t know who’s room was who’s. I accidentally woke Reese up first but with no time to explain, I just yelled at him to get dressed before moving to another room.

Thankfully, the second time’s the charm, finding Sybil and Mars also asleep. Sybil, being used to working in emergency situations, is up and out of bed quickly, no words to Mars, just heading to assist. I’m left to once again offer a brief explanation. “Something happened to Bea. Get dressed.”

It’s still dark outside and almost all of the lights in the house are off. I want nothing more than to return to Bea and York, check to see if they’re okay but someone needs to make sure the ambulance knows where to go. Fighting my wants, I rush to the front door and swing it open. I also make sure to flip on the outdoor light before stepping outside, I barely register the cold concrete against my bare feet.

The flashing lights are blinding but it doesn’t stop me from waving my arms like a mad woman, making sure they know exactly where to stop. “Just inside, to the side at the bottom of the short stairs.” I skip the pleasantries, who knows how injured Bea is. I refuse to waste any time.

Once Bea and York are driving away, I stand outside with the rest of Bea’s family, sans the children, trying to coordinate who stays and who goes. Every part of me wants to rush to the hospital but this is a conversation that needs to be had with Bea’s literal family. I want to tell them all to go, now, but there are kids to consider as well.

I’d offer to stay with them but I’m barely above a stranger and to get the news that your whole family is at the hospital by this random red-headed lady when you first wake-up? Yeah, I don’t think there is any kid in the world that would respond positively to that. It’s finally decided that Sybil and Mars will head to the hospital.

Reese and I will stay back to wait for updates. Reese will be a familiar face when the kids wake-up before their parents are able to come home. It makes the most sense for now.

I’m finally coming down from my adrenaline spike, exhaustion is quickly overwhelming me again. I don’t think I can return to my bed downstairs. No, I want to be in as central of an area as possible. Close for any updates as soon as they come in.

Even with the image of Bea on the floor still fresh in my mind, I decide I’m staying in the living room, for now. Lying on the loveseat, I pull a blanket that’s draped over the back to cover myself. I’m just getting comfortable when Sybil and Mars say their good-byes, promising to get us an update as soon as they can. The click of the front door closing is the last thing I remember before I slip back into slumber.

I feel hungover when I start to wake-up for the second time today. Reese is the first thing I see as I open my eyes. He’s crouched in front of me, one hand on my bicep. He gives me a quick squeeze before letting me go. “Hey. Sorry to wake you up. York’s on the phone.” I didn’t even notice the phone pressed to his ear.

He offers it to me and, thankfully, stands heading upstairs to the kitchen area. I press the phone against my ear, my heart racing.

“York?”

A deep exhale comes from the speaker and I want to cry.

“Hey, honey. Mars and Sybil are on their way back. You and Reese can come up, if you want once they get there.”

“Of course! How’s Bea? How are you?”