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“So,” I continue, “I’m giving you a free pass. Say whatever you want to say and I’ll sit here and take it.” I shrug and she sighs, placing the pen against the chart in her hands and glaring at me.
“Fine,” she snaps. “Do you know how much I hate people like you?” Her eyes are burning with intensity and I nod calmly. “How stupid do you have to be to get behind a wheel and drive when you’ve had that many? How stupid to do it after one! I see kids in here that get hit by assholes like you. I have to tell their parents their kids won’t walk again or -God- I have to tell them their kids are gone.” Her voice is shaking as it raises to a shout. “People like you kill people, because you are reckless and arrogant and fucking stupid. You’re lucky it was a tree and not someone’s Mom or Dad or kid. Just - fuck.Fuck.”
I watch as the doctor slumps against the wall before a small smile creeps over her lips and a bubble of laughter bursts from her.
She has a pretty smile.
“Feel better?” My eyes dance over her face as she closes her own and places her head against the wall. It’s like watching the tension roll off of her.
“Much.” Her laugh is warm and I get to my feet, pleased to have made someone smile today. “Thanks.”
“No problem, Doc. Now about my friend?”
“Second door to the right, bed three.”
I nod and glance towards where my doctor stands before leaving the room. “Thanks. For the stitches and the telling off.” I chuckle to myself when she nods. “Not many people are willing to call me out like that. You’ve got balls.”
I leave the sound of her laughter behind me as I fish my phone out of my jacket and punch in a number I know I’ll live to regret.
Walter Haston, retired police commissioner and imperious grandfather, answers on the third ring.
Mikaela
When I was six years old my father left. He just woke up one day and decided he was done. I cried for three weeks. Every night I would crawl in beside Mom and curl up to her. Together we talked it out. Together we cried through the worst of it. Together we kept moving forwards.
“Just keep your head above the water, baby girl,” she would soothe. “Head above the water.”
Now I’m fully submerged. I’m fully submerged and I can’t see which way is up and which is down. There’s a numbness that encases me as the ice of it all settles in my chest.
Someone puts a hand on my shoulder as I stare at the emptiness of her eyes.
Someone should close her eyes.
They speak softly, words that they’ve probably said a thousand times over. Words I’ve known would come, but never prepared for.
“Is there anyone we can call?” The nurse crouches before me and I look down at my mother’s hands.
“No.” My breath comes in short gasps and my world falls out from under me. “No, there’s no one.”
Ben
“He’s dealing with it, Jamie.”
A headache is brewing behind my left eye as Jamie shoves his legs into his jeans, trying to pull them up with one hand.
“What does that even mean, Ben?” He grunts. The sling holding his left arm in place shifts slightly and he winces from the pain.
“It means there’s nothing to be done. Nothing to worry about. It’s sorted.” I move to his side and grab his jacket from the bed while Jamie works on catching his breath.
“Nothing?”
I nod.
“Okay.” The sigh that leaves Jamie’s lips seems to expel all of the panic of the last four hours. “Pass me my phone, will you? I should probably check on Mom.”
Mikaela
A soft mist of rain swirls around my skin and soaks through me as I clutch the small bag to my chest. I don’t step forwards. I don’t move out of the way of passers by.
