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“Yes, we are almost to the hospital now. I meant to call you when they arrived, but I was sidetracked. I’m with her. Are you going to be able to come to the hospital?”
“Of course!” I snapped. “I’ll see you there.” I ended the call and raced back to the small office in the back of the kitchen, “Tamara, I have to go. Marisol is on her way to the hospital. Mrs. Becker couldn’t wake her up after her nap.”
“Oh, no, Charlotte. Do you want me to drive you?”
“No, it will probably be faster if I run.” I yanked my apron from around my hips and tossed it at her as she held her hand out.
“Go get your purse and get out of here. I’ll cover your shift.”
“Thank you, Tamara,” I called over my shoulder, and she told me to call her and let her know how Marisol was doing.
I ran out of the deli with my small backpack over my shoulder, almost knocking Stephanie and a customer over on my way. I’d apologize later to Steph, and once she heard what was going on, she would excuse my behavior. I ran down the street, not even waiting for the crosswalk sign to change. I darted between two cars, the approaching one blaring his horn and making my already high adrenaline spike higher.
I had two more blocks, and then around the corner. I had to wait at the next crosswalk for the signal because this was the main intersection, and it was six lanes. The moment it turned, I bolted across the street. An ambulance raced down the side street and turned into the ambulance bay. Was that Marisol? Or was she already here? I ran around to the entrance and barreled through the moment the door was open enough for me to squeak through.
I was out of breath as I reached the receptionist window and paused behind an elderly man. I couldn’t tell you how tempted I was to shove him out of the way, but I took a moment to catch my breath as the woman behind the window spoke with him.
The moment he moved, I jumped to the window, “My daughter was just brought in by ambulance.”
The woman barely even glanced at me, “What’s her name?”
“Marisol Bennett.”
“What’s her date of birth?”
I gave her the information and started tapping my fingers on the counter. What the hell was taking so long.
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have her in the system. Are you sure it was this hospital?”
“Yes, of course, it was this hospital. It’s the only one in town.” I snapped at her, “Look again, she came in by ambulance. She’s five years old.”
“What was her date of birth again?”
I repeated the information. How could they not know my daughter was here? “Did you lose her? Are you people that incompetent?”
I knew I was acting rude, but I also knew that I didn’t give a shit. All I could think about was my daughter someplace scared and alone without me. My vision clouded, and I felt my knees begin to buckle.
The door beside the window opened, and a nurse walked out with Mrs. Becker.
“Mrs. Becker! Where is Mari?”
“They are working on her; they wouldn’t let me stay since I wasn’t family.”
I lunged forward to stop the automatic doors from closing and forced it open, “Yeah, well, I am.”
“Ma’am, you can’t go back there.” Someone yelled.
I rushed down the hall, glancing into rooms and jerking back the corners of curtains, almost hysterical now that I couldn’t find my daughter.
“Hey, what are you doing?” A man grabbed my arm, and I struck out at him, making him drop a tray of something. I had no idea what it was.
“I need to find my daughter, Marisol! Marisol! Where are you?” A nurse came toward me, putting her hands up.
“I’ll take you to her, but you need to calm down, ma’am.” She grabbed me by the forearms. “She is being taken care, and she is in wonderful hands. Take a moment to breathe and calm down. You are not going to help your daughter if you show up at her bedside like this.”
I hung my head, tears rushing from my eyes; she was here, she was being taken care of, and the nurse was right, I needed to calm down.
The nurse talked me down a little more, and then put her arm around me and began to walk me down the hallway, “She’s in one of the trauma rooms right now, and Doctor Young is working on her. He specializes in emergency medicine for pediatrics, so you have the best working on your daughter.”
