“Why hasn’t he called yet?” I glanced at my cell for the hundredth time in the last hour.
“He will.” Sadie placed a hand on my knee. “When he knows something.”
“I should pack up and head there now. I’m sure I could make it before sunrise.” It was one in the morning. I could be there by seven on the dot, maybe earlier since Easton was an hour closer to me than Parish Cove.
“Char, you’re too upset to be behind the wheel. Plus, you haven’t gotten any sleep.”
I set my cell down. “I can’t sleep. My head is swimming with scary what-if questions.” I ran my hands through my hair, ready to pull it all out if my mind didn’t shut up.
“I’m sure.” She crossed over to her bed. “But, if you plan on making that drive, you have got to at least get some sleep.”
She was right. I knew she was, but the itching sensation spreading through urging me to get to my sister’s side was nearly overpowering.
“Just try to close your eyes for a little while.” She yawned. “There’s nothing you can do for Emma right now. If something happens, or if Dawson hears anything, I’m sure he won’t waste any time calling to fill you in.” Her words grated on my nerves.
“Okay, you want sleep. I get it,” I snapped as I slipped beneath my covers.
“I’m not trying to be rude or insensitive. I’m just telling you the truth.” I could tell from her tone she was taken aback by my harshness.
“I know,” I said in a softer tone. “I’m just scared and worried.” I flipped over onto my side as more tears slipped from my eyes.
“You have every right to be. Hell, I would be too, but there’s nothing you can do for her right now.”
“Turn out the light. Let’s try to get some sleep,” I whispered.
“Okay.” She flipped the switch to the lamp on our shared desk. “Night, Char. I’ll pray for Emma.”
That was all it took for my body to be wracked with silent sobs. My sister shouldn’t be in a position where she needed anyone’s prayers. She should be safely tucked in her bed at home. She was newly engaged, an awesome second grade teacher, and did a hell of a job caring for our mother. There was no reason for her to be lying in a hospital bed, unconscious.
What if she didn’t pull through this? How would I survive?
Guilt slapped me in the face for never making an effort to grow our relationship. We should be closer than we were. I should have tried more to be a part of her life. I should have been a better sister to her. Now I might never get the chance.
The walls of the dorm closed in on me as that last thought resonated deep within me, laying down roots.
Sleep came, but not as easily as it had for Sadie. I’d heard her breathing level out twenty minutes after the light was turned off. I hoped sleep would have served as an escape from this nightmare, but it was more torture.
Nightmares of my sister’s accident plagued me. I could see everything happen in slow motion while I stood on the side of the street, unable to do anything to stop it. All I could do in the dream was cry and shout for her to watch out.
When I woke my cheeks were stained with tears. I kicked off the sheets and blankets, and forced myself to sit up in bed. It took half a second for me to realize there had been some reality to the dream. The conversation with Dawson came rushing back. I reached for my phone, hoping for something from him. Nothing. No new text messages. No missed calls. Nothing. How could he still know nothing?
Any news? ~ Charlotte
He didn’t respond. I wondered if he was sleeping, or talking to one of the doctors.
I flung my covers back, and crossed the room to grab my suitcase still propped against the wall. There hadn’t been enough time to unpack. I tossed out all my dirty clothes and threw them on my bed. With my toiletries still inside, all I had to do was cram in some clean clothes. I grabbed a few pairs of sleep shorts, clean underwear, a couple more bras, and two or three clean outfits. I wasn’t sure how long I would be gone for, but I knew it would at least be for few days.
After changing into my favorite pair of black yoga pants, and pulling an oversized sweater over my tank, I twisted my long hair into a loose bun on top of my head while I scanned our desk for a scrap of paper to write on. Finding my stack of blue Post-it notes and a pen, I left Sadie a message telling her not to worry. I’d gotten some sleep last night, and I would call her once I made it to the hospital. I stuck it to the back of our door so she would see it easily, and grabbed my cell, purse, keys, and sunglasses before I opened the door and rolled my suitcase out into the hall. I was ready to get on the road.
My sister needed me, and frankly, I needed to see for myself that her heart was still beating.
I MADE A PIT STOP at the gas station on the corner before hitting the highway. My car needed gas, and I needed something to fuel myself as well. The few hours of restless sleep I managed to get wouldn’t be enough to last me through the drive to Easton. Coffee was a necessity. So was something sweet to eat.
After pumping my gas and buying a large vanilla coffee along with a honey bun, I climbed into my car to get situated for the long stretch of driving. My cell rang before I could even close the door. It was an unknown number calling. My heart leapt to my throat as I stared at the screen. Worries tumbled through my mind. Suddenly, I was petrified something horrible had happened to Emma and it was the hospital calling to tell me. Dawson had given them my number for emergencies, I was sure. The numbers burned into my memory as I stared at them. No. This was a cell number. I could tell from the first three numbers. There was only one person I knew who would be calling me from a Parish Cove cell this early in the morning.
“Hello?” I answered, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart.
“Sorry it took me so long to respond back,” Dawson drawled in my ear. He sounded as tired as I was, his words stretching out in between yawns. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Me either.” I closed the door to my car, and then opened my honey bun. “Any news? How did she do last night?”
“No news yet.” The same disappointment I felt hung in his words. “They did tell me she’s breathing on her own. Said that was a good sign.”
“Good.” If she was breathing on her own, maybe they would wake her soon, and things would be all right.
“You headed here yet?”
“I’m in my car now. Just filled up.” I tore off a small bite of my honey bun and popped it into my mouth. My stomach quickly let me know food was not something it planned on allowing today. Wrapping it back in its wrapper, I set it on my passenger seat. “I should be there around noon-ish.”
“Okay. Drive carefully. I’ll try to see if I can get us some answers before you get here.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
“Yeah.” He hung up, and so did I.
I set my cell in the cup holder, and cranked the engine on my car. A depressing song about holding on played through the speakers. I reached out and changed the station to something a little more upbeat. I needed upbeat. Staying positive was something my sister was always so good at, and it was exactly what I needed to do right now. I couldn’t let my negative thoughts and far-stretched fears get the best of me. I refused to.
After shifting into drive, I pulled away from the station, praying by the time I got to Emma she would be awake and alert.
Everything will be fine, I told myself.
She had to make it through this, because I couldn’t imagine life without her. My throat constricted, and my fingers gripped my steering wheel a little tighter. There was so much she was supposed to do before she left this Earth. She was supposed to marry Dawson. Kids. Emma still needed to have kids. She needed to make me a crazy aunt.