Page 10 of Accepting Fate
“Straight back from the house.”
A couple minutes later, Landon appears with his flashlight. He approaches slowly with his hands raised. Alana stands in front of Lily who is still seated on the ground. I look back and reassure her, “It’s okay, this is Landon. With your consent, he’s going to carry you to my truck.”
Alana nods and moves closer to Landon. I hear them talk as I crouch in front of Lily.
“Hi sweetie. I know I told your mommy my name, but you can call me Gray. I’m going to pick you up. Is that okay?”
Lily smiles, her chocolate brown eyes shining with hope, and nods.
“You tell me if anything hurts, okay?”
She nods again. I take my sweatshirt off and wrap it around her tiny shoulders. She is so little the sweater acts like a jacket.
I stand and hold her against my chest. She lets out a small whimper as I hold her hurt arm and leg.
Yup, that tiny sound will haunt my nightmares for years to come.
I may pay Dr. Dickhead a visit of my own before he rides the train to torture town courtesy of Wesley’s wrath.
Lily rests her head on my chest while Landon and I make our way back to the truck. When we reach the vehicle Landon gently sets Alana down and opens the door to help her get in next to the car seat we have set up for Lily. Alana inspects the car seat and adjusts the straps properly. I walk around and set Lily in the seat and allow her mother to properly secure her.
Landon and I meet at the tailgate, and I help him gather water, snacks, and blankets. After handing the items to Alana, I walk around to the driver’s side and start up the truck.
Turning back to Landon before getting in, I say, “We good to go?”
Landon opens his mouth to respond but Alana’s screams cut him off.
“GRAYSON HELP!”
Landon rips open her door and I jump in the front and lean over the front seat to face her.
Alana is frantically shaking Lily, “She was talking and then her eyes went glassy, and now she won’t wake up.” She turns back to Lily, “Wake up baby. We made it this far; you can’t leave me now.”
I reach over Alana and check Lily’s pulse. It’s small but it's there. I look back to Landon who is still in the door at Alana’s side.
“Go. Now.” Landon orders while shutting the door and running back up the driveway. I flip around in my seat and put my seat belt on.
“Alana. Seatbelt on now, please. Keep your eyes and hands on Lily. If you feel her heartbeat stop or her chest stop moving, tell me immediately. The ride is going to be rough so hold on.”
That's all the warning I give her before I punch the gas and take off down the road. Rocks flying behind me, I flip my lights on and race down the mountain.
What would normally be a thirty-minute drive to Mt Rainier Medical Center turns into a fifteen-minute drive. I pull in front of the entrance to the ER and hop out of the car, not taking the time to turn it off.
As I get to Lily’s door Alana is sobbing and screaming, “IT STOPPED.”
I quickly undo Lily’s straps and hug her to my chest, not worrying about her fragile bones.
Those won’t matter if she doesn’t make it past this. I take off in a full sprint through the ER doors.
This little girl didn’t survive six months in a shed to die so close to freedom. I send up a silent prayer, omen, signal into the universe that whatever is on the inside of those hospital doors gives her a second chance at the life she so rightfully deserves.
Chapter Four
Logan
Tonightsucks.
When my charge nurse, Laura, started walking towards me at the end of my shift, I already knew I wouldn’t be going home anytime soon. I was supposed to leave two hours ago but someone decided to quit and not tell anyone. It wouldn’t have been a big deal; the nurses could just pull someone from a different floor, but tonight is insanely busy.