Page 46 of Ink

I nod and say, "Good, and while you're there, kick him in the balls because, trust me, it feels exhilarating."

She laughs again before hugging me. "Come home tomorrow, yeah. Stay with Momma Anderson tonight because I know it'll be hard for you both, but tomorrow, I want my friend home; I need her home." I nod and hug her tighter before she pulls away, kissing my cheek. "I love you, Soph."

I smile at her, "Love you too, Lee." I stand here and watch as she gets in her car, probably going to school before I go to mine that Jackson dropped off last night for me, making me smile.

I climb into it and start her up, taking a deep breath before heading to Momma's.

I bite my bottom lip as I pull up to Momma's house, knowing she's going to struggle today, and I swallow hard, wondering how I'm going to help her through it. As soon as I'm out of my Jeep, though, I furrow my brows, not seeing Daddy's Mustang out before I head towards the front door.

Normally, on days like this, we drive to the cemetery, where we spend a few hours together; it then takes me another hour to get her to walk away from her love. It's exhausting, especially after a night shift, but I know I'll cuddle up with my Momma later and sleep.

Once I've got the door open, I shout for my Momma, heading towards the kitchen. "MOMMA?" I frown when I see it spotless, Momma nowhere in sight, and I go to the stairs.

"MOMMA?"

I head towards her room and open the door to see her lying in bed still, and I sigh sadly.

"Momma, come on, let's go see Daddy."

She doesn't move, and I take a step forward but freeze when I see a document envelope and a small white one, both with my name on them, on her nightstand. I look toward Momma again, and my heart stops when I see her lips are blue.

"Momma?"

I rush over to her, my heart in my throat, when I see the empty pill bottle and check her pulse; it's not there. "No, no, no, no. What did you do, Momma, please? What did you do?"

I quickly get my phone out, dial 911 before putting it on speaker, then start CPR.

"911: What's your emergency?"

I sniffle as my tears fall down my cheeks. "P-please, I need help, my Momma; she's- she's not breathing; she took some pills; I'm now doing C-CPR. Please help."

I can't help the sob that releases from my throat before I give her mouth-to-mouth and then start compressions again.

"OK, darling, does she have a pulse?"

I check her pulse before I wail, "No."

"OK, keep doing CPR; I've sent out dispatch; can you confirm you are at the address from this phone's GPS?"

I sniffle a yes before doing mouth-to-mouth again, then back to the compressions.

"Please, momma, don't leave me too; please, not today, please."

The operator stays on, trying to be compassionate and reassuring. I continue the compressions when there's a loud bang from the front door before footsteps sound up the stairs. David's gray eyes, which look so much like my man's, come into view a few seconds later and widen in shock. "P-please, David, p-please, I can't lose her too; I can't... PLEASE."

I scream the last bit, making him get into action. He pulls me back, and I try to fight him to get back to my Momma before he wraps his arms around me from behind while the paramedics do their jobs as he whispers in my ear, "Let them do their job, sweetheart."

I just sob, my whole body shaking. I watch them work on my Momma but vaguely hear David on the phone.

"Jackson, get to The General; now it's Sophie."

I don't take my eyes off of them when they shock her, bile rising in my throat, tears running down my face. I can't lose her either—not today, please; I can't.

"WE HAVE A PULSE. MOVE, MOVE, MOVE."

I gasped as they intubated her before putting her on a stretcher. David drags me out of the room, following them, before helping me into his Sheriff's car and following behind the ambulance with flashing lights, all while I pray that I haven't lost my only family.

Ten minutes later, I stood near the nurse's desk, waiting for news after they rushed my mother in.