Page 34 of Waiting for Her

Cole’s a medical student.

He never shuts up about the things he sees in the ER while on rotation there.

Understands what the terminology means.

Right after he got here, he asked the doctors on staff what they discovered from the x-rays.

The look on his face was enough to tell me what I didn’t need to hear.

When I wake up in my hospital room, I’m not surprised to see a hand holding mine. What I’m surprised about is realizing the hand doesn’t belong to one of my sisters or my mom. Bri’s head is bent, resting on my hospital bed, her body curled up into a ball.

I lift my head, trying to get a better look at her. Dark, shiny hair up in one of those weird knotted buns on top of her head, one of my old t-shirts covering her upper body and a pair of black leggings tight on her legs. I feel wetness hit my hand, a sign she’s crying.

I lay my head back down and blow out a breath.

Pain radiates up my left leg, but the pain is a reminder I’m alive.

I shouldn’t be.

The accident was severe enough, and I saw the look on the EMT’s faces when they realized I was still breathing.

Relief, confusion, fear for how quickly they needed to work.

The person in the car I hit was injured—but nothing life threatening. Or life changing, unlike my injuries. Thankfully.

The driver of the other car?

The one who hit me…

Gone.

Must have been drunk.

Well over the limit.

Empty bottles in his car.

The scent of alcohol heavy in the air around him.

At least, that’s what I heard in both hushed tones and frantic shouts as the emergency workers were trying to save my life.

Three vehicles.

Three lives forever changed.

I try in vain to squeeze Bri’s hand.

Tears leak from my eyes as I once again realize if she was sitting next to me, there’s no way she would be here right now.

Crying for me.

I look down just as she lifts her head.

She stands, not releasing her hold on my hand.

“Hey,” she whispers, using her other hand to trace a finger over my forehead.

“Hey,” I croak out, my throat so sore it feels like I just got done swallowing gravel.

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