Page 70 of Wicked Nasty

“And the baby?”

"I'm very sorry, young man," he says, his voice strained with sorrow. "With such a horrific accident, there is little chance for a fetus to survive."

My heart feels like it's been ripped from my chest. I can hear the shattered pieces crumbling on the cold linoleum floor. I slump into a chair, feeling numb and helpless.

My mom turns to look at me through her tears. "A baby?"

I nod, unable to find any words to convey the devastation inside me. Memories of my sister Daisy's death flood my mind, and I feel myself shutting down emotionally, as I have so many times before.

"Yeah," I manage to choke out. "We just found out. I know we were irresponsible."

My dad places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "That's neither here nor there right now. That's still a loss you weren't prepared to deal with."

"Becca wasn't going to keep it," I blurt out, feeling the need to explain, even though it's too late.

Without another word, I stand up and stumble outside, seeking fresh air and space to process this new tragedy. I text my friends asking them to come, needing their support more than ever.

A few minutes later, they arrive - Cat, Penny, Ally and Del - their somber expressions mirroring mine.

We all head back inside, a heavy silence hanging over us as we wait for any updates. Ally sniffles quietly beside me, and Ryan wraps an arm around her shoulders reassuringly.

Suddenly, my dad pushes himself up from his chair with force, causing us all to jump in surprise. He looks ready to explode with anger, and I've never seen him like this before.

Becca's dad barges into the waiting room, his face twisted with worry. "I just heard what happened. Where's my daughter?"

My dad's gaze turns icy as he glares at Becca's father. "She's not awake. And do you know who they called? Not you. My wife!"

I stand up and position myself next to my dad, feeling a fierce protectiveness towards Becca at this moment.

"Your daughter put us through hell because her own goddamn parents couldn't be bothered to be there for her! We are the ones who got that phone call! Our hearts are the one breaking!" My dad's voice is low and seething with anger. "You don't deserve to be here!"

Just then, the doctor enters the room, clearing his throat to get our attention. "I will call security," he says sternly, looking directly at Becca's father. "Mr. Carney, your daughter, was hit head on by another vehicle. The impact was severe and we are still unsure if she will wake up. Even if she does, there may be serious damage to her brain. You may need to make some tough decisions in the coming days. Would you like to see her?"

He nods, his anxious eyes flickering over to my family and then back to me. "I... please go see her first, Louise, you..."

My mother nods silently, her hand tightly gripping my father's as they walk towards the hospital room. Their steps are slow and heavy, their faces etched with worry.

I follow them down the sterile white hallways, my heart beating loudly in my chest. When we reach the room, my parents enter first while I stand outside. I can hear their muffled sobs from inside, and I feel a lump forming in my throat.

When they come back out, my father quickly ushers my mother away, both of them in tears. I take a deep breath before slowly walking into the room. The sight before me takes my breath away. Becca is lying in the hospital bed, her small frame looking even smaller under the white sheets. Tubes and wires are attached to her body, and a bandage covers her head.

My legs feel weak as I make my way to the chair next to her bed and sit down. I lay my head on her chest and let the tears flow freely. "Fuck, Becs," I whisper brokenly. "I... god. I wanted the baby. I wanted you." My words are barely audible through my sobs. "I know you can't hear me, but... please. Wake up. I need you."

As much as it hurts to leave her side, I know I have to give her father a turn to see her. Wiping the tears from my face, I stand up and step into the hallway where he is waiting for me. There is a mutual understanding between us - two people who care deeply for Becca - as he silently nods at me.

I head outside and pull out a cigarette, needing something to calm my racing thoughts. So many emotions are running through me - fear, sadness, guilt, and a deep longing for Becca to wake up. I take a drag of the cigarette, trying to calm my nerves.

But despite everything that has happened, one thought continues to consume me. I need to show Becca how much she means to me. How much I truly care for her and want to be with her.

How much I love her.

Chapter nineteen

Rebecca

July

Thewarmthenvelopedme,caressing my skin like a soft blanket. I felt weightless, as if floating through the air. Blinking, I tried to make sense of the blurry world around me, but all I could see was a bright white light shining down on me. The sound of a gentle voice singing reached my ears, and it felt so familiar, like a soothing lullaby from my childhood. Memories flooded back to me as I drifted into this dreamlike state.

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