Page 352 of Small Town Firsts

My entire body shakes as the woman I love slips further away from me, succumbing to whatever it was she took.

"Campus police!"

"In the bathroom!" I yell.

"Sir, please move away so we can work."

"I'm not leaving her," I grit out through clenched teeth.

"We need you to move back," he reiterates. "It's in her best interest, we're trained first responders."

At those words, I gently slide out from beneath her and retreat to just outside the door with Abigail.

The other officer immediately springs into action, crossing Emmy’s arms over her chest and rolling her to her side.

"Do you know what she took?"

"No."

"Do you know when?"

"I don't know. An hour? Maybe?"

"Does she have a history of mental health issues?"

"Yes," I admit, feeling like I'm somehow betraying her.

"A history of suicidal thoughts?"

"I'm not sure." I swallow roughly. "She... her stepbrother abused her most of her life and tonight..."

"What happened tonight?"

I rehash the sordid details for the campus police. By the time I'm done, Abigail is sobbing inconsolably. "Oh my God."

"Got a pill bottle!" the officer in the bathroom yells. "Benzos."

"I'll let 'em know."

The officer who has been questioning me reaches up and speaks into the mic clipped to his shirt. "We've got a suspected benzodiazepine overdose."

The radio crackles. "10-4. We're about five out."

The paramedics make it in less than five—thank fuck—and from there, it's a flurry of activity, with them checking her vitals and loading her onto a stretcher.

A million-and-one questions sit on the tip of my tongue, but the officer's earlier words about being in the way keep me from asking any of them.

"Let's roll," one of the paramedics says, and I spring into action, following them out into the hall.

"I-I'll clean up here," Abigail says, tears still falling.

I nod my thanks and take off behind them, once again taking the stairs so that I'm on the first floor waiting when the elevator arrives.

"Which hospital are you taking her to?"

"Who are you?"

"Her boyfriend."

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