Page 146 of Puck Me Secretly

“Okay, resuming CPR.”

“I’m bagging him.”

“I’m starting a line.”

“Rory!” Mom’s voice commanded in my ear. “What is going on?”

My voice sounded thready and weak. “Mom, I need you to call a cab and then go to the hospital.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s Dad.”

“Rory. What is going on?”

“He collapsed. And the paramedics are here. They are working on him.”

“What? What is going on? Rory, talk to me.”

“I don’t know, Mom. He was yelling and so upset and then he dropped to his knees.”

“What’s happening?”

“They are putting him on the stretcher and they are doing CPR.”

“Oh my God!” Mom cried.

Brian stood beside me. “I called her a cab.”

I spoke into the receiver. “Brian called you a cab, okay? So, get your purse and your shoes and go outside to wait for it. We will meet you at the hospital.”

“Which hospital?”

“What hospital are you taking him to?”

“VGH.”

“Mom, tell the driver to take you to the VGH.”

“I don’t know where that is,” she sounded so panicked.

“The driver knows, Mom. Do you have your purse?”

“Rory, don’t let him die. You can’t let him die.”

Brian put his arm around me. “Come on. You can ride in the ambulance.”

“Mom, I have to go. I’m going with Dad.”

“Rory,” she was crying, “Don’t let him die.”

“Mom, I’ll take care of him. I’ll see you soon.”

I followed the stretcher down the hallway. I looked at Brian. “Are you coming?”

“I'll stay with Max.”

Oh shit. Max.

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