Page 166 of Eternally Yours
Just then the buzzer sounds. “GO! GO! GO!” he shouts at Clay and me as we jump to our skates and bolt out of there.
I don’t think I’ve ever skated so fast in my life. As promised, security is everywhere, making sure our path is cleared. We get to the dressing room, rip off our skates and gear at lightning speed, leaving it all in a lump of mess on the ground, and rush out.
We sprint down halls, head down in the elevator, and run to the parking garage. I hop into Clay’s SUV and he starts the car, tires screeching as he speeds out of the parking lot.
“FUCK! I didn’t take my phone!”Actually, now that I think of it, I didn’t take anything.I just put on my clothes and left, too distracted by thoughts of my wife needing me.
“It’s fine, one of the guys will grab our things. I have mine,” Clay says calmly, entirely focused on the road as he navigates around cars rapidly.
“What happened? Tell me! Where is she!?” A million questions pass through my mind at once. I need to know where she is so I can get to her.
“I don’t know. Coach only told me that she was in an accident and that your mom was with her at the hospital. I’m calling up Morgan right now, that’s probably where they are.” He taps on the screen on the dashboard and the Bluetooth speaker turns on.
The line rings once before Morgan’s voice filters through the car. “Oh, baby! Are you on your way? Silas?”
She’s in tears, and my heart squeezes painfully in my chest.I feel like I’m suffocating.My hands are in fists, knee bouncing, and I just want to punch through the window or puke my guts out all over the seat.
“We’re on our way, babe. About ten minutes out. Silas is with me. Tell me what you know. Give us what you can, baby,” Clay tells her in a soothing voice, holding it together for all of us.
“I haven’t seen her. There was a car accident, some truck crashed into her. It’s all we really know. Mira is with her, but they won’t tell us anything else or let us see her. We’re all in the waiting room. Your dad and brother are here too, Silas,” Morgan says through her sniffles.She’s struggling, just like me.
“It’s okay, babe. Just breathe with me, okay? Deep breaths. You’ve got this. We’re almost there,” Clay says, taking deep breaths along with her through the phone.
“Okay... I love you,” she tells him with a shaky voice.
“I love you, too.” He hangs up and glances at me, but my mind is elsewhere.
She has to be okay, her and our son. They have to be okay. Today can’t have been the last time I told her I loved her, the last time I saw her face, heard her voice...
Tears spring to my eyes as I bang my head against the headrest, then rub my face with my hands.I’m agitated, I need to move. I need to do something. I can’t just sit here in this car and wait.
Clay places a hand on my shoulder, squeezing a few times. “C’s strong, she’s a fighter. She’ll get through this. They both will.”Fuck, I hope he’s right.
Five minutes later, we arrive at the hospital. Clay drops me off at the ER doors and leaves to park the car. I rush inside and spot Emma right away. She jumps from her seat the moment she sees me and rushes into my arms.
“Oh God, Silas! Why is this happening?” she sobs loudly. I rub her back and repeat the words Clay said just moments ago.
“She’s strong, she’ll get through this,” I say like I mean it. But the truth is, I don’t feel them...I wish I did.
Spencer comes up behind, taking Emma by the arms. “Come on, let him get to his girl.” He nods his head toward the reception counter, indicating where I need to go.
I take two steps in that direction when the double doors to the ICU open and my mother walks out. “Mom...” It’s all I manage to say.
She’s pale and her face is tear stained. “Oh, my boy...” She reaches for me and wraps her arms around my neck as the first tear slips from my eye. “It’s okay, baby. I know this is scary, but she has the best help with her. They’re doing everything they can to make sure they’re both okay,” Mom whispers into my ear while I sob loudly into her arms.
“I need to see her, where is she? Please, I need to see them.”
“They took her down for surgery. The doctor said something about a uterine rupture. It’s too dangerous for the baby, so they need to get him out,” she says quickly, probably thinking it will calm me down knowing she’s being treated right away. But all it does is worsen my fears.
“No! No... he’s... he’s too small, he’s not ready to come out... it’s too early,” I say between my cries, my head growing dizzy and my legs weakening.
I feel my body give out just as someone grabs me from behind, lifting me back up onto my feet and placing me in a nearby chair.
I look up to see Clay at my side.Always the hero.
My mother kneels in front of me, grabbing my hands in hers. “He’s going to be okay. They said his survival rate is extremely high at thirty-two weeks, and he’s really healthy and already bigger than he should be. They’re going to stay by his side the whole time. You need to have faith, Silas. Both of his parents are the strongest people I know, which means he’s just as strong. He’s not going anywhere.”
I repeat the words in my head.He’s strong. He’ll survive. He’s not going anywhere.I feel my shoulders lose tension a bit, but not fully. I still don’t have news on Cecilia. I look up into my mother’s eyes, wishing they were Minnie’s.
