Page 82 of Finding Jacob
I felt two arms around my waist, and I was lifted off my feet just seconds from impact. I was thrown to one side, landing heavily on my hip. I must have closed my eyes for a split second but when I opened them again, I saw Jacob fly through the air, bounce off the roof of the car, and then roll on the ground.
I think I screamed. The noise surrounding me sounded like my voice, but I felt a million miles away.
Why was Jacob not moving?
Why couldn’t I move?
The car crashed into the corner of my office. Glass shattered, alarms sounded, and smoke started to pour from the engine.
Still I lay on the ground in utter agony.
“Jacob!” I screamed over and over.
I saw people run to him, to the car, and it was only then I realised it was Nathan who had pushed me out of the way. I wanted to get up but the pain that ripped through my stomach had me pinned to the ground.
“My baby,” I screamed, catching my words as my breath failed me.
The last thing I remember was seeing Nathan looming over me. He was ashen and his hands were covered in blood.
I woke with a blinding headache. I didn’t want to open my eyes, the light in the room hurt them. My mouth was dry, and my lips felt cracked. I needed water and as I tried to swallow, I felt a rawness in my throat. I groaned.
“Hey,” I heard. I knew it to be Dory, even though I couldn’t see her.
“Water,” I croaked.
Even though I kept my eyes closed, I felt her lift the back of the bed so I was sitting up. I could hear her call out that I was awake. I knew I wasn’t at home and the most awful feeling of loss flooded through me. I felt hollow and my instinct was the hold my stomach. A stomach much flatter than it had been.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
“It’s okay, she’s okay,” I heard.
I forced my eyelids open and blinked a few times while my vision came into focus.
“Paloma?” I asked.
“Is that her name?” Dory asked.
I turned to look at my friend as she sat beside me. She looked distraught and tear-stained. She wore the same clothes I remembered her meeting me for lunch in.
“Where is she?”
“The nursery. You had a C-section, Anna. She’s all good though. I’ve seen her,” she said, trying to smile.
“Jacob?”
“How about we get you comfortable?” she replied.
“What happened, Dory?”
“Wait here,” she said, as if she thought I could actually go anywhere.
I watched her rush to the door. She exited the room and ran past the window. I wasn’t sure which hospital I was in, but it didn’t look like an NHS one. I ached, particularly my hip. My neck hurt and it felt like I had whiplash.
Dory came back and was accompanied by Nathan and a doctor.
“Where’s Jacob, my baby?” I asked, starting to get panicked.
Nathan sat on the bed beside and took hold of my hand. My blood ran cold. “Where is he?” I asked quietly, my voice cracking on every word.
