Page 50 of Keeping it Casual
I’ve never had an out-of-body experience before, but I’m close to it now. As I’m driving, I can almost feel part of me detaching and observing from afar.
The other part of my brain is stuck in an endless loop.
This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.
I moved to Mineral Creek to keep Lachie safe. And we’ve only been here a few months, and he’s now in the hospital?
I pull into the car park and get out of the car. A car pulls in right after me that I recognize.
It’s Jeremy.
When he climbs out of his car, his face is tight, and he rushes over to me, pulling me into a hug.
As soon as I feel his arms around me, I choke out a sob.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says.
I nod tightly. I don’t think I can speak properly right now.
I cling to Jeremy’s hand tightly as we rush across the parking lot toward the emergency department.
“My son, Lachie Knight, was being brought in byambulance.” I’ve barely said the words when the receptionist starts clicking away at her keyboard.
She looks up at me. “Your son was brought in with three other boys. They’re just being examined by the doctors now.”
“Can I see him? Where is he?”
Jeremy steps in front of me. “Can you let us through to the emergency department, Tara? Dustin really needs to see his son.”
Tara’s gaze flicks between us, and then she nods. She presses a button, and the doors to the emergency department swing open. I dash through the doors, Jeremy on my tail.
“Lachie,” I call desperately.
Jeremy grabs my arm and goes up to the first nurse he sees.
“Anna, we’re looking for some teenage boys who’ve just been brought here from Mineral Creek by ambulance?”
“They’re in cubicles four to seven,” she replies.
Jeremy knows exactly where he’s going as he navigates through the rabbit warren of the emergency department.Theharshfluorescent lighting bounces off the antiseptic-smelling walls, and I can hear the distant beeping of machines.
I cling to Jeremy’s hand. I’m probably crushing it, but he doesn’t complain. Thecoldsweatcoatingmypalmsmingleswithhiswarmth,calming me slightly. Jeremy’s hand is the only thing tethering me to reality right now.
A nurse appears from a cubicle labeled ‘4’ just as we reach it.
“Lachie Knight?” I manage to gasp.
“He’s in there.” She points to the next cubicle.
My heart thumps as we pull back the curtain.
There’s another nurse plus a doctor crammed into the small cubicle, but my gaze automatically goes to my son on the bed.
He’s pale, and he’s gritting his teeth, his face contorted inpain. But he’s conscious and breathing, which is all that matters.
The vice that’s encircling my chest eases its grip.
“Lachie!” I’m at his side in an instant.
