Page 140 of Nodus Tollens
“Mal?” A voice I dreaded to hear cried out, and suddenly, everything shifted to dread. No longer was this just a boyfriend and best friend in critical condition. Now, it was a son.
Mal released my hand, quickly shot out of the chair, and raced toward a helpless-looking Shelia. His large arms encased her tiny frame as she broke down in his arms. I turned away, hating every moment of this. Despising the sorrow and pain that shouldn’t be felt in the first place.
I tried blocking out the desperate sobs as she cried her heart out. It was a sound I would never forget.
“Wren?” Another voice I recognized spoke from above me, but this time, I couldn’t turn away.
I peered up at Greg, who had the saddest eyes I’d ever seen. Red-rimmed and so out of focus, he could barely hold himself up as he stood on shaky feet. Immediately, I stood up to help him, and that’s when he pulled me into a hug. My eyes closed tightly as I held onto him. Though I didn’t know him that well, I felt as though I’d known both his parents for a lifetime. It didn’t feel uncomfortable or unnatural to comfort his dad. Instead, it felt right.
It felt like two people who loved Hayes bringing solace to one another.
“I’m so sorry. I… I didn’t know he was coming back to Sutton…I didn’t think…” I started to hyperventilate. I felt responsible for them being put in this situation. If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t be fighting for his life.
“Shh…. It’s not your fault.” He rubbed my head like my father would have done.
“But it is. He wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.” I cried out. Again, my breathing started to deteriorate. My chest couldn’t handle the pressure, and my heart went into a panic. Pound after painful pound, everything began to hurt.
“Wren!” Mal shouted as Greg released me. With firm hands, I was grabbed and taken into a tight embrace that smelled of wood and spice. “Breathe…. I need you to take deep breaths for me.”
Pain radiated throughout me like a tidal wave. With every crash, it worsened, but the suffocating arms I had around me kept me afloat.
“Listen to my voice, Doe. You got this. Just breathe.”
I tried.
Come on, Blue. Breathe, baby.
In and out, my breathing continued to peak. It went and went until finally, it couldn’t go any further, and it steadied out with a long, extensive breath. Relief, like no other, filled me as my heart also slowed to a non-life-threatening pace.
“There you go. Breathe.” He mumbled with his chin resting on the top of my head. Then, for a few moments, we just stood there. Sounds were silenced by his broad chest while all my eyes saw was black.
“Mal… the nurse, where is she?” I croaked as I pulled my face away and peered around his large frame. But what I saw was something I wasn’t prepared to see.
My whole body went deathly still as my eyes took in the scene before me. The nurse, who had been walking toward us, was now standing in front of Greg and Shelia, but there was also what appeared to be a doctor standing with them.
My eyes went directly to the doctor’s face as I tried dissecting his reactions and emotions. Mouth closed, he rested a palm on Greg’s shoulder, and that’s when I knew. I knew sad faces. I knew mournful looks, and when the doctor finally opened his mouth and spoke, Shelia collapsed. Her legs gave out as her body slumped to the ground in a heap of sobs.
“Oh god…. No…. noo…Greg, he can’t be…” Mal spun around with his arm still hovering just behind me. “He can’t be gone.” She cried out as my whole body went numb.
“Mom.” Mal rushed over to Shelia and dropped to his knees beside her. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?”
She clung to his shirt. Desperately trying to claw her way into his chest as she rocked back and forth. “Hayes… my boy… my sweet boy is gone.”
I couldn’t watch it.
I didn’t believe it.
So, I ran.
I ran up to the front desk and started to shout with fury in my veins.
“Where is he? Where is Hayes? I need him… I need to see him now.” I demanded as I felt all eyes land on me. Pacing back and forth, I waited about two seconds before shouting once again. “Someone needs to bring me to him now before I fucking lose it in here!”
“Ma’am, you need to calm down. I know you’re…”
“You know I’m what? Pissed off? Desperate to get to the love of my life, who is back there all alone? I’m all those things right now.” I seethed at the lady, who dropped her head with a sigh.
Why wasn’t anyone listening to me? Why couldn’t anyone take me to see him?
