Page 6 of Gin & Jewels
Four Years Ago – Seventeen Years Old
My world cameto a screeching halt when I was fifteen. In an instant, both of my parents were dead. The last night that I saw them, they were leaving the house for dinner. On their way home, my father had a heart attack while driving and crashed head-on into the center divider on the freeway.
They died on the way to the hospital ...
Keith sped through the streets toward the hospital where the cops had told us to go.
“What do you think happened?” I asked.
Keith shrugged. “Probably nothing serious. Just a few broken bones or something.”
My gut was telling me differently, and I was sick to my stomach as we got closer to the hospital. After Keith parked, we raced into the emergency department, looking around for our parents. I didn’t see them, and Keith stepped up to the desk.
“Our parents were in a car accident and brought in by ambulances,” he stated.
“The last name?” the lady asked as though a ton of people had been brought into the ER after car accidents.
“Davidson,” Keith replied.
She typed some things on the computer and then said, “Have a seat. A doctor will be out shortly.”
I couldn’t sit. Instead, I paced back and forth from one end of the waiting room to the other. I wasn’t sure how long I did that, but finally, a doctor came out and called us.
“Davidson?”
Keith jumped up from his seat as I rushed toward the doctor. “Yes?” we both said at the same time.
“Follow me, please.”
I swallowed and looked at Keith. Was he taking us to see our parents? I didn’t have much experience at hospitals, but from what I’d seen on TV, they usually gave an update in the waiting room.
We quickly followed the doctor into a small room that looked like a mini living room. He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. With a look of sorrow on his face, he said, “As you know, your parents were in a car accident tonight.” Keith and I nodded. “I’m sorry, but they didn’t make it. They died on the way here.”
I blinked.
I blinked again.
“They died on the way here?” I repeated as a whisper, not believing my ears.
The doctor nodded. “Yes, the paramedics tried everything but they weren’t able to save them.”
“Are you sure?” Keith asked.
“Yes.” The doctor bobbed his head again. “Once the autopsy is done, we’ll know for sure the cause of deaths, but I’d say they both died from internal bleeding.”
I couldn’t speak; the news wasn’t sinking in. A few hours ago life was perfect, but then all of a sudden they were gone. It didn’t make sense.
“Can we see them?” Keith asked.
“Yes. You’ll be able to say goodbye shortly.”
That wasn’t true. Saying goodbye would involve having a conversation with them, one where I would get to hug my mother and hear my father’s voice. Not have a one-sided conversation and then leave, knowing I’d never get to see them again. Never eat my mother’s peanut butter cookies again. Never ask my dad for help with a math problem again.
Never get to tell them that I loved them again and they be able to hear me.
My legs buckled and I crumbled to the thinly carpeted floor as sobs shook my chest. I couldn’t breathe. Keith wrapped me in his arms and held me, whispering that it was okay.
It wasn’t okay.
