by t. h. snyder
“Chloe hey, sorry about the text I just don’t know what to do right now.”
I start crying hearing his voice.
“I’m trying to get home as soon as I can. My flight doesn’t leave for another half hour. Please tell me she’ll be okay till then?”
“I don’t know what is going to happen Chloe. The truck hit her side of the car and broke just about every bone on the right side of her body. She has a head injury that they are monitoring closely hoping that blood doesn’t sit on her brain.”
“Oh god Derrick, why Char?”
By now I’m sobbing so hard people are starting to stare at me from the gate. I wipe my tears with the sleeve of my sweatshirt and try to focus on the conversation.
“Chloe don’t. Just get here and be with her. I can’t talk now, but I’ll call if anything changes.”
“Okay Thanks Derrick.”
And the line goes dead. He doesn’t say bye or get here safe or anything.
Char is just as much a sister to him and she is mine. I know that this is killing him.
I go back over to the chair I was sitting in before and attempt to wipe my face with the tissues I brought with me. I only have a few more minutes till we will start to board so I finish up my coffee. I lean back in the rock hard airport chair and think how my life has gotten to this point and how I pushed everyone away including him.
Someone once told me everyone has a special someone they are meant to be with forever. A man who will be my world, my partner in life, and the one person I can grow old with and always be at my side.
Maybe I never found that right person to begin with.
No! That can’t be right. I had my person and I was too wrapped up in my own little bubble to realize what was right in front of me.
He was the one.
He was my forever.
I screwed it up over my own damn selfish needs.
I thought I had chosen the path in life that was best for me, but I seem to have lost my soul mate along the way.
Waiting to board a plane back to Boston, I sit here wondering if I made the right choices in life. Did I follow the path that would take me in the right direction? Could I have done something different that would change the outcomes I am faced with right now?
I haven’t seen or spoken to him in four months. Four long, torturous months dealing with what I did to us and our happily ever after. I know I’ll run into him soon, but when I do I’m not sure how he’ll react. He can accept me in an embrace or turn the corner and run the other way.
What did I do?
The choices I made changed my life in only a short period of time and I fear I may have lost him forever.
At one time he was all I ever knew. The two of us were so in sync with the other no force field could tear us apart. I can hear him whisper in my ear. “Chloe you and I will stand the test of time because I was touched by you and only you.”
I, Chloe Taylor, am faced with a decision I may not like myself for in the next few hours. Only time will tell what is meant to be and for now I have a much bigger weight on my plate than that of my love life.
After getting off the Skype call with Chloe, Emma and I make our way over to the hospital. The ER is packed, most likely because it’s a Saturday, but thankfully we’re able to spot Bryce and Teresa right away.
Taking Emma’s hand we run over to them and Bryce releases Teresa from his grasp as she clings onto both Emma and I. Bryce tries to explain to us the little detail they know while Teresa cries into Emma’s shoulder. There isn’t much news on either Riley or Charlie other than she was rushed straight into the O.R. for immediate surgery. My heart falls to the floor and I feel the need to sit down.
Of all days, the day Riley was meant to propose to Charlie. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life and they never made it to that point. I feel tears begin to cloud my vision and an ache starts to rip through my heart. I’ve known Charlie as my little sister for too long. She has to be okay. She needs to pull through and marry that dumbass Riley.
The four of us take a seat until we hear word from a doctor.
About an hour later we still have not heard the condition of either family member and we’re all beginning to worry more and more. My parents show up and I’m grateful for their support. It means a lot for them to be here with a huge part of my family, regardless if Chloe and I are together or not.
Another hour goes by and the six of us are on pins and needles waiting to hear from a nurse or a doctor.
Emma decides to take a walk since the waiting is getting to her. My mom offers to go with her and get some coffee from the cafeteria. Trying to pry Teresa from her seat is a feat, but eventually the girls get her to go along.
We sit in silence for a few minutes. Now that they are gone I feel it’s a good time to ask Bryce if he knows actually what happened.
“What details did the police give you about the accident?” I ask moving over to the seat next to him and my dad.
“They didn’t give us much when they called and no one has talked to us since we got here. It seems that they were at a four way stop and when Riley pulled out to go a truck plowed through the sign without stopping. The other driver was going about 40-45 mph and hit Char’s side of the car. That’s all we know.”
“This is fucking ridiculous. Someone has to tell us more. They could both be dead right now for all we know.” I say punching the chair next to me.
“Derrick Mason Peters, don’t talk like that!” My mom shouts.
“Damn it mom, someone has to know something. This isn’t right. What if one of them needs us? We can’t help them from out here.”
I’m trying to remain calm, but two of my best friends are hurt and there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Here take this and let’s go walk outside.” Emma says.
I know she is just as upset as I am, my god it’s her brother in there. To keep the peace I take the cup of coffee from her and follow her outside.
Emma is texting like crazy on her phone and I have no clue who the hell she could be talking to. I’m certain it’s not her husband Keith and the rest of us are here. Hmm that’s a conversation for a later time I guess.
We sit out on the curb for what feels like forever and eventually Bryce comes out to get us.
“We just spoke to the doctor that saw Riley and Char when the ambulance brought them into the ER.”
“Thank fuck, it’s about time. What did they say?”
Tears start to glaze his eyes and a lump grows in my throat.
“Well the good news is that Riley is okay. He has a broken humerus, collar bone and a few cuts from the windshield breaking, but we can go see him in a few minutes.”
Emma lets out a sigh and I know a huge weight has been lifted from her chest, but Charlie …what about Charlie?
“Okay so if that’s the good news, what did they say about Charlie?” I ask.
Bryce’s face is now wet with tears and I can only hope for the best.
“She’s still in surgery. She has broken majority of her bones on the right side and has a severe head injury. Even after surgery it will be difficult to know what will happen for a few days. She needs to wake up and come back to us. Then we can help her heal with the rest of her injuries.”
Seeing this grown man cry and hear Emma crying behind me make the dam burst. The tears fall fast down my face and in my emotion state I grab onto Bryce and Emma.
Charlie isn’t just Chloe’s sister. This family isn’t just Chloe’s, they are mine too. I can’t lose Charlie. She’s my best friend. She has helped me get through some of the hardest times of my life. I can’t live without my Charlie…I have to be here for her just as she has always been here for me.
The three of us pull away from our group hug and make our way back into the ER. We’ll be able to go up to Riley’s room now so I say a silent prayer following the nurse and my family up to see the only brother I have ever really known.
After a long ass flight I’
m finally going to be setting foot into my home town of Boston, Massachusetts. Once I got on the plane the flight wasn’t so bad. My head was feeling a bit better, but I knew I needed to catch up on some sleep. I remove my sweatshirt from my bag and place it against the window. Since I’ll be here for awhile I figure I might as well take a nap. I know my mind will be racing as soon as I land, so the more sleep I can get now the better.
I’m jolted awake when the plane lands on the runway. Rubbing my sleepy eyes I try to focus on my watch to see the time. It’s already eight o’clock here on the east coast and the sky is getting darker as the sun sets. I always loved to watch the sun setting at Pier Park and on the boat with Derrick. The memories of our times together make me happy, but with everything going on I wish I had a reason to smile right about now.
The thought of what I’m about to walk into scares me. As much as I wish it were me in that hospital, it really is Char. I can’t imagine my life without my baby sister in it and I’m so scared to find out what’s going on once I get there. Now that the plane is taxing the run way I turn my phone back on to see if I have any missed calls or text messages.
My palms begin to sweat and my heart starts to become more rapid. Finally a text alert pops on the screen from a number I don’t recognize.
326-555-1212 – Pete, Chris and Tony will pick you up at the airport on their way to the hospital
Okay then, so the Taylor & Sons Contracting crew is coming to get me, better than hailing a cab…I guess. I have known Pete, Chris and Tony pretty much most of my teenage to adult life. Not like they are much older than me and Char, but when they started working for daddy they instantly became an extended part of our family. They are great guys and always had our backs if we needed them. I know Char said that Derrick had been hanging out with Riley and Pete a lot over the past few months so I hope him coming to get me isn’t going to be awkward. He really is a nice guy, not quite sure why he’s still single ….hmm that is an interesting thought though. Chris and Tony have both been married for years and have a few kids each so I ‘m sure they haven’t been hitting up the pubs with the guys lately.
Oh well, I’m not here to see them. I need to see my sister and if they’re my ride to where she is, then I’ll suck it up with a smile on my face. I put my iPhone back into my purse and pull my sweatshirt over my head. The line down the main aisle of the plane slowly starts to move. I kindly wait my turn and when the guy next to me exits our row I make my move. I walk out of the plane into the tunnel and try not to breath in the stale air of the airport.
When I exit the tunnel I see all three men standing there waiting. Tony has his hands tucked into his washed out jeans with a white tee-shirt and backwards baseball cap. Chris is wearing darker jeans with a navy blue Red Sox tee arms crossed and a pout on his face. Then there’s Pete, he eyes me immediately and starts walking my way. He too is wearing a pair of faded jeans with a black tee-shirt.
I approach my entourage and give them all a big hug without saying a word. Looking into their eyes I can see the sadness knowing that a member of the Taylor family is hurt.
The guys walk us to Pete’s truck and they insist I sit up front. Chris takes my suitcase and throws it in the back while Tony opens the passenger side door for me. I appreciate the chivalry of the guys, but it makes me even more nervous that they are treating me like glass. The ride to the hospital we’re all silent. In fact I don’t think any of us have said a word since I arrived.
My chest begins to tighten, more so than it has, and I feel the need to take a deep breath. Pete must sense my sudden unease and he looks in my direction grabbing for my hand. He rubs his thumb back in forth along my palm and quietly reassures me that everything will be okay.
I look over in his direction and a small smile appears on his face. As much as I want his gesture to make me feel better and believe Char will be okay, I need to be by her side to know for sure. Thanking Pete with a nod of my head I reposition myself, take my hand back and lean into the soft leather seat of his truck.
We pull into Massachusetts General Hospital and my heart plummets to my feet. My entire body feels numb and the anxiety of what awaits us inside scares me.
Pete turns off the truck and turns to face me.
“Chloe, are you okay to get out and walk to the door? You look like you’re about to pass out.” He asks.
My body is shaking in fear. His warm hand touches my shoulder and a chill runs through me.
“We’ll walk right in with you sugar.” Tony says.
“Yeah, I’ll even hold your hand if it will make you feel better.” Chris tells me.
I turn and look at the three men standing outside the door and small sense of relief fills me. Although they are not immediate family, they’re all still here to show support in our time of need. I grab for Chris’s hand and he helps me out of the truck. I reach for my purse and hop down onto the black macadam. Pete comes around to my other side and grabs my left hand. Walking to the door of MGH I have these three strong men standing by my side. I just wish their strength was enough to erase this day from ever happening. .
As soon as Riley was taken to a room the six of us started our journey up to the fourth floor of Massachusetts General Hospital. The nurses suggested that only two of us should go in at a time and that we needed to keep him calm and relaxed so that he can rest.
Emma and Teresa were the first two to go in to see him and assured me they wouldn’t stay more than a half an hour. I wanted to be there for him, but having his sister and soon to be mother-in-law by his side seemed like a better choice. I walked over to the window in the waiting area and realized that half of the day had already passed. Looking at my watch I couldn’t believe it was four o’clock in the afternoon. We had been sitting around in the ER most of the day. Now we continue to wait to see Riley, two at a time, and hear word from the doctors once Charlie is out of surgery.
I feel a warm hand touch my shoulder and turn to see it’s my mom.
“Honey, dad and I are going to go grab something to eat. Would you like to come with us? Bryce said he’ll call as soon as he hears anything about Char.”
Her voice is so soft, so sweet and so caring. I’m so grateful to have both of my parents in my life. There isn’t two other people in the whole world who could have taught me more about support and love than my parents.
“Nah, I’m good mom. I want to be here when Charlie gets out of surgery.” I tell her.
“Derrick, don’t be surprised if they don’t let you in to see her. I know you’re close, but you’re not her immediate family.” She says rubbing her hand up and down my back for support.
“There’s no need to worry about that.” Bryce says walking over toward the window. “All three of you are considered to be Char’s immediately family and I’ll make certain each of you are able to go in and see her. She needs to hear all of us telling her to get her ass up.”
“Thanks Bryce that means a lot…to all of us.”
“Oh that is a relief, thank you Bryce. Okay Derrick, dad and I are going to leave for a bit and will be back later tonight. Do you want us to bring anything back for you guys?”
“No thanks mom. I’ll call you if we hear anything.”
I give both my parents a hug and kiss goodbye and then retreat back to the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room.
Thirty minutes later Emma and Teresa walk out of the doors, both of their faces stained with tears. Bryce and I stand and walk toward them.
“How is he?” I ask.
“He looks like shit, but says he’s just in a bit of pain.” Emma says.
“He’s really beating himself up over this Derrick. You need to go in there and tell him this isn’t his fault. He was knocked out with the impact and feels he should have been able to protect Char.”
Tears pour from Teresa’s eyes and Bryce pulls her into a quick embrace.
Emma pulls me to the side. “Derrick I know you and Riley are close, but I do know him a bit better. Teresa wasn’t
joking when she said he was taking this hard. Char is his whole world. I’ve never seen him care about anyone as much as he does with her. We need to keep him focused on getting himself better and not about her. I know it’s a lot to ask but can you do that for him? Help him not think about her?”
“Emma do you realize what you’re asking me to do? Those two have been attached by the hip since the moment they met. They have a magnetic pull and without the other they are a fucking mess. How do you suppose I help him not think about her?”
“I don’t know Derrick, but I do know my brother. If he has his way he’ll unhook every cord attached to him and march his way up to the ICU.”
“I can’t promise you anything Emma, but I’ll stay by his side. Are you going to come back in with me?”
“No, I’m going to run home. I need to shower and change. Do you want me to bring you anything back?”
“Nah, I’m good thanks Emma. My parents just left to go get something to eat. I’ll see you guys when you get back.”
Emma walks over to the chairs and picks up her things. Before she leaves she gives a hug to both Bryce and Teresa. As she walks past me she pats me on the shoulder and mouths, thank you.
I look over to Bryce and Teresa who are sitting on a loveseat. Bryce has his head in his hands and Teresa is sitting back against the cushions with her eyes closed. I want to go in to see Riley, but I also want to be out here when the doctors come out to talk to them.
Teresa opens her eyes and sees me pacing.
“Derrick, why don’t you go on in?” She asks.
“I want to be here when they come to talk to you. I don’t want to miss seeing her.”
“Honey, I promise I’ll come in and get you as soon as they come out. You have to know that she won’t be awake right away anyhow. Go in and talk to Riley, he needs you right now.”
With that, I nod my head and make my way over to the two large doors. I push the button for them to open and I walk around the hallway till I find room 1030.