I don’t know which was worse. Waiting for Will to find her. Or seeing her fragile little body in his arms.

For a minute, I thought I’d lost her forever. Only the fierce determination in his eyes told me different. The throbbing pain in my ankle was nothing compared to the anguish I felt, watching him walk away with her. But there was no one I trusted more. He would take care of her like she was his own. Injured, I could only have slowed them down…

“He’ll make sure she gets the best, you know,” Mattie said. “I can’t fucking believe I let her walk right by me…”

“It’s not your fault, Mattie,” I said, gripping her hand, meaning it. I thought back to Will and me in the night and struggled to push my own guilt away. “You know as well as I do, she never wakes up in the night… There was no reason to think…”

I watched Will climb into the helicopter, the blades as they started to pick up speed. I had to shield my eyes, but I wouldn’t close them. I had to watch as they lifted off. For a few seconds more, I thought I could see Will’s face.

“We need to get to the boat,” Mattie said. “Can you walk at all? It looks pretty swollen…” She felt my ankle gently with her fingers and my breath made a sharp, hissing sound.

She shot me a glance and bit into her lip, thinking. Then, in a gutsy move, she took off her shirt and began to bind my ankle. I dug my hands into the sand, making fists as she wrapped it tight, wincing as she pulled the knot as gently as she could.

“Come on,” she encouraged, holding her hands out for mine. I caught them and held on as my head started to spin. “Let’s see if we can get you standing… just lean on me… try not to put any weight on that side…”

I swung my head back as she pulled and caught one last look at the chopper. It was only a tiny dot in the sky now. A dot… that was holding everyone…

I…

loved…

And I felt a strange tingling sensation in my hands and feet… a sort of numbness that was stealing through my veins. It felt as if I couldn’t keep my head from rolling on my neck… and Mattie’s hands were on me and I thought I could see Will smiling…

Like a vision in a mist… he seemed to be holding my heart and flying away… so far away…

“I want to go…,” I heard my own voice, like it came from a long way off… “Take me, too…” I felt sand underneath me and the sun on my face… And then there was nothing…

A sweet and gentle darkness covered me like a warm blanket.

“Miss Hollister…?”

I rolled my head toward the sound and felt the bed spin underneath me. A wave of nausea washed over me, and I felt hands on my body. There was the gentle puffing sound of a blood pressure cuff and pressure on my arm… “Welcome back,” the voice said.

I opened my eyes and tried to focus. Stethoscope… white jacket…

“You’re in the ER,” a woman said. Salt and pepper hair… friendly eyes… “I’m Dr. Kendricks. Your friend, Miss Wilder, brought you in.” She smiled kindly. “You’ve got a few dozen cuts and bruises, and an ankle that needs x-rays and likely a cast.” I watched her nod at the nurse next to her. “How do you feel?”

“My daughter,” I croaked. “Violet Hollister…”

“We’re working on finding which hospital they went to,” she answered gently. “Your friend told me the details… All we know right now is that she wasn’t admitted here,” She pushed a button that lifted the head of the bed and offered me a spoonful of ice chips. I could feel the melting cold liquid sliding down my parched throat and glanced at the IV tube in my arm. The doctor smiled reassuringly.

“You’re going to be fine,” she said, patting my hand. “It’s just routine. A few tests and some fluids to get you hydrated, that’s all. We need to get your blood sugar up a bit.” She smiled and her face wrinkled softly. “I know you’re worried,” she said, kindly. “And I can’t tell you not to be. I’m a mother, too, it comes with the job. But you’ll be able to take better care of Violet if you relax and let us take care of you.” She picked up her clipboard and made a note.

“As soon as all the tests are back, someone will take you to radiology. And we’ll get you out of the ER and into a room of your own.” She leaned down and gave me a little wink. “Not exactly protocol… but I think you could use a little privacy right now.” I squeezed her hand in gratitude.

“Mattie?” I asked weakly.

“She’s just outside the door,” the doctor said. “I’ll send her in. She can stay with you as long as you want.” She gave me an understanding smile. “If anyone gives you any trouble about it, you send them to me.”