Chapter 16
“Hi, sweetie. How are you feeling?” Dad kissed my forehead.
I heard my mom and Dawn sniffling. I looked past my dad to try to see them. Mom looked up and wiped away her tears as she approached my bedside, near my father. Dawn stayed where she was behind them, softly crying.
I glanced up at them and smiled slightly. My throat hurt and I was weak. I could barely whisper. “What happened?”
“You were in a car accident with Javier.” Dad said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
Tears ran down my face. I can’t remember. Why can’t I remember?
Dad took my hand. “Honey, he didn’t make it.”
I couldn’t breathe. When I hyperventilated, my mother yelled for a nurse.
“What? No! He’s not dead. He can’t be dead, you’re lying. He isn’t gone. Dawn, tell me it isn’t true. Tell me Javier is going to be all right.”
My sister kept sobbing. I couldn’t see her face since she stood behind my parents.
“Everyone out.” A nurse burst into the room. “Honey, slow down. Slow your breathing down.”
“No! He’s not dead. I love him! No!”
One nurse held me by the shoulders and another came in to help. She picked up the phone and called the doctor. I couldn’t stop yelling. “He’s not dead. He can’t be gone! He’s not dead. He wouldn’t leave me.” Within moments, they put something in my IV and the room went black.
~ ~ ~
The sound of a faint beep permeated the hospital room. Repeatedly, beep, beep, beep. I wished it’d just stop.
I stretched my hand to the side, trying to reach for Javier’s. I felt a squeeze but it wasn’t his. My eyes opened and I saw my mother.
Her face was all blotchy and her eyes all puffy. She tried to smile but her distress scared me. I turned my head. Excruciating pain shot up my neck and behind my eyes. I flinched, but not before I saw my dad standing, looking out the window. Dawn sat in a chair nearby, curled up in a ball. She buried her face into her knees and wrapped her arms around her head.
The door opened and my attention shifted. A doctor walked in with a nurse right behind him.
“How are you doing, Kayla?” the doctor asked.
I remember what my dad told me and tears begin to stream down my face.
“Here.” The doctor handed me a control with a button on it. “Press the button when you have pain and the pump will give you pain meds if enough time has elapsed.”
A deep sob left my chest. I could care less if my body is broken. I just want Javier!
My mother stood up and moved to the side to allow the doctor closer access to me. My father walked up beside her.
“Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, I presume?”
“Yes.” My dad sounded harsher than what was necessary.
“I’m Dr. Reyes.” He extended a hand to both of them. “Your daughter is very lucky. She’s lost a lot of blood during surgery. She had a fracture of her spleen, which required emergency removal in order to save her life and subsequent blood transfusions. She has two lumber fractures with no spinal cord involvement. She’ll be on bed-rest for some time and will require physical therapy to properly recover. The therapy will help her regain strength and overall function in terms of walking, posture, and strength. This can be a lengthy process so be prepared for a stay in a rehab center and then outpatient sessions until the vertebrae are completely healed including the surrounding muscles. She has a large contusion on her head, but her CT scan is negative for bleeding.” Dr. Reyes paused for a moment. “Are there any questions that I can answer for you?”
My mom stood looking at the floor quietly weeping. Dr. Reyes put his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to console her.
As Dr. Reyes spoke my mind drifted to time spent with Javier. The first time I saw him pumping gas into his Camaro, and how excited I was when he asked me to his cousin’s wedding. The night we spent together in the guesthouse when I knew he was the love of my life.
Giving myself to him was the most amazing feeling. I wanted to marry him, have children with him, be his forever. How could it all end when we were only just beginning? There’d never be another person I’d love like I loved him. Never. I felt so alone, so empty knowing I wouldn’t hear his voice again or feel his hand in mine. There’d never be another kiss on my head telling me everything would be okay when I felt upset or sad. Why couldn’t I have died with him? I didn’t want to be here alone. I didn’t want to walk this life without him with me.
“It’s probably a good idea to let her have some rest. She’s being closely monitored to ensure she remains stable.”
Mom nodded in agreement but didn’t look up. Dr. Reyes quietly turned. He and the nurse left the room.
“Mom?” I asked in barely a whisper. “Please tell me it isn’t true.” The tears came faster and it felt like my heart physically hurt. “Please! Please tell me Javier is all right.”
Mom couldn’t look at me. She shook her head and I heard Dawn begin to cry as well. My dad returned to the window, saying nothing.
“No! No! No!” I started screaming again. Mom wrapped her arms around me in an attempt to console me. “No. I can’t live without him. No!”