A Neighbouring Romance

4 - panic

New, Edited Chapter, Oct '22

No. No. No. No.

I don't have time to process the fact that my mom is limp on the floor of her bedroom, blood on her forehead and unconscious. I need to call someone but I'm trembling pathetically, unable to move. My breathing is frenetic and tears fill my eyes as I try not to panic, only one thing comes to mind, and it makes the most sense as of right now.

I'm frantic as I push my arms through an old cardigan and jam the key into the lock, running out of my front door. If I had my car, we could drive to the hospital straight away, but we sold it for money and now I don't know what to do. I'm so close to sobbing but I hold it together. My mom has no siblings in state and dad's brother, uncle Cal, is out of town. I wish dad was here but he won't answer his phone and I know how important work is for him.

I need to get Amanda, she'll know what to do, she has a car and medical experience.

I don't even bother sprinting across my lawn to run around, instead climbing over the short picket fence and running to their door. Slamming my hand hard against the wood, I try to calm myself. I can't panic now, I need to be alert, I need to be an adult.

After a minute of pounding the door, it opens suddenly and I'm met with Noah, rubbing his eyes and ruffling his hair.

He doesn't even say anything as he stares at me in shock for a second, I'm stood on his porch, panting and worried. He looks angry at the sight of me but I can't care about his expression until my mom is okay.

"I- I need help. Mom-" I choke out and my hands are trembling. Noah looks as though he's about to reach for me, but I can't tell in my frenzy.

"Hope, darling!" Amanda shouts, running out onto the porch and clutching me before I fall. Her face is embedded with concern as she asks me what's wrong.

"Please, Amanda- m-my mom, she collapsed and-" My tears are flowing now and I'm barely breathing.

Stop it Hope! You need to calm down.

My mom's best friend runs with me into my house as I'm trying to explain what happened while holding back fresh tears. I hear Noah's steps behind me.

"She just fell and I think she hit her head on the dresser, she's bleeding and I don't know what to do, I don't have my car and we need to get her to the hospital-" I choke out a sob looking down at my mom. "I need her to be okay. Please."

Amanda rests a hand on my arm and I try to slow my breathing.

"Noah." She calls to her son and he runs up and lifts up my mom carefully into his arms, down the stairs and outside to Amanda's large, bright red SUV.

She looks so fragile in his arms and I follow him close by as I watch her face, waiting for some kind of consciousness. Surely she should've been awake by now.

Amanda is calm and collected, rubbing my arm as I cry uncomfortably. I'm trying so hard to relax myself but every time I glance at my mom's face I find my mind panicking again, my heart stops and all I can feel is anguish rip through me. This is my fault, I shouldn't have slept, I was supposed to sit with her and talk about anything and everything we could think of.

Noah places my mom on the back seat and I try to get in the car with her but Amanda stops me by resting a hand on my shoulder.

"I've got it from here, darling. You go get some rest."

The way she says it makes my stomach lurch with sudden illness and I clutch at it for a moment, scared I might actually throw up. She's using that voice that adults use for younger children, but I know that it means that she's worried as well.