My Brother's Best Friend

If Only

[Nikki's POV]

It went from 0-100 in an instant. It felt halfway like I would die and halfway like I would faint. If you miss a step on the stairs and your stomach lurches, thats what it felt like but lasted much longer. Fighting for breath. I felt like the floor was unstable. I was trapped in my own head while floating somewhere outside, looking at myself wondering what was happening. A huge fist grabbed hold of my insides. My heart went into overdrive and I went through the motions in autopilot. Like when you're in a dream and you're screaming but you can't make any noise. My entire body was feeling everything and nothing all at once. And I just wanted to jump out of my skin and get away from that feeling but I couldn't. My breathing my jagged like the edge of a knife. And that's what it felt like was cutting through my heart.

---- 1 hour earlier----

      "Babe, I'm going to go get some Starbucks. Do you want something?" asked Dylan.

       "What kind of question is that? Of course I do honey, thank you." I replied questioningly.

       "Okay, great. Just the usual right? A venti iced coffe with 7 pumps of vanilla and half and half?"

       "Yes darling. Thanks!"

       "Okay. I'll be back in 20 minutes. I love you!"

       "Alright, see you then! I love you too."

Dylan shut the door behind him and I sat down on my couch. I turned on an episode of Bones when I realized I was starving, I hadn't eaten all morning. I walked to the kitchen and made myself a turket sandwhich with mayo and no cheese. I dumped some salt and vinegar chips onto my plate and ran back to the couch. I couldn't wait to have my Starbucks!

       I wondered where Dylan was 30 minutes later because he said he would be back in 20 minutes. No big deal, I thought to myself. He probably got stuck in traffic. Today is Sunday after all. My phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID and it was an unknown number. It took a second to decide whether or not to answer it.

       "Hello?" I asked the stranger on the other line.

       "Hi. Is this... Miss Posey? Nikki Posey?" The man on the other line asked.

       "Yes. Who is asking?"

       "This is David Jones with the police department. I am afraid there has been an accident invloving your boyfriend? Dylan O'Brien? Does that name ring a bell?"

I stared at the couch in awe. I was staring until I felt tears start to fall down my cheeks.

       "Y-yes. He is my boyfriend. Is he alright?"

       "I'm afraid not. He does have bruising all over his chest and a few broken ribs. His face is cut up from the glass and right now...he isn't breathing. The paramedics have him hooked up to a machine and are rushing him to the hospital right now. I have alerted his family as well and they told me to call you too."

At that moment, I couldn't hold in my sobs any longer. I started crying and the tears wouldn't stop falling.

       "What...what hospital?!" I half-sobbed, half-screamed.

       "St. John's hospital on 104th avenue and Dean drive. I am sorry for your pain."

       Tyler ran down the stairs after hearing me throw my phone at the wall and scream.

       "What's wrong?" He asked, unknowingly.

       "Dylan has been in a terrible accident and..."

       "And what? What happened? Is he ok?"

       "David Jones who just contacted me sa-said-...that as of right now...he isn't breathing and he is severely injured."