Samantha was gone. She hadn't been breathing when the paramedics got her out. They'd been doing chest compressions when they were wheeling me to my ambulance. I heard someone call "Clear!" They were trying to restart Samantha's heart.
They got me to the hospital and treated me for broken ribs, four of them. I also had a concussion. I was admitted and as soon as I got to my room, I called Jenna.
"Hey Tyler! It's late. How was the game?"
I broke down, crying.
"Tyler? What's wrong?!"
"She's gone," I said.
"Who's gone? What do you mean?"
"Samantha," I cried. "Samantha's gone. Jenna I'm so sorry!"
"Tyler, what do you mean Samantha's gone? Tyler! Tell me! Tyler!"
I was sobbing. Someone came into the room.
"Mr. Joseph, let me," she said and took the phone from me.
"Who is this?" She asked. I assume Jenna told her who she is.
"Yes, okay. Your husband was involved in an automobile accident this evening. He's got four broken ribs and a concussion. He's been admitted to the South Cleveland Clinic hospital."
She was quiet while I heard Jenna's frantic voice.
"Oh. I don't know," the nurse said. "No one said anything to me. I don't know. I can see if I can find out. Yes. Okay. Please have someone drive you. Okay. Okay. We'll see you soon."
"Mr. Joseph, Tyler, was your daughter with you in the car?" She asked me. I nodded, crying.
"What's her name?"
"Samantha," I sobbed. "She was 16."
"Was?" She asked.
"She died in the accident. They were doing chest compressions and using the AED."
"Okay, okay," she said, her hand in my shoulder. "I'm going to get you something to help you sleep. Your wife is on her way."
"She's going to hate me. Rosie is going to hate me. Everyone is going to hate me!" I wailed.
"Shh. Tyler, it was an accident. No one is going to hate you. Who's Rosie?"
"Our younger daughter. Samantha's sister. Ohhh and the new baby. Samantha will never get to meet her new sibling. And they're going to hate me for that."
"No one is going to hate you, Tyler."
I couldn't believe her. Everyone is going to hate me. I lost our daughter. I hate me.
The nurse left and came back a few minutes later. My right hand and arm got warm and the world slipped away.
YOU ARE READING
Finally Home
FanfictionSamantha Joseph has had a rough life and a slightly less rough, but more turbulent, past couple of years. Her life really began when she ran away from her father, to escape yet another beating, and wound up in the back yard of none other than Tyler...
