Crainslug

A Life Worth Saving

- Jelly -

I watch as Crainer collapses to the ground. A sheen of sweat layering over his skin. His emerald eyes holding pain inside, suffocating him. Crushing him. A dingle of a bell sounding over and over, and over. Death knocks and I can't seem to move my legs, let alone pry my eyes away. It's not just hurting him, but us as well. Josh and I. We watch as he grabs his chest. As he convulses with shocks of pain, shooting up through his spine. There's nothing we can do. Nothing we can say to make the situation better.

A buzz of a phone, voices frantic and quivering. An image of red and white. Soon, the faint sound of alarms grow with each second. Josh looks at me and I turn to him. Both of our faces showing nothing but wide open mouths and shocked eyes.

"Jelly." Josh peeps through chapped lips.

"Yes."

"What's happening?"

"I don't know." Before, we all were happy. We all were smiling. There was nothing but joy and now there's...

The ambulance comes and picks up Crainer. Josh and I taking his car, following behind. The car ride is heavy with sorrow. Josh tightening his grip on the steering wheel as his eyes glaze over. Just by his ragged breaths I can tell he's silently crying. I turn and watch as the trees and buildings pass by. My mind filled with thoughts of "would if's." A lump feeling in my throat growing as I play through scenarios. This is not how I imagined life for us.

"W-would if he doesn't m-make it?" I hear, swallowing the clog in the process.

"He's Crainer. He'll bounce back." I reply, placing my hand on his thigh in comfort.

"I hope you're right."

The car ride seems to take long, even though it took about ten minutes. When we get there, Josh parks and we get out. Our movement almost feeling like slow motion. Every step, every breath. A numbness clouding my head as I walk with Josh. I look to him as he does as well. Wanting to tell him how frightened I actually am.

"I...I'm nervous Josh. Scared, worried."

"Me too." He says, now fixating his attention on the asphalt. Josh shifts and fiddles with his necklace. His mind else where, but his body present. He tightens his lips and his eyes hold brokenness.

"What's wrong?" I ask. He bursts into tears as he puts a hand over his mouth. A muffled cry and a sniffle. Josh's body shakes and I open my arms for an embrace. He leans in and I hold his trembling form securely. It takes a while and I honestly don't care. I'd stay out here with Josh until he felt completely capable of moving. Though once he regained his regular breathing he pulled back.

"There's something I have to tell you."

"What is it? What's wrong?" Josh hesitates and takes a deep breath in before continuing.

"I'm in love with Crainer."

"You do? That's great. You have to tell him." I exclaim happily.

"It's not that simple, Jelly." He's right. It's not so easy. Crainer's in the hospital. He might not even be conscious.

"How about we go in. Then we can talk over this inside." Josh nods and we both head inside. Both of us saying our names to be called when Crainer is stable enough for visitors. Then we make our way to those uncomfortable hospital chairs. Josh leaning with his arms propped on his knees as I slouch back.