The Love That Wasn't Enough | PEDRI

21

My heart was racing as we ran into the hospital. Victoria received a call from her mom telling her we needed to go to the hospital immediately. As we approached Nailea's room, I saw her mom and dad standing outside, looking worried and anxious.

As we walk closer I notice Nailea's mom crying and pleading with the nurse to let her in.

"Please, let me in! What's happening to my daughter?" Her mom asks sobbing as she looks inside Nailea's room.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can't let you in right now. We're doing everything we can to help her." The nurse said looking at all of us.

"Mom, what's going on? Why are there so many doctors inside Nailea's room?" Victoria asks. "I need to be with her! Please!". Nailea's mom yells, completely ignoring Victoria.

Nailea's dad stood there, frozen and helpless, looking into her room. Sophia didn't say a word, she kept her eyes glued inside Nailea's room.

"I understand how you feel but." The nurse starts before we hear the sound of a loud machine through Nailea's room.

She's getting resuscitated.

"What's happening? Is she going to be okay?" Nailea's mom asked as she got closer to the door watching her daughter get resuscitated again.

"Omg." Victoria said, her voice shaking as she backs away from us and sitting by a nearby bench. Her eyes are all watery. I turn too look at Sophia who is now looking at me. She looks terrified and broken.

As soon as Sophia saw Victoria, sitting alone on the bench, tears streaming down her face, she rushed over to her. Pulling her into a tight hug.

"It's going to be okay" Sophia said, looking at Victoria. "She's going to be fine."

Victoria shook her head. "No, it's okay."

They sat in silence, Sophia's arm around Victoria's shoulders. I could see that Sophia was trying to think of something to say, something that would make Victoria feel better, but her own fears and anxieties were getting in the way.

I turn my attention back to Nailea's parents. I stood there, watching them as they looked into their her hospital room. It was a heartbreaking sight. I didn't know what to do or say, so I just stood there, silently.

Nailea's mom was begging the nurse to let her into the room, but the nurse was firm. "I'm sorry, ma'am," she said. "But we can't allow it right now. The doctors are still working on her."

Nailea's dad was standing next to her, his eyes never leaving the view of Nailea's room. I could see the pain etched on his face, and it made my heart ache.

Suddenly, her dad wiped his tears and walked away. Nailea's mom looked at him as he walked down the hallway, and she started crying.

I didn't know what to say, so I just stood there, watching as Nailea's dad disappeared around the corner. I knew that this was a difficult time for them, and I wanted to be there for them in any way I could.

I walked over to her, not sure what to say. "Mrs. Ortega," I said, my voice shaking.

"Oh, Pedri," She said, looking at me, her eyes filling with tears. "I just want to be with my daughter. I want to make sure she's okay."

"I'm so scared. I don't know what to do." She said, pulling me into a tight hug.

I hugged her back, feeling her sobs wrack her body. I knew that I had to be strong for her, even though I was scared too.

"It's going to be okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Nai is strong. She's going to make it through this."

But as I said the words, I realized that I didn't know if they were true. I didn't know if Nailea was going to make it. I felt a lump form in my throat, and I tried to hold back the tears.

But she pulled back from the hug, looking at me with red-rimmed eyes. "Pedri," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm so grateful that you're here. You're like a son to me."

I felt a fresh wave of tears come over me, and I buried my face into her shoulder. I didn't know what to say, but I knew that I wanted to be there for her, to comfort her in any way I could.

We stood there together, holding each other, as we waited for any news of Nailea.