~~~Four Years Earlier~~~
The ER feels warm and frightening at the same time. I swear, I've been here at least thirty times for Harmony's seizures. Some of the nurses know my name, but now they know something has happened this time, they know something I don't. They smile at me from behind the preoccupied receptionist. Harmony's dad isn't here yet, but I'm sure he's well on his way, probably freaking out.
Nervously, I begin tracing out the wooden lines on the chair in the waiting room. The TV in the corner begins telling me that hundreds of thousands have died in the past two months at the oil reserves.
"Well, that makes me feel a ton times better." I mutter under my breath.
An older woman next to me nods. "I know how you feel," She says. "My husband is down with pneumonia. They say it's pretty bad so I have to stay out. All this news about the war is making me feel worse."
"I'm sorry to hear that," I reply. "I'll go ask if they can turn it to a different station." I get up and walk to the receptionist's desk.
"Can you please change the station ma'am?" I ask the lady there, who only briefly glances up from her rhythmic typing. "I thinks it's upsetting some people."
The woman looks up again. She tucks a stray blond hair behind her ear. "Sure thing, hon." She nods and comes out from behind her desk.
Underneath the flat screen she places her finger on the scan-pad until it recognizes her. She points at the screen and glides her finger left until it comes to a halt on a channel playing reruns of Theresa In Chicago.
"Thanks," I say quietly and take my seat back by the lady. She is plump and has a dark brown bob.
"I'm Valerie, by the way." She says, offering a hand.
"Toby," I reply, shaking her hand.
"So," she coughs rather loudly. "Some pretty scary stuff happening out there, isn't there?"
I nod quickly. "Yeah. My friend got trampled in riot on our street. That's why I'm here."
"Oh my goodness. That's terrible. Things ain't right around here these days. Riots? People and children getting trampled?" She shakes her head.
"Yeah. I just hope she's okay." I whisper.
Then, Mr. Maxwell walks in. My heart plunges into my chest and the guilt feels like a boiling soup in my chest. He is out of breath and when he pushes through the doors, he has to stop and breathe.
Through his breaths he says, "Toby... Where is... Har... Harmony?"
If I knew, I'd be there and not here. I shake my head. He nods. He looks scared, scared of what might have happened to his little girl.
What have I done?
Don't blame yourself, part of me says. I want to believe that part, I really do. But hold strong, the rest of me thinks.
Mr. Maxwell stumbles drunk-like to the desk. "Harmony Maxwell. I need to see her, she is my daughter." The receptionist mouths, '203' and Mr. Maxwell mutters a thank you before entering into the hall.
Valerie gives me a sympathetic look, which I am physically unable to return. My left eye starts twitching like it always does when I spend too much time in a hospital. I glance at my wrist which sports a thin watch. I've been here almost one and a half hours.
Silently, time still continues to pass. People come and go, until it is only me and Valerie left in the waiting room. Even then I don't say anything. I feel a slight comfort though in knowing I'm not alone, although I pity Valerie.
