divulgence // luke hemmings au

15

When Luke finally broke the news late that night on what happened to Skylar the entire household already knew.

Their was Facebook and Instagram messages pouring in, as well as an official statement from the school via email telling the students and their families that grief counselors would be available next week if anyone needed someone to talk to during this time.

Elsie was devastated, although she wasn't best friends with Skylar she was still her teammate, she was still apart of the reason why the team won competitions and held regional and state titles.

Coach Kelly already had already came up with an idea to hang up Skylars signature leotard in the gymnasium as an ode, her locker would remain untouched for the entire rest of the season.

Skylars brother Noah was in middle school like Eloise, the 8th graders had plans to make beaded bracelets with Skylars name on it for the upcoming candle light vigil and memorial.

Luke was in shock so was Elliot, neither one of them have ever experienced a call like this, it was going to take some time to process every little detail and heal. Luke just couldn't believe that one minute he was talking to her and next he was on the ground manually pumping her chest blood getting all over his hands and clothes.

It felt like a scene right out of a movie.

On Monday night, a candlelight vigil and memorial was scheduled to take place outside the school, hundreds if not thousands showed up, dressed in purple and blue attire for suicide awareness.

Luke wore a blue suit and a purple tie with black dress shoes, Sabrina wore a purple dress and a blue cardigan with black heeled boots, Elsie wore a blue dress and a purple headband with black tights and black shoes, Elliot wore a black suit with a blue and purple striped tie and black shiny shoes, and Elsie wore a black top, a dark purple skirt, a dark blue cardigan and sandals.

Before the event started, Eloise walked around with a group of 8th grade girls and Skylars brother handing out hand made bracelets, Eloise handed Luke one and he gave her a look of gratitude, taking it and putting it on his right wrist.

The principal, the Dean and a few teachers walked around handing out candles while parents from the school passed around matches and lighters.

Luke lit his and Elsie's, while Elliot lit his, Sabrina's and Eloise's standing in a single file line next to one another. Elsie leaned against her father, Luke used his free hand to pull her in while making sure the candle didn't touch her.

Skylars family and the gymnastics team created a makeshift memorial in front of the school, it had pictures, flowers, candles, signs and posters.

The Principal opened up the ceremony before letting the parents and son speak, it got very emotional very quickly causing Luke to pull tissues out from his blazer pocket handing it to his daughter.

Coach Kelly and the varsity gymnastics team put together a tribute video making Skylar an honorary member of the team forever promising that her leotard will hang in the gym for a lifetime and that her locker will remain her locker for years to come.

Toward the end of the vigil the 9th and 10th grade band and orchestra did their own rendition of the songs "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa, Hallelujah and Amazing Grace.

Luke and Elliot tried to hold it together but considering they were the medics who responded to the call and worked on the teenager, Amazing Grace broke them. The two men were literally weeping. Sabrina took out a tissue and tried to wipe his face, while Elsie wrapped her arms around her father's torso and hugged him As tightly as she could.

At the very end of the event the mourners were asked to send good thoughts and prayers to the departed teen and were asked to blow out the flames on their candles when they were done.

One by one the flames went out, Elsie went then eyes were on Luke who closed his eyes and whispered something, he did the sign of the cross too before blowing the candle out. Elliot did the same then he latched onto his dad, Luke hugging him back.

Sabrina was heartbroken at how much this effected her husband and son.

The principal came up to the front of the crowd one last time thanking them for coming out that night telling everyone to go over to a table that was set up in the parking lot; the 11th grade fashion design class designed t-shirts that said "Skylars Voice" to sell. Each shirt costs $15 and the money was a donation in Skylars name to a suicide prevention charity to help people who are in a crisis.

The Hemmings' family hung around for a bit after the ceremony, Skylars family came over to them and what they thought was going to be a sweet and wholesome interaction turned into something horrible.

They started yelling, screaming and cursing and Luke and Elliot, singling them out in front of a crowd of people.

"You we're supposed to save our daughter"

"You both were responsible for this"

"Why didn't you do more?"

"Why did you stop?"

"You should've done a better job speaking to her!"

"Why did you tell her those words?"

"Why couldn't you stop the blood?"

"Why couldn't you remove the gun from her hands?"

"Your actions upset her even more!"

"The way you were touching her probably killed her!"

All these words were getting spewed at the two off duty paramedics, they were so taken back and surprised that their jaws were nearly on the floor.

"I'm so s-s-sorry for y-your l-loss." Luke stuttered, he stuck his hand out wanting to shake the hand of the grieving father, "w-we d-did everything we c-could." Luke stuttered again awaiting a hand shake but his hand got slapped away so he pulled it back.

"You shouldn't have come!"

"Why are you here?"

"You took our daughter from us!"

They continued their verbal abuse and it hurt Luke and Elliot basically paralyzing the both of them. Luke was shaking and Elliot was pissed.

The onlookers stopped to watch nobody spoke out about either side.

Sabrina broke up the silence, "come on let's go. Now!" She whispered to her family, and they started to turn around to leave.

"That's right, go!" Skylar's father shouted, and the Hemmings' family proceeded to their car at the far end of the lot, while groups of people stared.

Luke wanted to believe that he wasn't responsible for the teenagers death but now he had second thoughts. Maybe he was in fact responsible?

One thing was for sure he never ever had a patients family call him out in public like that. This was a first.