Torn

XVII

Chapter Song: Si Tu Te Atreves - Luis Miguel

Nina

I moved around the spaghettis in the plate with my fork, as June's voice got more distant, integrating with the white noise of her apartment. All the space in my brain was occupied by Emma and our last conversation. 

I wanted to see her and talk to her; I wanted to know if she was okay. I was curious about what kind of face she'd make if she knew where I was. I needed to know if what she said was real, if she meant it.

The sound of a phone call dissipated the haze. "Could you give me a minute? I think my phone is ringing."

"Sure." June answered.

I went to look for my bag and reached my hand in to get my phone. My face lit up when I realized it was Emma, I'd been trying to reach her all day. I was left confused by our last conversation but was willing to forget it as long as that meant not driving a wedge between us.

"Hello? Emma?" I said, wanting to hear her sweet voice. The other side of the line remained in silence, until a few quiet weeps were heard. "Hello?" This time I asked, with uneasiness gripping my neck.

"Nina?" A man's voice sobbed. "It's Mark, Emma's brother."

The uneasiness turned into a loud fire alarm inside my brain. "Hey, what's wrong? Are you okay? Is she okay?" I asked trying to keep my composure.

"No, umm we were at shopping centre, and it was really crowded, and she got hurt, and we're at the hospital." She got hurt; those were the words pinned in my mind as the uncertainty crept up my spine. "They took her away and they are checking on her because she fainted on the ambulance, and I didn't know what to do." His shallow breathing got worse the more he tried to explain. "And I'm sorry to call you like this, but our parents are travelling right now, and I saw all your missed calls on Emma's phone, so I just called. I'm sorry, I really didn't know what to do."

I took a deep breath, trying not to cry for his sake. "It's okay, thank you for calling me. I'm leaving right now to go there, okay? Just wait a little and I'll be right there."

"Okay. Thank you."

After we hung up I gathered my things in a frensy and went to say goodbye to June. After what'd happened the day before she'd invited me for dinner as a way to say thank you. 

"Hey, I'm really sorry but I have to go."

"What? Why? You barely touched your food."

"I know, I'm sorry. Emma's brother just called me, he said she got hurt and right now they are at the hospital. He was really shaken when he called, and I just...I really have to go now."

I rushed to the door, but she grabbed my hand stopping me. I looked back at her hasty, trying to pull away. "I'll go with you." She said with troubled eyes. "Please."

"I'm sorry." I slipped my hand away and ran out.

...

On the drive to the hospital, I couldn't help but picture the worst scenario in my head. The only information I had was so non-specific it left room for lots of possibilities, which were enough to send me down a spiral of terrifying thoughts.

When we arrived, I hurried to the reception. The police were there already, waiting to talk to them like a flock of vultures.

"Hi, I'm looking for Emma Mills." My voice was shaky, and my body wouldn't stop trembling. "I just got a call saying she was here; do you know how she is?"