Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him, it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at lea...
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I lift my head off the edge of the bed and blink my eyes a few times. They've been heavy with sleep, but I can't seem to actually rest them. I double check that she's asleep and that she's still actually breathing. It's something I find myself doing far too frequently without any real thought. I see the subtle rise and fall of her chest. I place a single kiss on her hand before standing and stretching out my legs and twisting my neck from side to side. I need to find relief for the ache that constricts the muscles of my shoulders and back, but I don't think I will as long as I'm sleeping in a chair hunched over a bed.
I pull my phone out and check the time to make sure I'm not late to pick Nora up from school. Although I'm lucky she went at all. It was an actual fight between us, with raised voices and everything. It only ended because I yelled and said it was over. I wasn't going to let her argue with me about why she should be here with us. I reaffirmed that her priorities weren't going to change just because I'm home.
I tried to reassure her that I can care for our mom during the day, and that she can help in the evenings after all of her obligations are finished. Nora was reluctant to agree, but finally gave in when I agreed to come pick her up early. She doesn't have an eighth period anyway. I still have two hours until that time and my mom is finally resting. I take my chance to slip out into the hallways and head towards the nurses station to bug Stephany for information.
Walking down the hallway doesn't feel abnormal now, not like it did just a few days ago when I raced through it frantically searching for anyone and everyone at the same time. It took hours to get to the hospital after the phone call from my grandpa. The plane could only come so fast and the boarding process took what felt like ages. No one seemed to care that whatever was going on in their lives wasn't as important as me making it to the Abilene airport as fast as I could. Forget the fact that no direct flights were possible and that I had to be in three different airports all within the state of Texas before I could even make it here. It was the one and only day the great state of Texas has ever let me down because it's so fucking big.
By the time I did land and found a ride to the hospital, I still had to search for my family. I had first searched the cancer floor, but apparently since my mom's colon is the thing giving out that was the higher priority. I eventually found them in the waiting room of the gastroenterology unit. I wrapped my arms around Nora first and then my grandma wrapped her arms around the two of us. I hadn't let myself stop and feel it yet, but then it all came rushing to the surface. My eyes were a faucet of tears and I couldn't figure out how to turn it off. The fear and anxiety had been stored up over the trip here. I think I had convinced myself that if I could just get to my family that I could somehow fix it. But I had no more control over it then, than I do now.
I round the corner, but don't see Stephany waiting behind the desk. I only spot Teresa, who I've learned can't be charmed like the other nurses. She refuses to share any further information with me than what has already been shared. I shoot her a smile anyways, but she ignores me.
