Wish Upon A Sunset

An Officer And A...Detective?

Emma

One Hour After The Accident...

The steady beep, beep, beep of Grace's heart monitor was the only thing holding me together. I sat, numb and in turmoil, as two nurses bustled around my baby's tiny bed. They drew her blood, checked her heart rate and oxygen saturation, and made notes on the mobile computer. She still hadn't moved. She still hadn't awakened. It had been over an hour since we arrived, and she still hadn't responded to any of the stimuli the medical team had tried.

Each question from the nurses got a one-word response from me, my voice barely audible. I caught the disapproval in their eyes, and it cut through me. What kind of mother lets her daughter get hurt?

Tears slid down my cheeks, my focus never wavering from Grace's face. If only my will alone could wake her up. But the longer she kept those beautiful brown eyes closed, the more the heartbreak threatened to overwhelm me.

"Mommy!" My eyes snapped to the door, and Tristan came barreling in, his small body crashing into my chair.

Relief washed through me as I pulled him onto my lap, his little arms wrapping around my neck in the biggest hug ever. The ice in my veins melted away with his touch. More tears fell as I closed my eyes, breathing in the familiar scent of baby shampoo clinging to his hair.

"Hi, baby! I missed you so much!" I squeezed him tighter.

Giggling, Tristan tried to pull back, "Mommy, you're gonna squish me!"

I managed a small smile and let him go. As he turned back toward the door, I noticed the people standing there, and my heart squeezed again.

"Hi, kiddo," my dad greeted me as he hesitantly walked into the hospital room.

"Hi, Dad..." was all I managed to say before my mom pushed past him.

"Emma! Oh, thank God! There you are!" My mother rushed over, and I stood to accept her hug, burrowing into the comfort that only a parent can provide. "I'm so sorry," she murmured into my hair. "We got here as soon as we could! Traffic was horrible at Tristan's school!"

"It's fine, Mom." I leaned back and offered her a sad smile. "There's nothing any of us can do right now, anyway. And thank you for picking him up. I didn't even think about him needing to be picked up when I climbed into the ambulance. I couldn't comprehend much at all, honestly."

Everything had been a blur, my memory hazy, like a dream. EMTs and firefighters had filled Grace's nursery, asking questions as they carefully checked her vitals and moved her onto a stretcher. I barely remembered what I told them, my eyes and thoughts glued to Grace, barely hearing their words over the blood pulsing in my ears.

"It's understandable, sweetheart." Mom patted my arm gently, her kind eyes sad as she glanced at Grace, lying so still.

"Where's Zack?" my dad asked as he came in for a hug. I had to stretch up on my toes to reach him. His height, well over six feet, made me feel safe, and I squeezed him a little tighter.

"I think he's still at work." I finally released him. "He didn't answer when I called, but I left him a message." The thought of being alone with him later filled me with terror, the blood in my veins turning to ice once more.

"I'm sure he'll be here soon," Mom said as she walked over to Grace's bed, gently stroking a finger down her arm. I watched her eyes fill with tears, and mine did the same. "My poor babies," she whispered. "I'm so, so sorry this happened."

"God, I'm sorry too! This is just so terrible." My dad rubbed a hand down his face, his eyes full of sorrow.

"I know, Dad. It was an accident. I didn't mean to." My voice broke at the end; words stuck in my throat, a lump forming that choked back any attempt at an apology. It was terrible! I was such a lousy mother for letting this happen!