Do You Remember?

Part 1

"Taylor," she awakes to her name being called and a gentle yet urgent touch on her shoulder.

Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she notices the dim light filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Her heart quickens at the unusually early hour, something feels wrong.

Her eyes adjust, finding Tree standing beside her bed, her face paler than usual and her eyes wide with concern. "What's going on?" Taylor asks, her voice thick with sleep and growing anxiety.

Tree takes a breath, her hand still on Taylor's shoulder, as she says softly. "It's... it's about Karlie." The room seems to shrink around her as Tree's words hang heavy in the air. "There was an accident."

Taylor's breath catches in her throat, her body shooting up from the bed. "Wha – what? Is she –,". She can't finish the sentence, her mind racing to the worst conclusions.

"She's alive," Tree quickly reassures her, but there's something in her tone that makes Taylor's stomach drop. "But... it's serious."

Taylor's heart pounds in her chest as her mouth goes dry, the fear gripping her like a vice. She struggles to form words, her thoughts racing in a chaotic blur. "What happened," she manages to choke out, her voice trembling.

Tree hesitates, her eyes brimming with concern. "She was in a car accident," she says, each word like a stone dropping into the pit of Taylor's stomach. "It happened late last night. Her driver was bringing her back to the city from a photoshoot upstate. They were struck by another car, a drunk driver they think. And her car... it went off the road. It hit a tree."

Taylor feels as if the world has stopped spinning, her mind struggling to grasp the horror of Tree's words. "A tree?" she whispers, her voice barely audible as the image of the crash floods her thoughts. "Is she... is she okay?"

Tree shakes her head, her expression somber. "No, she was unconscious when they found her. The impact was bad, Taylor. The driver – he didn't make it," Tree continues. "I don't have all the details. What I do know is they put her on a med flight to a hospital in the city. She's in emergency surgery right now. Severe head trauma and internal injuries, along with some broken bones," Tree finishes, her voice shaking as she delivers the devastating news. Taylor's breath catches in her throat, and for a moment, she can't move, can't think, can't do anything but stare at Tree in disbelief.

Tree reaches out, placing a comforting hand on Taylor's arm, her own eyes filled with worry and sorrow. "I know this is a lot to take in," she says gently, "But Karlie is in the best hands right now. The doctors are doing everything they can."

"Is – is she alone? Who's at the hospital with her?" Taylor asks as tears quietly roll down her cheeks.

Tree's face softens with sympathy as she shakes her head. "She's not alone," she says quietly. "Her family was notified as soon as it happened. Kariann and Kimby are there, at the hospital. They're waiting for updates. The others, her mom, dad, Kristine, they're on their way to New York."

Taylor's heart shatters at the thought of Karlie lying there, surrounded by machines, fighting for her life without her by her side. "I need to be there," she says, her voice breaking as she fights back tears. "I need to be with her, Tree."

"I've already called the pilot and the jet is on standby. We're ready to go whenever you are."

Taylor swallows hard, her throat tight with emotion. "I'm ready," she says, her voice trembling but determined. "Let's go."

Tree nods, giving Taylor a reassuring smile as they quickly head to the jet. The early morning air is crisp, and the sky is just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. Taylor tries to focus on the fact that she's on her way to Karlie, that she'll soon be at her side, but the anxiety and fear weigh heavily on her.