Keep Going

Second Chapter: A Turn for the Worse

Mom furiously drove along the freeway, going at least ten miles over the limit. Her eyes were red, her pupils dilated. I looked down at my feet, How could this have happened? I asked myself, Why?

"Braelynn, I- I just want you to know that Rayna, she, wouldn't want us to worry. I think she... she would want everything to stay the same." Mom finally uttered words.

I glanced up at her, tears stained to my face, "What do you mean?"

"Well, just because Rayna is in the hospital, that doesn't mean that we should forget about each other. As a family we must still treat each other the same, she wouldn't want us to fall apart over her life." She looked at me for a second, "Brae, you know how your sister always has to put us first. She could care less about being spoiled and treated more importantly just cause of her being injured."

Mom looked away and all I could hear was the sound of rain on the windshield. I peered out the window to see the hospital sign saying only two miles.

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"Um, excuse me? Ma'am? Ma'am, I-" Mom tapped a nurse's shoulder.

She turned around, a smile painted across her face, "Yes? How may I assist you?"

I interrupted, "Miss, can we please see patient Rayna Travis? You see, she's my sister and-"

"I'm sorry, but Ms. Travis is not to be disturbed. Doctors orders."

Mom pushed her way up to the nurse. She looked her in the eyes, "You don't understand, that is my daughter in there! She is injured, I must see her immediately!"

The nurse just stared at mom, the fake smile wiped away. She had an irritated, sarcastic grin on her face. She laughed and walked away saying, "Oh, now doesn't that make everything better?!"

Mom growled and stomped her foot down. She mumbled a rude comment, then she stormed off to find another nurse. Her turned around and yelled my name. I quickly followed her.

Mom finally found a genuinely kind woman willing to lead us to Rayna's hospital room. As we walked in, I nearly passed out there in the doorway. The nurse caught me and stood me up carefully, "Oh my, all you alright? You seem flustered."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just didn't except to see her like this." I said trying to hold back tears. That didn't work. I started to cry. Rayna looked so helpless, she lay there motionless on the bed. Her eyes were shut, scars lined her face. Her leg was elevated and in a white temporary cast. I walked slowly towards her, hands at my sides. Looking at her didn't feel the same. She was beyond pale, her smile was eliminated completely. I held her out- stretched hand carefully as I cried.

The nurse looked at my mom, "Ms. Travis can I get you anything? Water?"

"That would be nice, thank you."

The lady left and Mom sat down in a chair next to Rayna. She stroked her brunette hair slowly, "Rayna, I love you. Please, respond. Can you hear me sweetie? Sweetie? Please."

"Mom, I don't think she can hear you..." I muttered.

Around two minutes later, the nice lady came back holding a tray with crackers and two glasses of water, "Here you are. I feel so sorry for you guys, so I brought you some free crackers."

Mom tried to smile as she grabbed a cracker, "Thanks, you're very kind."

I took a glass of water and whispered thanks as well. Just then, a tall, dark man with a white coat stepped in the room.

He smiled, "Oh, you must be the patients' direct family. I'm Dr. Hampton, I will assisting Rayna in her hopeful recovery."

Mom nodded then asked, "Wait, doctor, what do you mean by 'hopeful recovery'?"

He looked at the nurse and whispered loud enough for us to hear, "Lilly, you didn't tell them about... her?"

"What do you mean?!" Mom shouted, "What did she not tell me?!"

The nurse argued, "Ma'am, I only meant to-"

"Please Lilly, let me handle this," He interrupted, "Ms. Travis, she didn't want to worry you."

"WORRY ME?!"

"Please, calm down. Do not panic, I can assure that she is the hospital's main priority as of her serious situation. Well, miss Travis, your daughter she is in a... in a coma."

Mom froze after crying and screaming at the doctor. She just stood there, eyes blank. Then she let out a blood-curdling cry of, "RAAAAAAYNAAAAA, AAAAAAAHHHHH! RAYNA, NOOOOOOOOO!!!!"