Is This Our Second Chance

Chapter 18

"Are you sure?"

We suddenly hear some voices outside the door, and Carly anxiously peels herself off of me to compose herself.

I lean forward a bit and drop my voice. "I don't understand."

She shakes her head and grabs her coat. "I promise I'll be back but I have to go. There's things I have to take care of." She pauses at the door. "Im sorry."

As Carly leaves, the doctor comes in behind a nurse. Together they poke, prod, and question me over the next thirty minutes. The doctor tells me that I have a sprained wrist, a couple of bruised ribs, and a concussion. Other than that, he says the cuts and bruising will fade in the upcoming days.

I suppress a shiver. I glance over at Zach, who had slipped into the room a few minutes ago, and see the exhaustion and fatigue he's battling written all over his face.

"When do you think I can go home?" I cautiously ask the doctor. I've never liked hospitals or doctors for that matter.

I watch everyone exchange looks with one another.

Zach clears his throat. "Love, you can't go back to that house."

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't Carly explain?" He furrows his eyebrows.

My concussion must be worse off than I initially thought. Carly's words are just now sinking in.

"She said... she said my mom overdosed." I practically whisper.

Silence. Nobody moved. Nobody breathed.

"Sir, I think it's best if we step out." The nurse speaks gently in Zach's direction. "We will be right outside if you need us."

Once the door latches shut behind them, he takes the chair next to my bed that Carly was sleeping in earlier.

Carly. My innocent baby sister. She's not supposed to be hanging around hospital rooms. She's supposed to be worrying about school, boys, makeup, friends. My thoughts wonder about until Zach clears his throat.

I come out of my thoughts and see him curiously watching me.

"What's going on? Where'd Carly go?" I ask.

He sits back in the chair and runs his hands through his hair and over his face letting out a sigh of frustration in the process.

"They warned us your concussion would cause some memory issues for a few days." He explains with frustration.

I try really hard to focus on the facts and what I know so far. A headache starts throbbing behind my eyes but I push past it.

"Carly said she had to leave to take care of some things." I pinch my eyes close and concentrate.

"Yes, that's right." He encourages.

"She didn't explain much past our mom was found overdosed." I look up from my hands as reality splashes over me like a bucket of ice water. "She's dead isn't she?"

"Yes." He takes my hand in his and starts rubbing soothing circles on my wrist. "The paramedics found her after they searched the house. She was gone before even I got there."

"Wait, did I call you?" I wrack my memory trying to remember any details.

"No." A quick laugh escapes him. "Carly called me."

It suddenly feels like I'm trying to swallow sand.

"Can you get me some water please?" I rasp out.

He holds the cup with a straw up for me to take some sips. "Easy. Take it slow." He soothes.