Fallen

Chapter 5

This car was suffocating me. I needed to get out. My dad and I sat in silence, in worry. My mother didn't answer her phone when he called. The only comforting fact about this was knowing that my mother was with Jeremy. I hope he is alright. I cannot fathom a world without my brother. The thought made my eyes become damp. It did not develop into tears.

The hospital was only thirty minutes from my school, but it felt like forever. Once we arrived at the hospital, I bolted from the car.

"Hannah, wait!" My father shouted as he caught up with me. He grabbed my arm and turned me to him, embracing me. "You need to calm down. He's going to be okay. I know it."

He released me and I took deep breaths to calm my heartbeat.

"Now let's go find your mother." He took my hand. Calming me was something my dad was always good at. He and I had been close for as long as I can remember. Holding my hand was something he did to comfort me. I was his little girl, no matter my age.

We walked through the halls of the hospital. The putrid smell lingered in the air around me. The smell of hospitals has always bothered me. I walked around the corner and saw my mother talking urgently to a nurse.

"Mom!" I ran to her side. "Mom, what happened? Is he alright?"

"He will be fine. He was hit by a dirt bike. His leg is broken and he has a severe concussion. He needs to stay here for a couple days for evaluation to make sure no further damage was done," she delivered in a calm collected tone. My mother never lost control, especially not in the workplace.

"Okay," I sighed. "Can i see him?"

"Yes, he is in room 201. Be careful with him. Talk slow and soft." I ran to room 201 leaving my dad behind. I saw my brother laying on the hospital bed with a cast on his leg and a gauze pad on his left eyebrow. He was sleeping so peacefully. His hair was damp with sweat and sticking to his head like glue.

"Well hello," he croaked as he opened his eyes.

"That's what you have to say? 'Well hello'? You scared me half to death you idiot!"

"Jeez, love you too. Please don't shout. It hurts my head," he winced.

"Sorry. I'm glad you're okay. So, do you want to tell me why you were hit by a dirt bike?"

"I was with friends at lunch and my friend was trying his bike out and lost control." He didn't look at me when he talked. I knew he was lying.

"Try again, liar." Jeremy raised his eyebrows and made eye contact with me.

"We spend too much time together," he sighed. "Fine, but you can't tell mom and dad. Promise me."

I rolled my eyes. "I promise. Now tell me before our father walks through that door."

"I've been competing for about two years. I got cocky and did a jump that was clearly too much for the crap bike I have. It's fair to say I didn't make the jump."

"Oh." Was all I could say. My brother always followed the rules. He was the golden child. I was the screw up. It was strange finding something that flawed his perfection. I never thought he would keep a secret from me. Jeremy and I shared everything with each other. I knew if my parents found out, they would flip a lid. I kind of wanted to see that. I wanted to witness the thought of imperfection in Jeremy. But I could never do that to him. He is my brother. I trusted him and he trusted me. Breaking that trust could break everything and I couldn't bear to lose him.

"Well well well. How's my boy feeling?" I heard a familiar voice behind me. My dad walked in and sat beside me on the couch next to Jeremy's bed.

"A bit under the weather. But it's only just a scratch. I can be back to school soon." He said in his raspy voice.