On The Verge

Chapter 26- Pulse

——————Maddie——————

⠀⠀Another wave of sobs raked my body as reality set in. She was dead. The little sister that I loved and lived with was gone forever. No longer would she come into my room at night to wish me sweet dreams, no longer would we sit on my bed and rant about the unfairness that was life. My fingers shakily pressed against her neck, already knowing that they wouldn't find a pulse.

⠀⠀But they did.

⠀⠀Pulsations rippled through my fingers, depicting hope and relief. She was alive, for now at least.

⠀⠀Nia's head appeared over the edge of the hole. Her eyes were open wide in fear and apprehension as she knelt down in the grass above my head.

⠀⠀"How can I help?" She uttered, worry imminent in her voice.

⠀⠀I wordlessly linked my hands around Kenzie's chest, under her armpits. Standing up, I lifted Mackenzie's frail figure over my head. Nia, understanding the course of my actions, took Mackenzie from my arms and laid her on the damp grass a few feet away from the extremities of the hole.

⠀⠀She then extended her arm to me. I offered her a small smile in gratitude. Taking her hand, she pulled me upwards as I put my knee against the wall of the hole for balance. The moment my body hit the grass, I crawled over to Kenzie's side.

⠀⠀"She has a pulse but she's not breathing." I informed Nia. I watched worry and relief simultaneously wash over Nia's features.

⠀⠀Turning my attention back to Kenzie, I knew what I needed to do. In school, we has been taught basic CPR; artificial breathing. Closing my eyes in concentration, I strained to remember the steps.

⠀⠀I laid Mackenzie flat on her back as I tilted her head upwards to open her airways. I held my ear to her mouth to confirm her state; she was still not breathing. I knew I needed to keep calm for her sake, every second wasted could be fatal.

⠀⠀I placed my right hand in the centre of Kenzie's torso, directly over her sternum. I then placed my left hand over my right so that so that the palm of my left my hand was against the back of my right hand.

⠀⠀ Rocking forwards, my hands pressed deep into her soft skin. I rocked backwards, and removed the pressure. I rapidly repeated this process, mentally counting to thirty. My hands then travelled to Mackenzie's face, one pinching her nose and the other beneath her chin, tilting her head upwards. I leaned forwards and quickly pressed my lips to Mackenzie's open mouth. I exhaled three slow breaths. I could feel Mackenzie's lungs inflating and deflating beneath me.

⠀⠀I recoiled from her body and held my breath in anticipation, waiting for the breath ghat I prayed she would take on her own.

⠀⠀Please, please start breathing. I prayed silently.