Dead Man Walking

Echo Of A Beating Heart

I sat in the hard seat in the waiting area, a white bandage wrapped tightly around my head. I was still a little dizzy, but I was lucky. I could have ended up in that emergency room where my mother is.

I guess I'll go back here a bit. It was noon when I had called my mother so she could pick me up from my friends house. I was in a pretty bad mood, to be honest. But, I can't really remember what I was angry about right now. Anyway, I was in my mother's car, heading our way back home. She had said something about my father, whom I hadn't seen since I was a baby. I don't remember much of him, not that I'm supposed to. Mother had said that memories fade with age.

Well, she had said that she had finally moved on from him. I should be happy for her, but really, it feels wrong. It still feels wrong. Not to mention that her boyfriend is a complete dick. So, naturally, we end up arguing. Mom turns her head for one second to say something to me and...black.

Then I wake up here. Doctors fixing me up, I apparently got the softer blow when that truck blindsided my mother's small car. My mother, on the other hand, got the worst of it. The extent of her injuries is still not revealed yet, but all I know is that she was rushed to the ER.

Someone has called my emergency contact, which at the moment is my father. I can feel a tugging at my stomach, I want to gag. Or cry. I don't know what to do, my mother is in there and I don't know how she's doing.

Someone sits down beside me, I glance up at see one of the nurses. I frown slightly as she looks me over.

" Don't worry, dear." She says in a gentle voice, I almost lose it there. I have to bite down on my lip to keep from sobbing. I have to be strong.

For my mother.

" We've contacted your father." She said, standing. I look up at her and nod, holding back tears. I sigh and rub at my eyes while she is walking away. I don't know how this is going to play out, but I'm praying that my mother pulls through. As much as we butt heads, I don't know what I would do without her.

It's an hour before I hear someone walk up beside me. I look up, my brown eyes meeting an almost identical pair. The man before me had black hair, and somewhat gentle features. He sat down beside me, and I watched him carefully.

" Miranda-" My father tried, but I cut him off.

" No, please." I said, covering my mouth. I sucked in a breath, placing my hands on my lap. " This can't be happening." My voice shook as hot tears started to roll down my face. " This isn't happening." I muttered to myself a few times, a pair of arms wrapping themselves around my shoulders as I let out a few sobs. I should be pushing him off, or walking away. But, I needed comfort. Even from a man that I hate. He's stroking my hair and whispering soothing things to me as I cry into his chest.

It's a while before we pull back, he looks at me with concern. I was about to say something when a doctor walks out.

" Miranda Peterson?" He asks, I look over at him as I stand from my seat. I can hear my father getting up as well. The doctor calls us into a room, the grim look on his face tells me all I need to know. Something has happened.

" Please, sit." He says, gesturing to the seats in front of us.

" What happened to my mother?" I demand, the doctor gesturing to the seats again.

" You're going to want to sit down." He says. I feel my father place a hand on my shoulder, but I shake him off.

" Don't touch me." I mutter, taking a seat. The doctor looks to the both of us.

" The extent of her injuries were very bad, she had broke multiple ribs and punctured a lung. Along with the fractures to her spine, she was very unstable." He said, I stared at him, trying to piece together what he was saying.

" Is she okay?" I asked, the doctor just shook his head.

" Her time of death was 4:15 AM." He said, " I'm sorry."

I couldn't breathe, I just gaped at the doctor. My mother was dead.

The thought itself was so foreign in my head, it didn't make sense. She was...gone. Dead. And I'm stuck here, my mother isn't coming back. I was pulled back to my senses as I stood, it felt like all eyes were on me as I exited the room and walked down the hall.

My mother is dead. Nothing can get any worse then this.