Freedom

Hospitality

{Chapter 12}

(REDD)

I started to let the worry register on my face. It didn't really matter because Persephone no longer had her eyes open. I could at least hear sirens in the distance. I checked her pulse which was low, but still going.

"Come on Persephone. Open those pretty eyes of yours. Please stay with me." I pushed back the tears from my eyes and wiped the blood from her forehead with my thumb. She looked too peaceful. "Say something, anything, just stay here. Help is coming."

"Redd." She whispered this to the point that it was barely audible, but it was something.

"Yes, Persephone? I'm right here, I've got you. You'll be fine." I didn't want to lie to her, but I wanted her to feel a little more comfort if it was possible. I didn't want to lie to myself either because I didn't know for a fact that she'd be fine.

"Stay.....Please." I almost started bawling right then and there.

"I promise that I will Persephone. I won't leave you." I stroked her face with my clean thumb while I held her neck. I wonder why she thought I might leave?

"Parker, take your shirt off." I shouted over to my brother.

"Bu-"

"Now, Parker!"

"Fine. Here." He tried to hand it to me.

"No. Hold it against her side."

"I'll do it if you don't want to Parker." Jake sheepishly called to us.

"Okay." Parker handed Jake his shirt. He walked over to his sister and put the shirt against it. He was a great brother for doing so. I was still on the verge of tears when the emergency vehicles came.

The paramedics rushed to us while the firefighters put out the car. The paramedics told us we did good by holding Persephone's neck and applying pressure to her side. It was the most we could do after all. Still motionless they loaded her onto a gurney and started to put her in the ambulance. I started to follow them.

"You have to stay here, sir. The other medics need to look at you."

"But I'm her brother." I lied. Parker was already climbing into an ambulance with Jake and they had our stuff. I'd be stranded here without my cell phone.

"Oh, well I guess you can come with us."

"Thank you so much ma'am."

"No problem. We can look at you in here anyways."

I hurriedly climbed into the back of the ambulance and sat down. The medics were giving all their attention to the unconscious Persephone before us. They did, however, ask me many questions.

"How old is she?"

"17."

"What's her name?"

"Persephone." I looked down after saying this. I realized my arm was still numb and it was actually becoming hard to move my fingers.

"Uh, I know you're quite busy right now, but I think something is wrong with my arm."

First the medics cleared one another to make sure that Persephone was stable before releasing one of their members. He came over and sat down next to me.

"What seems to be the problem?" He said this while looking at my arm. He didn't look pleased. The medic stood up and opened the cabinet and pulled out some cotton balls and medicated cream. After this, he pulled out some bandage wrap.

"Well I blocked her from the impact with my arm. I got glass stuck in it, but I pulled that all out. Now I can't move my fingers though. It's actually starting to hurt a little." The man bent his head down to look at my arm and touched it.

I almost swore out loud.

"Ow!"

"Can you move your fingers?" I tried to, but now I couldn't. It hurt when I strained to move them."

"I think you broke your hand son or at least your bones in it. If not only that, maybe your arm as well." Oh, well, isn't that great. At least it was my non-dominant arm.

"Thanks."

"Don't worry, they'll fix you up at the hospital." He stood up and got back to helping Persephone.

***

I thought I would be able to stay with Persephone once we got to the hospital, but they forced me to get my arm checked out. First, though, I made sure that my brother and Jake had made it. Jake was getting the cut on his head stitched. My brother was waiting with him.

All I could think about when I was getting my X-ray was Persephone. I should've seen that car coming. When the nurses helped me out of the room they led me to another to get the results. It turns out my arm was broken. I guess adrenaline was taking over when I was moving it or I just imagined it all.

They took me to another room when they put a cast on me. I hated casts, even though I'd never had one. They honestly scared me because they were so heavy. When they'd asked me what color I wanted, I told them white. That way I would be able to paint it.

***

I waited in the ER's waiting room, or at least what I assumed was the ER's waiting room for news on Persephone. I hoped she knew I liked her, because I really do. I don't care if it sounds stupid, but she's just so radiant. The best part is, she knows what I've been through and not many people can say that.

A doctor came out, which stopped my thoughts. His face looked disappointed.

"Mr. Reynolds?"

How did he know my last name?