The Roommate Rulebook

Rule 30

Rule 30 (You know the drill, not proofread, so please ignore any mistakes). Dedication for the b-e-a-u-tiful banner on the side!

                I watched, distraught, as Ash was carried inside the hospital on a gurney, doctors surrounding him and rushing him to surgery. I heard a lot of medical terms used on the trip over, but didn't have the energy to listen to them, let alone understand them.

                I tried to rush after Ash, but I was held back by a nurse and another doctor, who apparently had some questions for me.

                "I'm his girlfriend, he fell off his bike and was attacked. Is he going to be OK? Can I go through?" I attempted to answer all of their questions in one, but the nurse gave me a sad look and navigated me to a small room.

                "What is your boyfriend's name, dear?" she asked, grabbing a clipboard. I couldn't concentrate on anything she was saying to me. I kept looking over her shoulder at the door, silently hoping that he'd just walk in and laugh at me, telling me it was one of his best pranks yet. I felt my eyes water again at the thought and I choked on a sob.

                "Ash," I started and then shook my head. "Asher Toms," I told her. She nodded, writing it down on her board.

                "What happened?" she asked.

                "Look, I'll answer anything you want me to after I know he's ok," I interrupted. She gave me a stern look.

                "I understand you're upset," she began.

                "No, you don't," I cut in. "I just watched him fly over the top of a motorbike handle, one that was going at about eighty miles an hour. While that was on fire, he disappeared and I found him half dead after clearly being beaten with a rock!" I realised that towards the end of my rant I'd gotten close to hysterical.

                "Honey," the nurse began again. I didn't interrupt this time, merely looked at her. "Is there anyone you can call?" she asked.

                "My cousin is on his way here," I told her, rubbing my hands up and down my arms.

                "Any parents?" she enquired. I shook my head and she sighed.

                "Was your cousin at the scene?" I nodded in answer to her question.

                "Your boyfriend will be going in for emergency surgery, all you can do is wait outside," she informed me.

                "His dad is in here. Can I wait with him?" I asked her. Running my hand under my watery eyes, I started to get up.

                "Sure, sweetheart. Make sure you stay where we can find you, should anything happen." I nodded, letting her know Daryl's room number.

                I started down the corridor, walking extremely quickly. I needed to clear my head, sort myself out. Maybe sitting in with Daryl and talking to him would make it a bit easier.

                Just as I pushed the door open, movement came from the other side of the room, near the life support machine.

                "Nate," I gasped out, watching in horror as he held onto the pipe that was attached to Daryl's nose.

                He didn't look like the same fun loving red head that I met at Ash's mother's party, or the guy that ran the cafe I always went to when I was upset. He just looked an image of rage.