As We Go

Taken

    "Mom, he just hit the floor. I don't know!"
    Irene carefully placed Sierra in Marty's arms and ran after Max towards Irene's pool house that the twins started living in after graduation.
    Irene got inside the house and knelt to Louis. His forehead had hit something when he had fainted because he was bleeding. "Louis," she said lightly slapping his face trying to wake him. She looked at his chest, "Jesus Christ! He's not breathing! Call for an ambulance!" Irene came to her knees and began to perform CPR on her son, "God damn it, Louis. You can't do this to me!" she said feeling tears spill over.
    The paramedics arrived quickly and had to pry Irene off of Louis, "You can't take my baby!" she hysterically cried.
    By this time, Max was scooping her off of the floor and carrying her to the car. Max followed behind the ambulance. When they arrived at the hospital, Max began to make phone calls while Irene fell apart. It was all too similar for her to handle. She sat in the waiting room of the hospital. She thought back to that day in Dallas with Tom. Her mind raced until, "Mrs. O'Hara?"
    Irene scrambled to her feet, "Yes?"
    The doctor took a long pause.   
    "Doctor, please just tell me. I know," she nodded through tears.
    "We couldn't do anything for him. He had a major Addison's crisis. In all honesty, it was a freak thing. We don't know what really happened..." he continued rambling on, but Irene didn't listen. She was numb.
    "Mom, I called everyone. Pop said he's coming to put Louis in line. What's wrong?" he asked seeing his mother's face.
    Irene pulled him in to hug him and broke down. Max was completely supporting her weight. Irene then felt herself moved to another person's arms. She sucked in her breath and smelled Marty's cologne. She looked up at him and he put his hand on the back of her head. "Marty, I-"
    "Shh, I've got you."
"Why was he taken from me?" Irene sobbed into Marty's chest.