The Bad Boy Effect

Chapter 28: I'm Sorry

We pull into the parking lot of the hospital. He parks the car and for about the third time tonight, I am left speechless.

"Why did you bring me here?" I ask.

"Because I figured you needed your mom." He shrugs as he looks at me. I look him over and groan inwardly.

What I would give to know what he was thinking.

"Come on," Arran says as he gets out of the car. I unbuckle myself and go to grab the door, but it's already open. "Let's go."

We head inside and walk over to the elevators. I press the UP button and we wait. I'm so nervous about this entire thing. Is she looking worse? Has she lost weight? Has she gained weight? Has there been a donor found? I have no idea.

Arran grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

"It's okay," he says softly. "Don't panic. Keep it together. If not for your sake, for hers."

I nod my head and the elevator opens. We walk into the elevator and I press three. It starts going up and I stand there biting my lip. I can see from the corner of my eye, Arran is smirking.

"What's so funny?" I ask.

"Do you remember the last time we were in an elevator?" he grins. I feel my face redden a little.

"Yes, I do." I say smiling.

"A lot has changed, hasn't it?"

You have no idea.

"Yes, I suppose so."

The door dings and we walk out. I lead us down to room 316 and walk in only to find it empty. Mom's not in her bed, and her stuff is nowhere to be found. I feel my heart stop and then it starts beating quickly. Where is my mom? My face pales as my brain starts thinking of worst case scenarios.

I walk back out and to the nurses station that sits in the middle of the room. A girl in her late 20s is typing away on a computer while taking a big bite out of her sandwich. Her nametag reads as Katie.

"Excuse me," I ask. She looks up. She may be in her late twenties, but her eyes are filled with boredom and emptiness, as if she has seen things unimaginable to me, which I'm positive she has.

"Yes?" she asks in a monotone voice.

"Where is Delilah Grey?" I ask. "She was in room 316."

Katie taps away on her computer as she chews her sandwich slowly. I tap my fingers impatiently. She slowly clicks and it seems like she is purposely being impossible.

"Um..." she says as she scrolls down with her mouse. "It looks like she was moved up to ICU."

I feel my heart slow a little, but then I realize what ICU stands for. Intensive Care Unit.

"Okay, what room?"

"526."

"Okay, thank you." I say quickly and I start walking quickly to the elevators. Luckily Arran doesn't have any trouble keeping up with me. I press the button and walk in quickly, Arran's hand holding mine still.

We stand in silence, Arran not saying anything. He's smart.

The door dings and I quickly walk out. The floor looks the same, yet oddly different. Or maybe it's just the fact that I know this is ICU. My eyes skim the blue numbers painted on the wall by the doors.

516... 517... 519... 524...

I stop at 526 and slowly walk in. There are a few doctors surrounding her, one doing something and the other two writing things down. I slowly come to a halt. Mom is there but she looks like hell. Her skin is deathly pale and her cheeks seem to be getting somewhat hollow. Her hair is thinning and is greasy, showing that she hasn't taken a shower for sometime.