It's All In Your Head

>Chapter Forty-Eight< Isaac

Mrs. Kee called an ambulance. Nala flipped out, running around trying to find some stuff to bring Cecilia at the hospital. Jake and I helped get Cecilia on the couch. Mr. Kee didn't move, his face stunned. 

"JOSEPH, START THE CAR." Mrs. Kee screamed. "WE'RE NOT ALL GOING TO FIT IN THE DAMN AMBULANCE."

This seemed to kick Mr. Kee into action. He ran out the door, fumbling through his pockets for his keys. I sat on the couch and grabbed Cece's hand. 

Mrs. Kee gently nudged me out of the way. "I want to check her pulse, Isaac." She said calmly. I swallowed. It hadn't even occurred to me that she could, very well, be dead already.

I nodded once, shaking, and walked over to the window as Nala thundered down the stairs, holding a pair of headphones and a few books. "Does she have her phone?" She asked me. I shrugged, staring out the window into the darkness.

Nala slapped my back. "Could you check, please? She usually keeps it in her back pocket."

I turned around, my eyebrows raised high enough to disappear slightly behind my messy hair. "You...you want me to reach into her back pocket?"

Nala tilted her head, as if she was confused by my hesitation. "Well, yeah."

"Um...I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that." I stammered.

Nala stared at me. There was a moment of silence, then she screamed.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? SHE'S YOUR GIRLFRIEND."
"I-I don't want to violate--"
"ISAAC GET YOUR ASS OVER THERE."
"Okay, okay!" 

I backed away from Nala and trotted over to Cecilia. "Er...can I..."

Mrs. Kee's mouth twitched slightly. "It's sticking out of her pocket, Isaac. Don't worry." She grabbed Cece's phone and handed it to me. "Er...thanks." I stuttered. I walked back to Nala and timidly handed her the phone, which she whisked out of my hand. "C'mon Jake, we can wait outside." She called. 

Jake pushed himself off the wall and followed Nala out of the door. He rubbed my head in a brotherly way before he shut the door behind him.

The house, which had been loud and buzzing with chaos a moment before, had become eerily quiet. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart. Mrs. Kee was facing away from me, looking down at Cecilia. Her hair covered part of her face.

"Does she have a pulse?" I asked the silence. Mrs. Kee nodded. She turned toward me, and I realized she was crying.

"I'm sorry Isaac." She managed to choke out. "I-I don't mean to cry."

"It's okay." I said gently, walking up to her and placing my hand hesitantly on her shoulder. "Cecilia's strong. She's going to be okay."

Mrs. Kee swallowed hard. She smiled gratefully at me, and wiped the tears from her eyes. I smiled back at her, and we stayed like that for a minute before we heard the sirens. I sighed. "Let's go."

"Wait, Isaac," Mrs. Kee called after me right before I walked out the door. I spun on my heel. "Yeah?"

"I can't carry her."

I blinked. "Oh. Okay." I said blankly. I came back over to the couch and lifted Cecilia, being as gentle as I could. 

Tears spilled out of my eyes. This situation reminded me of the day Cecilia had saved my life at school, carrying me to safety, trying to help me.

Only this time, I was carrying her.

This time, it wasn't my life that could end.