Break Me If You Can (Anthony Padilla)

Chapter 17 || Waiting

Anthony's POV

No.

They can't take her.

I stand rooted to the carpet as I watch the nurse walk Katia down the hall.

I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder, and I whip around to see another nurse standing behind me.

"Um," she says. "You may want to, uh, sit down."

I give her a small nod and sit back down in the plush chair, which at the moment, feels like pins and needles.

I rest my elbows on my knees and lean forward, unable to relax.

I see a remote on the coffee table in front of me and I reach out to grab it.

I click the power button and a TV screen on the opposite wall suddenly turns on.

Looking up, I see the Channel 7 News being broadcasted onto the television.

"In other news," the newscaster says. "Los Angeles visitors and residents have reportedly spotted some paranormal activity throughout this week, the one of the largest magnitude being a few days ago at a local hotel. Here's some of the footage."

I stare blankly at the screen, unable to process anything or react to it.

They cut to a clip, obviously filmed with a cellphone, of the pool are of a very familiar hotel.

Over the noise of the people in the footage, I can hear Katia yelling for help.

I see her get thrown to the ground by a big, burly man.

He is about to attack her when she stands up and lashes back at him with her powers.

The man is thrown to the ground and in a shaky blur, I can see Katia disappear from the screen, running away.

I click the button on the remote again, turning off the TV.

This is why we left.

I had no idea.

A billion thoughts come flooding into my mind, as the reality of the situation sets in.

I stare at the blank wall across from me with a glazed expression when I feel a slight tap on my shoulder.

I turn around in my seat and see the nurse that had taken Katia to the operating room.

"Anthony?" she says.

I nod.

"Come with me, please."

I stand up and follow the nurse through multiple hospital hallways, walking through about 15 different doors along the way.

We stop walking outside one set of doors.

"Wait here," the nusre says, beckoning for me to sit down in one if the chairs lining the hall.

I take a seat and wait for the nurse to return, hopefully with good news.

I sit there for what seems to feel like forever.

After a few moments, the nurse comes back along with a doctor in a white labcoat.

They both have from expressions on their faces.

I start to feel nervous.

"Well," the doctor says. "We performed the procedure."

I nod, worriedly anticipating his next words.

"But," he continues. "Something went a bit wrong and they hit a certain nerve in her brain. It's very complicated, but the bottom line is that she won't be able to speak anymore."

I stay still, processing the information.

"Would you like to see her?" the nurse suddenly asks.

Still in shock, I nod my head slowly, looking down at the white marble floor.

She and the doctor disappear back into the room and emerge a few seconds later.

I see Katia sitting in a wheelchair, her eyes red and irritated.

She looks a bit confused when she first sees me, but stands up and runs to me after a few moments.

She wraps her arm around me in a tight embrace, leaning her head in my shoulder.

She looks up at me, smiling and crying at the same time.

"Anthony," she mouths, then grabs her throat, realizing that no words are coming out.

A look of panic plasters itself on Katia's face and she turns to the doctor in a frenzy.

"It will take some getting used to," he says. "But hopefully you'll adapt to it soon enough."

Katia and I both nod.

This is our life now.