Everything I Didn't Say (Last Words) | Luke Hemmings AU

02.

For nearly a month, Luke didn't call. I didn't see him, we didn't speak. It was on a November afternoon that my phone rang and I picked up the call from the unknown number.

As I said hello, I could already hear the heavy breathing and crying on the other end.

"Angela," his voice began. "It's Sophia. I don't know what to do, and she's crying and-"

"Luke! Settle down. What's going on?"

"I don't know, I left the room for like a minute and- oh god it's my fault. You need to come help me. I'm sorry, Sophia. I'm so sorry."

"Luke," I said firmly. "Bring her to the hospital. Can you do that? No- forget that- Call an ambulance. Don't worry Luke, we'll figure it out. I'll meet you at the hospital."

With that, I ran to my car (still in my pajamas) and made it to the hospital in 12 minutes.

I changed into an extra pair of scrubs I had in my car and got to the energency entrance as the flashing red and white vehicle pulled up. I saw the paramedics lift the stretcher out of the back. I saw them wheel it inside. I saw blood. Lots of blood.

I saw Luke.

He was pushed away as he tried to run alongside the stretcher. He was crying.

He fell to his knees and put his head in his hands.

It was slow motion.

Knowing Sophia was in good hands, I knelt beside Luke. I put a hand on his shoulder as my other hand held his own. I helped him stand and we wordlessly walked back to where Sophia would arrive after they ran tests on her.

After a doctor and nurse brought her back to a room, they told us she'd opened the stitches on her forehead. It looked worse than it was, but she'd lost a lot of blood and may need a transfusion.

"No-" Luke said loudly. "I won't allow that, there are other ways. It seems dangerous. I'm her legal guardian, please don't."

Sophia was then hooked up to an IV containing morphine and medicine to help with her blood loss. She looked so pale, more than she ever did when she was on my floor of the hospital.

She was re-admitted for further tests to be sure her condition didn't worsen.

I found Luke sitting in the hall on my break.

I sat next to him. After a moment of quiet I asked the question on my mind, "I thought you were her brother?"

"I am," he began. "My mom left and my dad, well, isn't around. Since I'm twenty one I was able to gain full custody of her, since we have no other relatives and my parents aren't able to take care of her. It's been just her and I for almost a year. I don't know what to do, obviously I can't give her what she needs. I can't give her the life she deserves. Heck, I just ruined her life." He looked into my eyes, his own filling with tears and something I can only describe as hopelessness. "I ruined her, Angela."

He rested his hands on his knees and I reached over to hold one. "You're doing your best Luke," I told him. "That's all you can do. Accidents happen. Yes, this is a big bump in the road, but that doest mean you have to stop driving. Just take a detour. Take her where you want to go. It might take more time, but you can still give her a normal life. Have hope, Luke. That's the best thing to have. Without that there is nothing. I believe you can give her the best life. I see how much you care about her. You both deserve so much, I'll do anything I can to make sure you get it."

He held my hand tighter, and stood as he pulled me up too. He hugged me close to his body and I could feel a sigh escape him as he whispered a desperate "thank you" in my ear.