Lab Partner

Chapter Twelve

Zack was the first one waiting at the hospital emergency center when they rushed Samantha inside.  Since we weren't family members, we had to wait just like everyone else in the waiting room.

It was already four in the morning and still nothing.  Doctors must be saving her life.

"Yes for Samantha", called out the doctor in the emergency waiting room.  We all stood up, with our puffy-eyed blank stares, waiting, praying for a miracle.  "Any relatives here?"

We had explained to them that Samantha's aunt was her guardian and that she's still travelling to come over here and stay with her.  "Can we please just know...is she okay?"  I frighteningly asked.

"She's suffered major head trauma, we were able to stop the internal bleeding in her abdominal section, but... we weren't able to save the child."  Tears from Cindy and I flowed to the ground in symphony.

Tyler looked shocked and couldn't believe what he had just heard and had Cindy crying in his arms.  Even though we weren't all friends, we understood what it meant to lose a life, even if it was a fetus.

Zack stood up from the chair he was still sitting on, "Thank you Doctor...Thank you for saving her life."  It was true.  One life was lost, but the other was still breathing.

"It's going to take her a while to recooperate, she suffered some broken bones, but luckily she's alive.  This truly is a miracle." The doctor continued to say as she finally left the room we were all dreading to be.

The group sat back down, with most of us filling the emergency room, but we didn't care.  "We should go and get some sleep", Declan whispered in my ear, "You're tired."

Cindy overhearing stood up, "Yeah, we should get some sleep guys.  We can come visit tomorrow morning.  Either way finals week is coming up, we should be getting our winter break in about two weeks."

Everyone stood up, except for Zack.  He waited patiently in the chair where many had sat to wait for their loved ones.  I walked over to him and placed my hand against his, "You okay?"

He started twisting his phone in many directions in the palm of his hand, "Just...pissed off."

"You shouldn't be...she's alive Zack." I whispered back and embraced him on a comfortable side hug.  "You shouldn't be upset at the world or the idiot that did this...Samantha is going to need you...especially at a time like this."

He lifted his head up and looked at my face, the emptiness of the look in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine, "Thank you."

I ended up skipping class this morning, obviously because of what happened last night, but my body felt restless.  "Declan?"  I looked around to find the couch empty.  I looked beside me and didn't feel his warm body next to mine.

The time on the clock screen told me that it was already too late to even take a shower.  Quickly, I rose up and dressed myself to catch my next noon class.

I don't know if it was me, but the walls of the university seemed emptier.  Everyone looked rushed and speeding to their next class.  Was life like this all the time?  Or did I just feel like everything is different when I know life can be taken away so easily?

I texted Cindy to make sure she was okay.  She had spent the night at Tyler's house, I don't know if the situation had got them together.  I felt like it was a need that I should be there with Samantha when she woke up.

Taking the news of your baby's death wasn't going to be easy...and I'm sure Zack didn't know how to handle that either.

"Ariel!" I turned around and saw Declan looking super handsome this morning, waving at me like I was the only girl he saw at that moment.