Texting Prince Charming

Interlude Part 5

Song is "Mad World" my favorite remake of the Tears for Fears rendition.

Warning*** we are not out of the woods yet lovelies with the sad stuff and you are forewarned.

My mother grasped my arm, tethering me to that spot. "Sebastian, I can't. I don't--"

The monitor's alarm buzzing a shrill monotone cut her off. A mixture of a few nurses and another doctor dashed to Shelby's aid.

They started chest compressions, and I had to look away. It was too much. All of it was too much.

"Mom, please?" My voice caught in the back of my throat.

Other hospital personnel scattered about as two paramedics ushered in a gurney with another person in need of help. Mason and Luke peeked their heads into the hallway to see the flurry of activity.

"What is happening?" I heard Luke ask.

I couldn't find the words to speak. The lump in my throat saw to that. Instead, I stared at my mother, hoping the weight of everything would vanish.

My legs wanted to give way as I watched the doctor placing the paddles to revive Shelby, my Shelby, on her chest.

He called, "Clear." There was a muffled oomph noise as her little body bounced on the table. He gazed at the monitor, waiting to see if it helped. If it made a difference.

There was no change.

I stumbled to the side once the ground seemed to move beneath me. The room spun, and I couldn't catch my breath. It was far too hot, and there was nothing more to keep me here anyway. Turning as fast as I could without throwing myself even more off balance, I started down the hallway toward the exit.

It was a little hard to discern, but I swore my mom told me to "go to the waiting room until Robin arrives," at some point.

A simple head bow was the only response I mustered. I was already rushing as quickly as my weary legs would carry me.

My movements, unsteady, only progressed by using the wall as a mediary support. A few people walked past, a couple brushing into my arm and murmuring their incoherent words. I needed fresh air. To breath something other than the over processed air wafting through the vents to mask the awful stench of this place.

Luckily someone opened the closed door as I needed to make my way through. My eyes stayed peeled to the floor, counting my long strides until the automatic double doors parted and a gust of damp, chilly wind welcomed me. Once outside the main entrance, I breathed deep enough to fill my lungs. Only it caused me to gag on the bile at the back of my throat. I doubled over and made it just in time to a row of nearby bushes before vomiting.

"Are you all right?" a male voice asked. It sounded familiar enough that I turned to the source.

"Ummm." I cleared my throat a couple of times, trying to rid the hoarseness. "I'm fine. Thanks."

"Are you, Sebastian?" he asked and stopped moving once his feet hit the edge of the sidewalk.

I stood straight, trying to find my bearings. Only that awful clenching in my stomach meant another wave of nausea could strike at any moment. "Yes."

The man, in his mid to late forties by the look of it, rubbed his hands down his face. "I don't know if you remember me. But I'm Chris Ryan. Kyle and Shelby's uncle."

Shit. That explained the puffiness to his eyes along with the blotchy red streaks to his cheeks. Chris must have received a call letting him know about the accident and Tom and Tonya and Kyle and...