"You have to be brave, Muriel, for them."
My grandmother was holding my mom's hand, sitting in Saint Angelo Mission hospital on wooden chairs in the waiting area. My grandfather had his arm over Gina's shoulder, her eyes gleamed when she saw me. Simon was there too. He was standing at the large reception desk having a conversation with that same dark skinned, petite nurse.
"But why me, mom, why..." my mother sobbed on grandma's shoulder. She looked disoriented, "why would God do this to me?"
"Roman." Gina broke away from grandpa's grip and ran to me, instantaneously wrapping her arms around me.
"What's happening? Gina."
It was Jonah. Gina took me outside the hospital to explain. Mom had dropped him off at the day care like she always did but they called her a few hours later. One of the new workers had given Jonah regular baby food, she also didn't give him his morning shots – no one instructed her to. They rushed him to the hospital as quickly as possible.
We waited anxiously but faintly in the waiting area. My mother was glued on my grandmother. Francie's nurse aid saw me from down the hall and rushed to meet me.
"Roman." She smiled warmly, "I thought you weren't coming today. We moved her down to ward A in the left wing if you were wondering. And she is doing much better."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. She even asked about you. You should have seen her face when you didn't show up yesterday, she was devastated."
"Actually, I'm not here to see her."
Her expression deflated.
"My younger brother fell ill," I explained.
"Oh, my. I am dreadfully sorry."
Jonah's doctor emerged. My mother almost tripped over running to him.
"Doctor!"
YOU ARE READING
When You Are Gone
Teen Fiction...I guess I didn't love her enough because I didn't understand. I didn't understand how people could just disappear from one's life like they never existed. How Daniel could drive the Range Rover and never look back, how Jonah could just leave for...
