The Track and Me

Ten

Jake listened to the voicemail as Maddie comforted me.

"Did you listen to the whole thing?" He asked me kneeling in front of me.

I shook my head no.

"The doctor said it was very mild. She is okay. How about I take you to the hospital?"

"You can't leave. Your friends-" I began.

"You are important to me. More important than anyone here. I'm going to go tell Coach what's going on. Pack up your bag and I'll be back as soon as I can." Jake stood up and walked out of the room.

Maddie didn't leave my side. After a few minutes I stood up and began throwing things into my bag.

Within minutes Jake was back carrying his bag. He took my bag from my hands and held my hand with his spare hand.

Next thing I knew we were in the car on our way to the hospital.

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"Grandma!" I said running into her room hugging her.

"I told them not to call you. Hunny, I'm fine." She said wiping the tears from my eyes. "See?" She said as she began to throw her feet off the side of the bed.

"No." I said stopping her. "You need to rest."

"This is why I told them not to call you. They got you all worked up over nothing."

"This is something! I could had lost you and then what would I have had. You're the only family I have left."

She softly looked at me. "But you didn't. I'm fine." She held my hand as I sat down in the chair beside her bed.

"Jake!" She smiled once she seen him leaning on the door frame.

"Margaret, I'm glad to see you looking so well." He said walking into the room sitting beside me.

"I see you kept my granddaughter in one piece." She said smiling at the two of us.

Jake didn't say anything. He just smiled.

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A couple hours passed and I went to stretch my legs as grandma napped.

"You should go home. You don't need to stay here." I said as Jake walked with me.

"You need me right now. I'm not leaving."

"I'm sorry." I said tearing up. "I'm a mess. I would completely understand if after all this you didn't want to see me anymore. I act like a child all the time that can't hold herself together. I'm constantly bursting at the seams. I'm-"

Jake stopped me as he took both my hands in his. "I'm not going to leave you. I told you. We will get through this."

He brought me to his chest. I believed his words. He let me go for a minute to give me some space as he went back into my grandma's room.

How did I get so lucky to have someone like Jake in my life? I ask myself that frequently but I can't help but wonder how long it will last.

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"Hunny," grandma says as I walk back into the room. "I've been talking to Jake and I think we should talk."

"Okay?"

"Sweetie. Your attacks aren't getting any better. I think we should go to a doctor. Maybe talk to a therapist or some medication?"

"You agreed to this?" I said looking at the both of them. "I'm fine. I'm not crazy. I don't need to be put on medication. It's just..... I"

"Carrie," Jake said standing up walking towards me. "You aren't crazy. It's just a suggestion."

"Stay away from me. I'm fine. I don't need that. Any of it."

"Hunny, you aren't eating. You're getting very thin. Your hair isn't as healthy as it was. I just want you to be healthy. Sweetie, you aren't crazy. This will help you." My grandma looked pitiful in the hospital bed talking about what's wrong with me.

"What if it doesn't help?" I said as a tear fell down my cheek.

"Then we will go from there." Jake said wiping the tear away.

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Jake talked to me throughout the night. He told me he was on medication for depression and he was also hesitant at first but it does help.

"You may think you're weak because you are needing and asking for help, but you are so much stronger admitting you have a problem." Jake said as he held my hand.

I decided to call in the morning to make an appointment with my doctor. I was still scared but what else can I do?

Jake put his arm around me and pulled me into his chest. I was so lucky to have him. I told myself I wouldn't get close to Jake Stanley. Not only can't I imagine my life without him, I fell in love with someone I never thought would ever come into my life.

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"Come on." I said smiling as I motioned Jake closer to the curb.

"Jake you didn't have to drive me home." My grandma said as he opened the passenger side of his car.

"Now Margaret, you know I couldn't just leave you here." He said smiling.

She hit his arm as she sat into the seat and closed the door.

"Thank you" I said smiling at Jake. "For everything."

"I would do it all again."

"I know." I got on my tip toes and kissed his cheek. I quickly turned around and put the wheel chair back into the hospital. I glanced back towards him and noticed a smile on his face.

He opened the door for me as a approached the car. I got in as he shut the door. He didn't say a word and there wasn't anything left to say.