"Steven! I'm calling 911," I cried
I didn't know what was happening in that household, but it wasn't good. I clicked the 'end' button on my phone and dialed the three numbers I hoped I would never have to.
"911 what's your emergency?"
"I was talking to my boyfriend on the phone and suddenly I hear choking noises and a loud bang. He lives at 1985 North Street. I don't know what's wrong, but something definitely isn't right," I said with a panicked voice.
"Alright we are sending the authorities that way," the lady said.
I hung up on her. I'm not sure if I was supposed to stay on the line or not, but I had to call Steven's dad to see if I could wake him up. I dialed the familiar number and sat through four rings before trying again. In the process of repeatedly calling the house, I grabbed my keys and ran out the front door.
When the car came alive I peeled out of the driveway and made my way towards Steven's house. Ignoring the 'no cellphones while driving' law, I held the phone up to my ear as I continued to ring Steven's house.
"God dammit!" I yelled and threw my phone on the seat next to me.
I drove well over the speed limit as I flew down the main street. I made two lefts and then a right before I reached North Street.
I jumped out of my car, not even bothering to turn it off, and raced for the door. I slid the spare key out from under the mat and jammed it into the door handle.
After a few seconds of fiddling with the lock - they needed to get it replaced, it was worn down and the key didn't fit anymore - I threw the door open.
As I rushed inside, I immediately ran for the kitchen. "Bob! Sarah!" I screeched as I ran to Steven.
As soon as I saw him I knew something was terribly wrong. His normally tanned skin was purple in his face. I panicked and started screaming.
I didn't know what was wrong, and I definitely didn't know how to do CPR. Bob came running down the stairs just as I heard the cry of the sirens.
"What happened?" he yelled.
"I-I don't know. I was talking to him on the phone and then there was strange noises followed by a loud bang. I have no idea," I didn't realize I was crying until I stuttered.
A paramedic came through the open door and when he saw Steven he called for a stretcher. Next thing I know Steven was being whisked away and the cop was questioning me. I told him everything I knew, then drove with Sarah to the hospital.
Despite my pleading, I wasn't allowed to ride with Steven in the ambulance. Bob rode with him though and was waiting for us there. "What do you think happened?" Sarah asked.
"I don't fucking know," I seethed.
I highly despised this woman. She was ridiculously over dramatic and asked too much of Steven. She even asks too much of me when I'm at their house and I don't even live there. I can't tell you how many times I've mopped her floor and cleaned her bedroom.
"Don't get snappy with me."
"Don't tell me what to do bitch," I shot back.
I was contemplating stopping the car, considering I was the one driving and it was my car. But I figured Bob wouldn't like that much and would prevent me from seeing Steven.
When we got to the hospital, I turned the ignition off and ran for the emergency entrance. As I walked through the doors I was assaulted with the smell of cleaning supplies. I saw Bob and immediately ran to him.
"What's his condition?" I asked, frantically.
" I don't know," he said distantly.
I sat next to him in silence for the next 2 hours. Well, I was silent, Sarah was a different story. She was stroking Bob's arm and cooing, 'it's gonna be alright' to him. I found her ridiculously annoying and I could tell Bob didn't appreciate it either.
"Sarah can you go home and get me my cell phone? I need to make some calls," he finally said.
"Sure honey," she smiled.
I handed over my cars keys willingly. I wasn't sad to see her go.
"Thank you," I sighed.
"Annoying huh?" he asked.
I nodded. Ten minutes later a doctor came into the waiting room, "the Chase family?"
Bob and I stood and the doctor walked over to us. He wore a poker face, showing no emotion. But as soon as he reached us his face softened, "I'm sorry. He didn't make it. It appears that he woke up for a midnight snack and a grape got lodged in his throat. It appears that he tried to get it out, but had no luck. He did from lack of oxygen."
My jaw dropped. He died from a grape? How the fuck way to die was that?
Suddenly the realization that my boyfriend was dead hit me and I broke down. Bob was also crying and he hugged me.
"Sure I'm sorry to ask this in your state of hurt, but will you come fill out some paper work?" the doctor asked.
Bob nodded and left me.
Death by grape. That sure is one hell of a way to leave me alone in this world Steven.
I walked out of the hospital doors and sat on the curb crying until I saw my car pull up. Sarah saw my face and hers fell. To my surprise she started crying as well. She bent down to hug me and I accepted it. I took my keys and got in my car. I sat in the driver's seat for a while and let the tears spill.
I turned the ignition on and drove away, I would never be the same again. I also left with a new fear of grapes.
