the three of us {chim}

Piece 119

Author's POV

"What's happening to her?!" Cheryl asks the nurses as they hold her back. The mother doesn't mean to turn violent but she wants to see her daughter. Even losing sight of Camille for a split second broke her down. All the mother wants is for her child to be safe and for her to know that she is.

"Ms Tweedy, she's going to need some help to keep a steady heartbeat." One of the nurses explains and Cheryl falls into Kimberley's arms as a response. The nurse says it so calmly as if she's filled with hope. On the other hand, Cheryl's hope is fading by the second.

"Shh, c'mere," Kimberley whispers as she takes Cheryl off of the nurses. They stand at the window of the room as a doctor uses the defibrillator to give the teen's heart the jump it needs.

Another shock. And another. And another.

The doctor does everything he can before it's too much. After the tenth shock, his arms fall limp and he looks at the main nurse. Cheryl and Kimberley let all the emotions flow out of them slowly like the beats of Camille's failing heart. Cheryl protectively wails and almost falls to the floor from instability. Kimberley holds her up with all her strength, struggling to even hold her own weight.

"God, no, please no!" Kimberley whisper yells and puts her hand on the glass window. She peers in as she holds Cheryl's body close and attempts to focus on her and Camille. And suddenly, the world falls apart.

Memories of Camille flood the mothers' minds. They didn't know that the value of the small moments until now — as they have turned to memories. Camille gave them so much to remember yet they don't forget a thing.  All the months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds they spent loving her were coming down to this moment.  All their love needed to be forced into the atmosphere to be sent off to Camille — in hopes to restart her heart on its own.

*Beep*

Kimberley and Cheryl look up along with the doctors and nurses. Another beep is heard and it signals that Camille's heartbeat is slowly picking itself back up. Dr Ellington releases a sigh of relief and picks up her clipboard. She writes down the ascending pulse and keeps track of each beat.  Camille's chest rises up and down, conveying her liveliness.  Dr Ellington stands next to her bed and gazes down to the teen.

"Gave me a right shock, you did." Dr Ellington smiles and rubs Camille's hand.  The teen is still unconscious but no word goes to waste - Camille hears every single one.

"They can come in now." Dr Ellington waves to Cheryl and Kimberley and sends a nurse to guide them in.  The two frightened mothers' rush to their daughter's bedside and stroke her face.

"She's okay, now.  Her heartbeat is a few paces behind a normal pattern.  Anytime soon now, she just needs her time." The doctor smiles once again and Cheryl envies it.  She wants to be able to smile and have a mind full of hope.  Kimberley, on the other hand, has gained some strength from the doctor and nurses, who are certain that Camille will be awake soon.

"Is she okay?!" A familiar voice quivers behind Cheryl and she dares to turn around and face the woman. There stands Nicole - crying, shaking, fidgeting. Cheryl furrows her brows and Nicole explains that the doctor sent her down the corridor because of the brief fright that just occurred.

"She's fine-" Kimberley begins to answer but Cheryl is fed up with everyone and everything.

"I don't want you anywhere near this room." Cheryl stands her ground and puts her foot down. Camille is her baby and no one else's. Sara gave up her mothering rights when she abandoned Camille by age seven, James gave up his fathering rights when he left the both of them before Camille was ever born, and Nicole never had any rights.