She's Golden

~ Chapter Three ~

"Wait what?" I exclaimed.

"She was on her way to my house, and she crashed. I don't know how and I don't know when, the police called me about an hour ago and I got straight into my car and drove to the hospital. While I was there she was asleep, but the first thing I thought to do was pick you up." Tom told me.

"So we're going to the hospital?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yep." He said.

I couldn't hold back my tears any longer, and I covered my face with my hands as we made our way to the hospital.

"Is she gonna be okay?" I asked him, but there was no response.

"Let's go," he said as the car pulled to a stop.

I looked up to see the tall building towering over us, and I got out of the car along with Tom. He put his arm around my shoulder and we walked in. Tears still streamed down my face as he checked us in, and we were led to my mom's room.

As we walked all I could think about was what life would be like without my mom, all I could hear was my racing heartbeat and the way my feet tapped against the concrete floor of the hospital, and all I could feel was the painful anxiety in my chest and the lump forming in my throat from holding back the sobs that I so desperately wanted to let out.

We walked into a room and there she was.

My mom was sat up in her bed, wide awake and speaking to a doctor. The sound of the door opening caught her attention and she swung her head in my direction, locking eyes with me and a warm grin spread across her face.

"Mom!" I cried, letting my tears fall. I ran over to her and hugged her, she wrapped an arm around me as I cried into her shoulder. I looked up at her, her blue eyes glazed with pain.

"Hey sweetie," she said finally. Her voice was raspy.

"What happened?" I asked, and I backed up. It wasn't until then that I saw the white cast wrapped around her left arm which was held up in a sling. "Your arm," I gasped, "are you okay?"

"Yes I'm okay. I got in a crash on my way to Tom's house, I only broke my arm. I'll be fine." She answered, her smile fading. It looked as if she were in pain.

"She also has minor whiplash, but if she follows the proper care methods we have provided her, it should be better within two months." The doctor added. I looked back at Tom, who had the brightest smile on his face and relief-filled eyes.

"When is she able to come home?" Tom asked, and everyone turned their heads and looked expectantly at the doctor.

"I just need to grab a few things for her to take home and you can be on your way." He said, smiling kindly at us. "She is not to be allowed to drive until she is fully healed, no whiplash and no broken arm."

He left the room along with the nurse who led us here, so Tom and I took seats by my mom.

"How'd you crash?" Tom asked, curiosity flickering in his voice. I giggled at his child-like personality. I liked that he could be serious, but knew when it was appropriate to mess around and be goofy.

"Well I was driving down 154th," she began while sitting up in her bed, "and I came to a stop at a 4-way intersection. It was my turn to go, so I went forward, then some idiot came from the right of me and drove straight into my car."

I frowned, "so you have to go through this medical stuff because of some stupid driver who doesn't know the rules of the road?"

She nodded.

"I'm sorry, honey." Tom said, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

My mom smiled, "it's okay. Let's just be grateful I'm not badly hurt and that I get to go home and be with you two."

The doctor knocked on the door and walked in, a few items in his hands. "Okay. So we have here a neck brace that you need to wear for at least 12 hours of each day, and some pain relievers in case the pain in your neck or arm get too extreme. And here are a extra few wraps for your arm and an extra sling just in case."

Tom took the items and held them in one hand as my mom got out of her bed and walked over to Tom and I. We all went downstairs and Tom paid the small medical bill, then we walked out the doors and got in the car. Tom drove, my mom sat in the passenger seat, and I sat in the back. I knew it would take some getting used to, my mom having a cast and a neck brace, but I didn't care. I was just glad that she was alive and well.

That evening I helped my mom put on her neck brace to sleep in, and I gave her water and a snack. I tucked her in bed and got her comfortable. Tom decided to stay the night that night and be there in case my mom needed help doing anything or if there was an emergency.

I said good night and headed to my bedroom, getting in my bed and covering myself in blankets. Tomorrow was Saturday so there was no school, but I was extra tired so I fell right asleep instead of staying up really late like I usually would.

As I fell asleep a great feeling of happiness overcame me, and I couldn't stop feeling thankful that everything was okay.