Sweet Awakening (Complete Story) by Andrea O'Hanlon

Sweet Awakening Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Four hours later. I am finally arrived in Iowa at seven pm. Stupid ice storm. It delayed everything. It is now dark outside. I text Lisa that I have finally arrived. I got no answer. She must be driving. She never answers her phone when she is driving. So I sit down and pull my book back out. An hour goes by still no answer from Lisa so I call her instead. She picks up on the 3rd ring. "HEY SUNSHINE, I have been waiting awhile. Is the ice that bad?" I hear sniffling coming from the other end. "Are you crying?" I hear her sniffle again trying to get under control. "Something horrible happened." She sniffles again. I wait for her to continue. "I am at the hospital. I just got here. I was just about to call you. Your parent was on their way to pick you up from the airport as a surprise. There was an accident. I called for a cab to pick you up. They should be out front any minute. Please hurry." I grab my bag and run for the front of the airport. Right as I step out into the cold a cab pulls up. "Are you Christine?" the driver asks. I nod yes. I am numb I don't think I could speak right now. "Good get in. Lisa is my friend, and she explained that I need to get you to the hospital fast. It is a ten minutes ride but with this ice I will try to get you there safely." I get into the front seat. My phone dings. Lisa texted me saying she will meet me by the front door. My mind is spinning with all the possibilities of what could be wrong. As soon as the driver put the car in park. I jump out of the car. I turn to grab my stuff. "I will wait here. You can leave your suit case here. No charge. I will be park over there." The driver then pointed to the parking lot.

I turn to go inside and Lisa is right there. She takes my hand and leads me inside. We bypass the ER receptionist. The women just nods her head in acknowledgment. It must be bad if they are just letting us go. Lisa leads me pass other ER patients to a back space where the curtain is pulled shut and she slips inside. I follow her in. Inside the curtain my mom is on the hospital bed with her eyes closed. Her head is wrapped up. "I will get the doctor" Lisa slipped back out the curtain. I am immediately next to my mom's side. I grab her hand to let her know I was there with her. The doctor arrives. "Hello, my name is Dr. Hunt. You must be her daughter." He reaches to shake my hand. "Yes, I am Christine. What is wrong with her and where is my dad?" Dr. Hunt looked down at the clipboard in his hand before speaking. "Your father is in surgery right now. I need to let you know. It doesn't look good. He has lost a lot of blood and has internal bleeding. We are monitoring your mother for internal bleeding as well. Your mother has a lot of internal bruising right now. We have her sedated so she can sleep through the healing process. In a couple hours we can let her wake up so you can speak with her instead of dosing her again." I nod my head yes. "Ok then I will leave you to sit here. We will move her in a couple hour to a private room. Once we are sure she is stable." Dr. Hunt left the area.

Lisa came over to hug me again. "I am so sorry. They wanted to surprise you at the airport. We had planned for this weeks ago. Then out of nowhere winter ice storm blows in. The wind blows a snow and ice covered dead tree down in front of their car. There was no way for them to slow down. They smashed right into the tree." Lisa broke down into tears again. I hugged my best friend close. Murmuring loving word into her hair as we cried together. "It isn't your fault. If you told them not to come. As I am sure you did. That you would do it. My parents are stubborn they would do it anyway." Lisa nod her head on my shoulder. Lisa and I sit down in the chairs that are in the area and talk for a while we wait to hear about my dad.

I wake up. I am slouching in the chair. Lisa is sleeping in the other chair. I look over to check on my mom. She is sitting up looking up at me. "Mom!" I get up and hurry to her side to hug her gently. "It is ok sweet heart. I am ok. Your father and I wanted to surprise you. We should have listen to Lisa. Then we wouldn't have to leave you." I pull back from her. "What do you mean leave me?" My mom reached up to stroke my cheek like she did when I was a child. "I want you to know how proud your father and I are of you. You raised a smart and independent son. You found someone to love and make you happy. You have a successful business." I feel a strong hand on my shoulder. I turn to see my father standing there with a proud smile on his face. "I know I didn't say it much, but I really am proud of you. I love you so much." Tear start to run down my face. "I am sorry that I haven't been around as much as I used to be. I will make sure I see you more." My mom stood up to stand by my dad side. "Sweet heart we are happy that you found Paul and are spending time with him. We both approve of him." My dad nod in agreement. "I should have been home. Instead of in New York or have rented a car to come home. Instead of asking Lisa for a ride. It is all my fault that you are hurt." My mom and my dad reach an arm out to grab a shoulder to pull me closer to them. As they hugged me my mom whisper into my hair. "It isn't your fault. No one can predict the future. It is just how life goes. We must say goodbye now." There is a beeping from far away. "Goodbye?" my parents smile is sad. "I love you." They both say at the same time. Then they start to float backward and fade away. The beeping grows louder. I try to reach for them to bring them back.