Obscurity

Chapter 28: Counselor

Sierra

I'm halfway to the nurses station before Alma hits the floor. I rush over to her and cradle her head in my arms. Dr. Summers is directing nurses to get her to medical while he's checking her pulse. Everyone is rushing in different directions. Chris stands there looking dumbfounded.

Three nurses come over to where we are and circle around us.

"Sierra. Please move." Dr. Summers says as the nurses try to lift Alma up. "She'll be fine. Her pulse is strong."

"But I-"

"Just move along. She'll be okay."

"I want to go with her." I plead, refusing to let go of her.

"It's not necessary." Chris chimes in.

I ignore him and concentrate on Dr. Summers. I'm trying to keep my cool, but I can feel the emotions stirring up inside me. I want to lash out at Chris for causing this. I want to claw his eyes out. I can't, though.

I see Nick out of the corner of my eye standing just a few feet away. A look of horror masking his normally neutral face. He glares at Chris like he wants to murder him.

"Please, Dr. Summers. She's my friend." I beg some more.

Dr. Summers considers my request for a brief moment and then nods to one of the nurses.

"Very well. But you can't stay over there long." He's referring to Medical.

"Oh my God, thank you." I say full of gratitude. I rise up to my knees and help the nurses pick Alma up. We carry her down to the door at the end of the East Hall and through to Medical.

When we reach the exam room, a nurse pats Alma's face, almost smacking it.

"Come on, wake up." She says. She does this several times before Alma's eyes roll open slightly.

She looks wildly around the room. I grab her hand and hold it tight.

"It's okay. It's okay Alma. It's just us." I tell her soothingly.

Her eyes stop darting around the room but the look of shock still remains. She stares at the nurses and then looks at me.

"Where is he?" she asks, she's terrified.

"He's not here." I say confidently.

"Sierra..."

"Shh. It's fine. You're fine now." I tell her.

"What the hell happened?"

"Looks like you had a panic attack," one of the nurses speaks up from behind me, "And bumped your head." She finishes.

Alma reaches up and rubs the back of her head. She stares at the wall. I continue to hold her hand.

After a moment, she looks down at her clothes and begins to cry. She's just noticed she wet herself from being so afraid.

"It's okay." I let out an uncomfortable laugh. "We'll get it taken care of."

"What the fuck is wrong with me?" She sobs. She pulls her hand from mine and covers her face. She cries loudly into her hands. I sit back and let her process everything.

"Can we get a gown or something? She needs a shower." I tell the one remaining nurse. She nods and takes off to fetch the needed supplies.

When she returns, she hands me the towel and clothing.

"I just need to check and make sure your head is okay." She says, reaching around Alma to turn her head. She looks her over. "Nope, don't need any stitches, thank goodness." She says warmly.