To the Point of Shatter

2. Aiden

        I pull my ear away when her phone hits the pavement. I think she's just dropped it accidentally, juggling with her keys and bags to get into the car and am not immediately alarmed. But when I listen again, I hear scrambling footsteps and my wife crying out in the distance. I start shouting her name into the phone, alternating with listening intently for signs that she's alright. But of course she's not alright. My heart is racing so fast I actually have chest pain. I cover my other ear with my hand and concentrate, squeezing my eyes shut. There is a man's voice, threatening, but too low for me to make out the words. I start calling for her again, but I know she is in trouble. With my ear still pressed to my cell, I run to the wall phone that hangs in the kitchen and dial 911. I quickly tell them that I am on my other phone with my wife and that I can hear her being attacked. Just as I finish telling the dispatcher this, I hear Abby scream. A real scream, and though it's muffled, it pierces through me and I feel fear like I have never known in my life. I hang up on the operator and sprint across the street, pounding on Chloe's door. As she opens it in her nightgown and robe, Abby's phone goes silent. We've been disconnected.

        "Oh, thank God you're home! Something's happened to Abby. She was on the phone and she screamed and...can you watch Ava? I have to go. I have to go there right now!" I gush. Her passive face darkens with concern.

        "What? Wait...go where?" she asks. I grab her hand and start pulling her. She barely gets her front door shut.

        "I have to go to Abby. She was at work." I am crying. I don't even realize it until Chloe grabs a hold of me on the front porch of my place. She has her hands on both sides of my face, forces me to stop and look at her.

        "Aiden. Breathe," she instructs calmly. I do. I take a deep breath, let it out, rub my eyes with my fingers.

        "Please," I beg. "Just stay with Ava. I have to be where she is. She needs me."

        "Be careful," she nods, and I am gone, grabbing my topsiders from the foyer, my keys from the table there. I throw the Jeep into reverse and leave Chloe on our front porch watching me go.

        Abby's office is 20 minutes away down I-95. I make it in nine. I am shaking all over and no matter how I try to calm down, I can't. My adrenaline soaked brain has me frantic. I am thankful for little traffic.

        Please.

        It's the only word in my head. Just...please.

        There are two police cars blocking the entrance to the parking garage as I screech to a halt behind them. I run to them, not even thinking to turn off the car's engine.

        "Where is she?" I demand. "My wife. Where is she? I'm the one that called you. I heard-" and then I choke up. One of the cops approaches me and touches my forearm.

        "They're working on her up there," she points behind him at the garage and I see red lights flashing on the second level. I break away and start to run.

        "Sir! You can't-" she calls, but I am able to dart around them and take the garage ramp at a dead run.

        "She's my life!" I shout, not even realizing I use that word instead of wife. They are both true.

        I round the corner to the second level and see a fire rescue truck and an ambulance in addition to another police car. On the pavement lay the form of my Abby, several paramedics swarming around her. I cry out and the only reason I know this is that the first-responders look up at me. It is completely involuntary. And mu sole focus is Abby.