I made it, Ma

viii

Skaylers breath deepened as she looked at herself. She was currently seated in the car, just outside of the stadium they were set to play at.

Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, as she had tossed it onto the passenger seat before she had started driving. Huffing softly, she grabbed it tightly before turning the screen around to face her. 

It was a notification for an email she got. Opening her phone, she fiddled around with the different apps before finally opening the email.

'Skayler,

I understand that this time would probably come as soon as you had, but I wanted to be the first to inform you about this new change. The Milwaukee Brewers' head coach Craig Counsell has recently been looking through our roster, trying to find a pitcher, due to their sudden dry spell of decent pitching.

I know that I am probably not anywhere near your first coach, nor will I ever be your last, but I want to be the one who you think of when you think back to this day.

Skayler Vuksan, I have gotten the news that you-'

A knocking sound echoed through her car and she looked up, seeing Matthew. He was one of her teammates, currently, and he was pointing towards the stadium. She nodded, waving him off before turning her phone off and getting out.

After she collected her things, she locked the car and jogged into the visitors locker room, throwing her stuff down and getting ready. Skayler glanced at her phone, which she left in her bag, before sitting down and grabbing it.

Opening it, she scrolled back down the email that she had been reading.

'I have gotten news that you will be moving up. The Milwaukee Brewers are asking you to sign a contract deal with them. This will leave you in history as the first woman to sign a contract that permits you to stand on a Major League Baseball mound. You will pitch to another mlb team.'

Her jaw was open, heart hammering in her chest as she felt like she had butterflies in her stomach. She smiled, laughed and jumped up. Her arms flung above her head, leaving her dancing in the empty room. Her eyes were wide, smile even wider.

"Skayler, I see you read the email," she squealed and jumped into her coaches arms, wrapping them around him so tightly.

She smiled, holding him away at an arms length.

"You did it," he said.

"I couldn't've done it without any of the people around me," she spun around. "What do I do?"

He smiled.

"I'll help you through this, as I've done so many others before," he waved her off, before telling her to change back into normal clothes and tell her teammates.

~

The goodbye hadn't be the best thing. A few were happy for her, others were irked and there were the select few who completely ignored her or voiced their (rude) opinions. She'd ignored them all and had followed the instructions of her coach, responding to the email she'd gotten from Counsell, before meeting up with him to make everything set in stone, giving her the contracts to sign, explaining everything to her and how it would work.

She was sent home, two days after learning she would be moving up, and had to soak everything in.

Skaylers phone started ringing, and, thinking it was Counsell to add anything he forgot, she took her time picking it up.

"Is this Skayler Vuksan?" She paused, uncertain.

"Yes, this is," she said back, looking at the unknown number that was calling her.

"Your mother was recently found to have been a victim of a hostile break in, we are currently admitting her to the hospital for emergency surgery. We can explain everything now, if you wish, or if you come down to the hospital we are capable of explaining it in person," Skayler had already launched herself off of her bed, sprawling across the floor as she struggled to get her shoes on before hobbling out the door, trying to get her coat on.

"Yeah, I'll be right there!" She gasped out, sprinting to her car and launching herself inside.

The drive to the hospital, however quick, felt like an eternity had passed. Her stomach sank in fear, hands gripping the steering wheel as tightly as possible before she had to calm herself down at a stop light.

Inhaling softly, she drummed her fingers against the wheel, glancing furtively back at her phone every few seconds, waiting for the call that would change her life.

Her foot nearly floored the pedal when the light turned green, and she bit her lip as a way of stopping anything from coming out of her mouth, or to keep her crying away.

Skayler eventually made it to the hospital and had sprinted in, seeing the ambulance and the paramedics hustling around.

One woman walked over, "Ma'am?" It was the woman from the call.

"My mother- she, you called- I came- what happened?" She stumbled over her words, changing the sentence quickly.

The woman pulled her over, away from the hustling of the people trying to do their work.

"We found evidence of a break in, there were stab wounds and bullet wounds on her body, the neighbors had called the police after hearing the gunshots. We believe it was in attempt to get to you, but she was unconscious when we found your mother and we had to hurry to keep her alive. She's lost a lot of blood, almost to a fatal point, and we aren't sure if we can acquire enough to save her," the woman swallowed thickly, Skaylers eyes distant and tear-filled. Her jaw trembled before she wiped her nose.

"Do you have any suspects?" Skayler whispered, in a voice that was hurt and broken. The woman shook her head. "What happens if you can't get enough blood?" That part was almost silent.

A hand rubbed along her back.

"Sweetheart, we will try our hardest to make your mother live as long as possible, but it all comes down to her own decision or yours, if she doesn't wake up," the woman paused briefly, licking her lips. "I would probably wait here and say your goodbyes once she is cleared to have visitors. Anybody else we should inform?"

Skayler shook her head. "I can do it," she sniffled before slumping back in her seat, shoulders down and heavy.

James. She had to call James.