Dusty Shelves

Phone Calls

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Ruby

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I woke up from the sound of my phone jingling next to me and rolled over. I grabbed at it and answered the unfamiliar number.

"Hello?" I asked huskily. The clock said it was 8:00.

"Oliver?" I heard Carlos' voice ring through the receiver. I nearly dropped the phone at the sound of his voice. I looked over at Alice who was still sleeping and got out of bed. I shut the door behind me and went into the kitchen.

"Carlos?"

"Yeah" he said quickly and he sounded like he was in a rush.

"Why are you calling me?" I asked almost angrily.

"You need to get to St George hospital" he said and I could hear the worry in his voice.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Hurry up. Do you need me to pick you up? You don't have a car"

"Uh" I said and looked back to the bedroom. I didn't want to get Alice involved with whatever it was. "Yeah. But what is going on?"

"It's your mum" he said quietly and my stomach constricted. It felt as if there were ropes being pulled tight around me and I couldn't breathe. I tried to control and recover my breathing and nodded my head.

"Be here as soon as you can"

"Right. I'll be there in 10" he said and I hung up before he could say anymore.

I left a note on the counter telling her not to worry and that she could call me when she woke up. I felt bad for leaving so quickly but as soon as Carlos mentioned my mother, I just acted without thinking.

We were driving down the highway to the hospital and I was near hyperventilation.

"Calm down" Carlos said as he pulled into the parking lot. As he killed the engine, I turned to look at him.

"What happened?"

"Let's go inside" he said and headed for his handle. I I slammed my hand against his chest to stop him and stared at him.

"What. Happened" I repeated slowly.

"She had an overdose. Ecstasy. I don't know if she's going to pull through. From the sounds of it she swallowed a shit load of the stuff" he said and stared out the windshield. "I'm sorry Oliver" he said and looked at me. I didn't return his look or accept his apology. I was still mad with him.

"What room is Stephanie Jarvis in?" I asked at the reception desk where a young girl was sitting. She looked up at me and smiled slowly.

"Hi there" she said and I pounded my fists on the top of the counter.

"What room!?"

"224, second floor" a round lady sitting a few metres next to the young girl told me. I nodded my thanks and made a dash for the closing elevator. Carlos said he was going to get some coffee from the cafeteria and he would meet me up at the room.

When I got to the room I stopped. I didn't know whether or not I could see my mother laying there hooked up to machines. I never had a close relationship with her but she was my mother; my flesh and blood; the one who had given birth to me. I still loved her even if she was usually so dugged up to love me back.

As I was contemplating whether or not to make a run for it, a small nurse exited the room and walked into me.

"Pardon me" she said and kept walking.