Mylow

In the morning 4 legs, then 2 in the afternoon, and in the evening I walk on 3.

Imiditatly after receiving the phone call, I headed straight to the hospital. Bursting through the doors, I raced to the counter, almost choking on my tears. "Mylow!" Ryan's voice called somewhere far behind. All sounds were muffled through the ringing in my hears. Somehow, as pregnant as I am, I managed to pass him on the race inside. I opened my mouth to speak to the receptionist, but a familiar voice called out to me.

Jerking my head around, I spotted Bailey's mother, Rachel, whose eyes were red. It was clear she was distraught. Dashing toward her, my breath became cumbersome, "Where Is she?" Rachel took my hands into hers, "They have her in the emergency room and won't let anyone back to see her." Ryan appeared at our side, also out of breath. Instantly, he grasped onto my hand, and I squeezed in pain and fear.

"You must be tired, sit down over here, we will wait here for the doctor to come together," Rachel said, wiping a tear from her eye and attempting to smile. I nodded and took the empty seat beside her. Looking up, I see Bailey's father, Dane, pacing the floor while he mumbled to himself in rage. I didn't give him a second glance, and I wondered why he even showed up, she wouldn't want him here anyway. Bailey's four brothers were sat next to their father, John. "Hey, Mylow," Drake said, forcing a grin to his eight-year-old face. I returned his kindness with a warm smile, unable to speak as I wiped a

way a few stray tears.

"This wouldn't have happened if you didn't tell her to pick up her brother from practice, that was your job. It should be you in there!" Dane exclaimed, picking up speed in his pace. Rachel's eyes filled with tears that immediately ran down her cheeks. Instantly, she turned and placed her face into her husband's chest. He welcomed her with open arms and held her tightly to his chest. "Shut up," I snapped in a low growl. After all these years of holding it in, I have been listening to this man's crap. Dean and Rachel both turned to me in shock, John, on the other hand, looked like he was expecting it.

"You have said enough, now shut up and stay quiet. We are here for Bailey, not to listen to you blame her mom. Your child was just in a car accident, and all you are doing is blaming her mother, that's all you have done for five years, and I'm sick of it. Pull your head out of your ass and be there for your daughter, " I hissed and watched as he sat in a nearby seat. "At least someone had the balls to say it," John said as Dane sent an electric stare in his direction. Hours passed. Soon my grandmother showed up along with Tammy. The giggling of Bailey's young brothers brought back old memories that warmed my heart, but it went cold once more when a doctor approached us. The room grew silent as they requested to speak to the family separately. I wanted to break down due to the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.The lump in my throat grew to an epic proportion as I a nurse approached with a sad smile. "Are you Mylow and Ryan?" she asked. We nodded. "Bailey would like to see you," she said, opening a door for us. Silently, we followed the nurse down a long hallway. Just hours ago, in a separate part of the hospital, all three of us were together, discovering I was having a little girl. We stopped outside a door where the nurse explained to us the nature of the situation. Ryan nodded, listening carefully. I could not. My eyes are glued to this sizeable brown door. There was too much thundering in my ears to even partially make out what she was saying. After what felt like hours, we were allowed inside.

Bailey was on a bed. Even though the nurses did their best to clean her, she was still covered in blood. Limitless wires and tubes are running in and out of her body. It took everything I had not to flinch. Bailey's Deep brown eyes weekly rolled to look at me. I realized I had been standing in the same place for too long when she let out a week smile. "hey, guys," she said hardly above a whisper. Within a moment, I was at her side, claiming a place beside her in the bed. "Hey, goober," I began fighting back all my tears, "look at the mess you have gotten yourself into this time." She laughed softly, but then her face turned somber. She spoke hoarsely, "It hurts, they have given me everything they got, but it still hurts." I force a smile on my lips, "once you start to heal, it won't hurt anymore." She regarded me for a long time. Her once dark skin is growing pale. She sighed, "Mylow, I have never lied to you have I," she asked.

"No.," I responded.

"Yea, when I'm better," she smiles softly, showing her teeth but was unable to hold it for long. I was so confused. Ryan seemed to understand what she meant. In a moment, he grabbed my hand and rubbed my arm lovingly. Bailey studied his movements, "I knew y'all were made for each other," She teased, making a blush fight it's way up to my cheeks. I didn't know what to say, she was so injured, yet she was talking about me and my love life. "Good for you two," she said, breaking the silence. "I wish I could have had the time to find love," she said drowsily. "You will, all the blind dates I am going to set you up on, you will be drowning in romance," I insist, releasing Ryan's hand to hold hers. She looked at me in somber disbelief, her wild brown hair in a mess. Slowly I understood, she was not going to make it out of this hospital room. I squeezed her hand tighter, studying every inch of her face. Her hands were so cold. "I am scared, Mylow," she whimpered, "I don't want to die." "You won't--" she cut me off. "Just stop Mylow, I'm not stupid, I'm scared. But I am okay with it. For me, It is not the end. Your little girl will always have me looking over her." I was too choked on tears to respond. "Ryan," her voice was much softer now, "keep my girls safe, and keep an eye on them," she teased, winking at him. Ryan was surprisingly silent but nodded anyway. All three us were so close for so long, and we were all terrified. After looking at us over, Bailey turned her gaze out the window. Silently she watched the rain fall while we took note of every detail on her face. "I like the name Jay" she whispered, her face growing paler by the second.

"It's a beautiful name," I agreed swiping a tear from my cheeks.

"It is," she sighed, "please don't be sad, I get to see my sister very soon. "Bailey--" Rachel's voice gushed as she rushed the bed, grasping her daughter's hand. "Mom, it doesn't hurt anymore," she said as her voice died down. So did her grip on her mother's hand and the life in her eyes.The only sounds in my ears were roaring blood. I could see her mother screaming and the staff rushing to revive her, yet I heard nothing. Ryan had to physically carry me out of the room, not that I was fighting him. I was numb.

I was numb, and she was dead.