unexpected.

The Call

Tanner's POV

I woke up to the sound of my phone going off in the middle of the night, I look up to see what time the clock says. The bright red numbers appear to say '1:45 a.m' all I could think about is who in their right mind would call me this late?

I pull the phone close to my ear, saying the shortest and tiredest response. "Hello?" I hear a few deep sighs before the caller states his business. "Hello, Mrs. McCray?"

I'd soon look down at the caller ID. It was our local hospital. I'd know because of the many trips that my family had to take for my younger brother, Christian.

I'd then be quite concerned, knowing my parents went to bingo tonight. "Yes, Is something wrong?"

I can remember my heart literally sink as the man said the next words. "I'm sorry to inform you, but you're parents have just been rushed to our facilities. And their in critical condition."

I felt the skin on my jaw stretch as my mouth dropped. Tears began pouring down from my eyes.

"How'd this happen? What happened? Where are they?" These questions fell from my mouth faster than I've ever spoken before.

"I can't give vivid details over the phone, you should come down for further information." I hung up the phone instantly hearing that. I rushed into Christian's room, telling him to wake up and put his shoes on.

I had to explain to him what happened on the car ride there, I could hear his tiny gasps for air between cries. I'd look back every once-in-a-while to check on him. He'd always fake smile, aswell as I to keep strong. We arrived at the hospital about a half an hour later. The car-ride being awfully silent and long. I arrived to the front desk frantic, holding my brothers hand.

"M-My parent's were just admitted here, their the McCrays. I just got the phone call--" The lady looked up at me and began to check her records. She looked up at me soon, and my heart sunk.

"Your parent's are in critical condition, their both being held in the ICU." She clicked off the wide screen computer.

"Can we see them?!" I said frantic still, my hands shaking. My little brother tightened his grip on my hand to help stop them from shaking so horribly.

"Sadly.. No, you can't. You'll have to have an adult with you. Do you have anybody that you could call?" She said with a sympathitic look on her face.

"My grandparents.." I lead my little brother over to the waiting area, soon walking back over giving them their number. My grandparents arrived shortly after.

My grandmother instantly hugged me and whispered in my ear.

"It's okay, baby-doll. We're here now, we'll get you back there." She said kissing my forehead. My grandfather went and sat with Christian, letting him cry into his chest. I got an ache in my chest seeing him cry like that.

"Right this way.." The nurse lead us four back into the splitted room. And there lied my two unconscious critical conditioned parents.

Christian started balling much more, I couldn't help but to do the same. I hugged him into my chest as I was alarmed by a loud beeping noise. The monitor for my father was flat-lined. The nurses rushed in, escorting us out.

"What's going on?!" I yelled out.

"Tanner, What's happening?" My brother cried.

"Kids, come on.. We have to go.." My grandparents pulled us back. I struggled before giving up.

We sat in the waiting room again, my brother cried himself to sleep in my lap. I look at my phone, I had so many people that was worried about them. But every call I just froze, I didn't know what to say to anybody. Soon the doctor came out, with that face you only see in movies.

"I'm sorry, but--" He didn't even have to finish the words before I broke down into tears. Making sure not to wake my brother up. "Your father has passed." I looked up at the doctor, him handing me an entire box of tissues.

"If you'd like to see your mother, you can now.." He said trying to make me feel better, like my father didn't just die. Like my whole world wasn't falling apart and I couldn't do anything about it.

"I think, I'll have my brother get some rest. Maybe in a little bit. If that's alright?" I said to the doctor.

"Alright, I'll ask you again shortly." He said patting my shoulder.

Hours later..

A few hours have passed, I was sitting in my mothers room now. Holding her fragile hands, and playing with her long beautiful red hair. I couldn't stand seeing her hooked up to all the machines. My brother was laying next to her in the bed. Snuggling up to her must've felt amazing.

I wish I could.

I looked up to see my aunt, her face red and splouchy like she was crying. I instantly got up to hug her close. She began to cry again, along with me this time.

"It's okay, It's gonna be okay." She said into my shoulder.

"It's never going to be okay." I said back, being compeletely honest.

We stayed like this for a good five minutes before stopping. I sat back down on the couch as she mad her way over to my mother. She kissed her forehead like she used to do when they were kids. They had a bond like me and Christian. Exactly the reason why I can't stand seeing him like this now. But I know how It feels, cause we both just lost the best things to have ever happened to us.

"Are you two going home tonight?" She asked.

"I don't think so, he's pretty tired. And It's a very long drive, I don't think I can handle it. And I don't want to leave her." I choked up a bit.

"Okay, Call me later on tonight. I wish I could stay. But Seth can't stay with your grandparents forever." She said before kissing my cheek goodbye.

Seth was my little baby cousin, born just a few months ago. This complicated my aunts life, having to be a single mother, working part-time and having to handle her sister in critical condition.

I waved her goodbye before taking my original seat on the chair, I felt my self drifting asleep. And then suddenly, I was. I usually dream amazing dreams about my new day, but this dream was blank. Nothing, I dreamt of nothing. Just black. And I realized, this is my life.. Just a black gaping hole now.