Surviving The Aftermath [Book Three]

Fifteen

Demi

"Baby..."

"Mama" the cry that came from my daughter terrified me to my very core. Kobe quickly pushed himself up from his chair and grabbed Kyra from hers. He lowered her down to the floor as he started to grab the dogs leashes from the table leg.

"You're okay, Baby" tears were burning at the backs of my eyes. "Keep breathing for mama, Baby Girl" her breathing was laboured and it sounded hoarse and sore. She whimpered, her hands still scratching at her neck. "Don't scratch, Baby, it'll make it worse" I pulled her hands from her neck and I sobbed at the sight. Her neck was red raw and it was covered in a rash. "You're okay, Baby Girl" I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "She's burning up, Kobe" I glanced up to see that he was on the phone.

"20 minutes? What do you mean 20 minutes? She could be de..." I squeezed my eyes shut, tears cascading down my cheeks as it sunk in. Kyra might not last 20 minutes. "It'll be quicker to drive her myself, thanks for nothing" he hung up the phone and turned to me, his hand tight around the dogs leashes. "Come on, Baby, we've got to get her to the hospital" I stood up and lifted Kyra onto my hip. She dropped her head onto my shoulder and sobbed through her wheezing breaths.

"Ayla, come on, Baby Girl" Ayla, with fear in her eyes, pushed herself from her chair and took Kobe's hand. He lifted her onto his hip and began down the street with me following behind. I climbed into the back of the car between Ayla and Kyra, my heart aching in my chest as I watched Kyra struggle for breath. Her eyes were shut, her cheeks still red and puffy, her neck only seemed to be getting redder. Her breathing was wheezy and painful. The sound just broke my heart. I kept my hand wrapped around hers, silent tears pouring down my cheeks. "You're going to be okay, Angel" I ran the back of my finger along her cheek, a sob slipping from my lips as she didn't even react to my touch. "Kobe, her breathings getting worse" his eyes briefly met mine in the mirror.

"We're nearly there, Baby."

"Keep breathing for mama, Angel" I brought her hand up to my mouth and pressed a kiss to the back of it. I lifted her head up as it flopped forward, my heart breaking as it sunk in that I'm slowly losing my daughter. "Kobe..." I sobbed, my hand just tightening around Kyra's as I kept her head up so that she could breathe. "Baby Girl" I was trying to keep myself together but it was getting harder as I watched my little girl struggle to breathe.

"We're here, Baby" I glanced out the window, so thankful to see the hospital. I'd never been more thankful. Kobe seemed to just dump the car near the ED entrance.

"I'm going to grab help, okay?" I nodded, sobbing from relief as he climbed from the car and began into the ED department.

"Mommy, Kyra okay?" I turned to Ayla who had tears pouring down her cheeks as she glanced between me and Kyra who was completely unresponsive but thankfully still breathing.

"She's a little unwell, Baby, so she just needs some help from some doctors, okay? But she's going to be fine" I know that I lied but I can't tell a 3-year-old that she could lose her sister. How would you even explain death to a 3-year-old? The car door was pulled open by Kobe who had a nurse with him. She looked young and had a small smile on her face.

"Hi. My names Cassie" I gave her a small wave. "Who's this little cutie?" she asked as I quickly unstrapped Kyra from her car seat.

"This is Kyra."

"Do we know what Kyra's had to cause this reaction?"

"She had some of my pistachio ice cream."

"Okay, we'll get her inside and get her some medication. We'll need to run some tests as well if that's okay" I nodded, watching as Kobe lifted Kyra from the car seat, she just flopped against him, her head resting on his shoulder as she struggled to breathe.

"You go in with Kyra, I'll park the car and keep Ayla" I nodded, taking Kyra from Kobe, and my heart ached as her head dropped into my neck. She's boiling, she feels as if she's on fire. "I'll meet you in there, Baby" I nodded, smiling weakly as he leant to press a kiss to my lips. "I love you."

"I love you too."

-

I pressed a kiss to the top of Kyra's head as she lay against my chest, an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. Her breathing was thankfully back to normal but the rash on her neck and chest was still very prominent. I looked up as a knock sounded on the door.

"Come in" I lightly smiled as Kobe stepped into the room with Ayla settled on his hip.

"Hi Baby. How is she?"

"She's doing okay. Her breathings almost back to normal. They said that the rash may take a while to go down. They want her to be referred for more tests as well just to see if she's allergic to anything else" Kobe nodded as he lowered himself down into the chair at the side of the bed and settled Ayla on his knee.

"She woke up yet?"

"She's been in and out. I think it's worn her out" Kobe stroked a strand of hair behind her ear and we watched as Kyra's eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Hi Princess" she lightly giggled and the sound was music to my ears. "How are we feeling, Miss Kyra?"

"Daddy" his lips twitched at the corners.

"Are we feeling better?" she rubbed at her eyes before she pulled the mask off her face.

"Baby, you need this on" she shook her head and pushed away my hand that was holding the mask. "Okay, Little Miss" she giggled as I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathing her in, just thankful that my baby's okay.

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