Page 48 of Gravity

“Fuck. Dad!” Asher rushes inside in full panic mode as he tries to bring his dad around who is still thrashing in his chair, making a noise that makes me feel sick to the stomach.

“Give him space, Asher. Call 9-1-1!”

“No. Dad. Please!”

“Asher, Goddammit,” I push him back. “Call 9-1-1!” I order, taking over the situation as I’ve now got two people freaking out around me and one other needing medical help. As Asher finally dials it in, I without looking, ask Nora for help. “Nora, how do you tilt his chair back? He needs to be flat as best we can get him.”

I see her hands do something with his chair, but my eyes remain on Pete, watching for any sudden change.

It’s going on for too long. It’s not slowing.

“We’ve got you, big guy,” I reassure him, swallowing the lump in my throat, hating the fact there’s nothing else we can do. “You’re going to be okay.”

“They are on their way,” Asher flusters, coming back over to his dad. “You hear that, Pop. They are just around the corner.”

Just as the paramedics arrive, Pete’s seizure reduces, and his body slowly relaxes. Asher fills them in with what happened, and I take a step back to allow them some space to treat him. With a heavy exhale, I release all the tension and panic that’s been tight in my chest and rub my hands over my face.

“You did great work,” one of the Ambulance crew says, gripping me on the shoulder and nods behind me. “Your friend may need some reassurance.”

The second he says the words, my stomach drops. In all the panic, I hadn’t registered Nora’s reaction to what has just happened.

Turning to look at her, my heart sinks when I find her as white as a ghost, trembling in the corner of the room as she hugs her waist with tears streaming down her face.

Chapter Fourteen

Nora

I can’t breathe.

I feel numb.

I don’t know what is happening.

One minute everything is like it should be and the next, Grayson and Asher are yelling and rushing around dad while he…

Oh, God.

“Nora?”

“I-I… H-he…” I stutter not able to get my words out. Warm hands cup my cheeks as my body fights to keep it together. I’ve never seen that. I didn’t like witnessing that. I slam my eyes shut, trying to remove the haunts of seeing him that way as the ache in my body becomes unbearable.

“Look at me, Shortcake.”

When I open my eyes and look up at Grayson, I see the distress in his, and it only validates everything I’m feeling inside as my steady stream of tears now burst from my chest. Pulling me toward him, he holds me close, stroking my hair as I cling on to him like my life depends on it.

“Shh, it’s okay.”

“I felt so helpless. I should have done something. Why didn’t I do anything?”

“Nora, listen to me.” He pulls back, taking my face in his hands again. “There was nothing any of us could have done but get help. He’s got that now, and is going to be okay.”

“How do you know that?” I cry. How does anyone know that after everything Dad has been through?

Bending at the knee, Grayson comes down to meet me at eye level. “He’s come through worse. He will get through this. Okay?”

I nod, but not yet believing the words that he has spoken.

“Sir. Ma’am. We are taking him to the hospital now,” the paramedic says, looking at us both.