“Call 9-1-1,” I bark at Leah.
There’s a crash behind me. I turn to see Trevor climbing over the counter, upending the snack cart in front of it. In a flash, he’s situating himself behind the man and does the Heimlich maneuver. Jeremy’s feet come off the ground as Trevor’s thrusts hoist him a few inches into the air. After repeated attempts, I’m horrified when Jeremy’s hands fall away from his throat, and he goes limp.
“Fuck!” Trevor yells as Jeremy slips down to the floor.
Then Trevor is kneeling over him, doing chest compressions. After a short time, he opens Jeremy’s mouth, looks inside and uses a finger to sweep it. His head shakes in frustration before he lowers his mouth to cover Jeremy’s and gives him two breaths.
He’s back doing compressions now, dots of sweat seeping through the back of his shirt. “He’s not getting any air.” He looks up. “Is an ambulance coming?”
Leah holds up her phone. “They’re on their way.”
I’m watching in pure terror, as is everyone else in the shop, as Jeremy’s lips turn a deadly shade of blue.
“I don’t hear sirens,” Trevor says nervously. “They won’t get here in time.” He’s still pumping on his chest when he looks up at me. “Get me clean towels, alcohol or hand sanitizer, a straw, and the sharpest small knife you have. Sanitize the straw and the knife with the alcohol.”
I stare down at him, eyes blinking, not believing what he’s asking.
“Ava!” he shouts. “This man is going to die if I don’t trach him right now. Go!”
I’m shaking uncontrollably when I run into the back room and fetch everything he asked for, hoping I’m getting it all. I go back and fall to my knees next to him, pouring the rubbing alcohol onto the knife and the straw and then holding them out.
Instead of taking them, he stops compressions and holds out his hands. “Pour it on my hands.”
I do and he rubs his hands together in a washing motion. Then he takes the small paring knife from me and slices right into Jeremy’s throat without any hesitation.
A woman faints in the corner. Her companion keeps her from hitting the floor too hard. Good thing, because one emergency at a time here.
Faint sirens sound in the distance as Trevor shoves the straw into Jeremy’s throat. He reaches for my hands and puts them along either side of the straw. “Hold this in place.”
My stomach turns and I have to hold down the bile rising in my throat as blood seeps out across my fingers.
Trevor blows into the straw, and Jeremy’s chest rises. Trevor blows again. After several rounds of this, I notice Jeremy’s lips returning to a more normal color. “His lips,” I say with shaky words.
“He’s getting oxygen now.” Trevor wipes sweat off his brow with his sleeve. “He’ll be okay. He’s going to be okay.”
I’m not sure if he’s trying to convince me, or himself. But the more I stare at him, the more I see it. His initial nervousness has been replaced by confidence. The way he’s taking complete control of the situation with zero hesitation. His hands aren’t shaking like mine are. He’s… oh my god, of course! He may not remember doing things like this, but somewhere deep in his subconscious, he’s a doctor. A surgeon. This is exactly what he’s been trained for.
I’m in complete awe.
The sirens get louder. Just as I see the ambulance on the street, Patrick Kelsey rushes through the door. He’s not in uniform. He must have been nearby and seen them coming.
“What the actual fuck?” he says, staring down at my blood-soaked hands while Trevor gives another breath to Jeremy.
The paramedics burst through the front doors just as Jeremy opens his eyes. He reaches for his throat, terror washing over his still-pale face.
“Easy, man,” Trevor says. “Try not to panic. There’s a tube in your throat helping you to breathe. The paramedics are here, and they’ll take you to the hospital.” He touches Jeremy’s shoulder. “You’re going to be okay.”
“Move aside,” one of the paramedics says.
“Holy shit!” the other exclaims.
Police officers come in next. People are crying. Some are clapping. It’s pandemonium.
“People!” Trevor yells over all of it. “Quiet down and give them room to work.”
We all stand back and let Patrick supervise the two paramedics as they do their job.
Kasey Lorenfall, one of the officers, comes over to Trevor and me, probably because both our hands are covered in blood.
