“I’m—” I paused and licked my lips again. “Can I have some water?” I grimaced because it hurt to talk.
My mom reached for the water pitcher on the small table and poured some into a cup. It looked like one of the cups from my house.
My eyes scanned the room again, and I spotted the Styrofoam cup on the windowsill. I was thankful that someone thought enough not to give me that cup to use. The egg carton wasn’t the only thing I didn’t like. I tried to avoid any Styrofoam as much as possible.
“Here you go.”
I leaned forward when my mom put the straw to my lips. The water was cold and felt so good going down my throat. I sipped until there was nothing left.
“Better?” my mom asked as she placed my cup back on the table.
“Yeah.” My voice was still scratchy, but the water helped a little. “How did I get here?”
My mother stroked my hair as she told me about an electrical fire in my house and how I passed out. As she talked, the night before came rushing back to me. I remembered trying to get out of my room, but the doorknob felt too hot, and everything was too smoky. I remembered coughing uncontrollably. I didn’t remember calling for help or anything, so I wasn’t sure how they came.
“Your alarm went off, and it dispatched emergency services to your house. It’s a good thing you have that thing.” My mother wiped a tear that had fallen. “I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t.” Another tear fell.
I grabbed her hand. “I’m okay, Mommy.” My eyes watered as I looked into my mother’s eyes. Gemma Foster was my heart. Being the only child, I spent a lot of time with my mother since she stayed home with me until I went to kindergarten. Once I went to school, we had girls’ days every other week. She was also always home to fix dinner and help me with my homework. My dad was a surgeon, so he wasn’t home as much as my mom. That didn’t mean we didn’t have a great relationship, because we did.
I heard movement on the other side of me, and it was my dad.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hi, Daddy.” I turned my head to look at him.
My dad rubbed my shoulder, then kissed my cheek. “I was worried about you for a second, but I knew I raised you to be strong, and wasn’t no punk ass fire going to take you out,” he joked.
“You got that right.” I smiled. “I need to sit up.”
My mother helped me sit up and fluffed the pillows behind me. Once I was situated, my friends came over and hugged me. Both of them had tears in their eyes.
“Friend, you can’t be doing that.” Kayla cried as she hugged me again.
“Don’t squeeze her oxygen tube,” Angie fussed.
I giggled along with my mom and dad.
“Sorry.” Kayla apologized as she released me.
Kayla had always been the more dramatic one. Angie would fight someone before she cried over them. I was the one in the middle that balanced everything out.
“Since you’re awake, I’m going to get some coffee,” my father said. He then asked my mom and friends if they wanted anything before leaving the room.
“Did they say when I could go home? Do I even have a home to go to?” A sinking feeling filled the pit of my stomach because Ihad no idea how much damage the fire had caused to my house. “And I have to call to tell them I can’t get Spencer yet.”
I felt myself on the verge of hyperventilating because I suddenly felt overwhelmed. I had patients to see. I had to call the insurance company. I probably would have to get a whole new house.
All of a sudden, the heart monitor started beeping loudly.
“Maverick, honey, calm down.” My mom rubbed my arm and spoke soothingly to me.
I looked at Angie and Kayla, who wore worried expressions. I took a few deep breaths, and eventually, the beeping returned to normal.
“What happened just now?” my mom asked.
I closed my eyes and dropped my head on the pillow. I grabbed the cup and took a few sips of water because my throat was still so dry.
“Everything is messed up. I’m going to be homeless.” Water slipped from my eyes.
