“We’re going to get you taken care of. Let’s get you to lie down,” a paramedic said as he guided Chase to the gurney in the entryway. “Are you okay with us putting the straps across your body?” he asked.
As Chase nodded and answered the paramedic's additional questions, the other paramedic got my attention.
“Where are his parents?”
“They’re at work,” I said.
“Before we take him and administer care, we need permission from an adult family member.”
“I’m twenty-four. I give permission,” I said confidently. Charles and Kristin would want Chase taken care of quickly.
“Sign here, please.” I took hold of the clipboard from the paramedic’s outstretched hands. I quickly signed my name on the line he pointed to.
“Can I ride in the ambulance with him?” I asked quietly. I hoped they’d say yes because Chase needed me. He was scared and needed someone familiar to be close.
“Yes,” he replied and set the clipboard in a slot in the gurney close to Chase’s feet. “Ready to roll, Chase?”
Chase nodded and then asked, “Can Patrick come too?”
“Yep, big brother is coming too.”
As soon as they were out the door, I stepped out behind them and locked and locked it. I followed behind them and waited until the gurney was loaded and for one of the paramedics to climb into the back. The driver motioned for me to climb in and pointed to where I could sit. Once I sat down, the driver closed the door and then went around to get into the driver’s seat.
While the paramedic started an I.V. in Chase’s arm, I looked at his hand that had the streaks of blood on it. His fingers twitched against his jeans as the needle was inserted into his arm.
“You’re going to find that it’s easier to breathe again. I’m going to cut your t-shirt open and put some sticky pads on your chest to keep an eye on your heart rate. Then I’m going to clean up your wrist, and by the time I’m finished we should be at the hospital.”
Chase looked at me while the paramedic worked on him. His jaw and lips quivered, I reached out and took hold of his hand.
“It’ll be okay, Chase.”
He closed his mouth so tightly his lips formed a tight line, and he turned his head slightly to look away from me.
“Chase, man, try to relax. We’ll figure it out.”
“Mom and Dad are going to be so mad at me.”
“No, they’re not. It’ll be okay.”
“And Hollis and Morg.”
The heart monitor began beeping quicker, and the paramedic pushed a button next to the screen.
“Chase, take a couple of slow deep breaths for me, bud.”
I squeezed his hand and kept my eyes on his while he followed the instructions of the paramedic. I nodded at him and smiled.
“It’ll be okay,” I said to him.
“Promise?” he asked.
Promise.
“I promise you, Chase.”
I took a deep breath and kept my eyes on his. My mind raced to when Hollis took me to his parents to tell them I needed help. I was so scared, but Hollis promised me it would be okay. And it was.
And now Chase needed that reassurance.
