Sirens roared outside, and Mom ran down the stairs, leading them into Rafael’s room.
“Everyone out. We need space.”
I couldn’t even protest. Mom grabbed me and yanked me out of the room. The medics moved quickly.
“Gotta get the tube in,” one of them said.
“Oh, Jesus Christ,” I whispered.
Mom pulled me into her embrace to cover my eyes, and she put her hands on my ears. I could still hear everything, though. Rafael gagged again, and a hissing sound followed it. I thought I’d pass out right there in the hall.
“Start suction.”
The device they used emitted whooshing and sucking sounds filled the room. Rafael’s gurgles were accompanied by the swish of fluids.
It was too much. I wept on Mom’s shoulder, trying to keep it together, but I wanted to run in there and hold him.
The process continued. It felt like hours, though I’m sure it was only a few minutes, if that. Time was a thing of the past. My world had splintered.
“It’s clear.”
I ripped myself away from Mom and looked, tears still streaming down my face. The medics wasted no time: one called the hospital while the other two prepared to transport Rafael’s body.
“I’m going with them,” I said.
“He’s still unconscious,” a medic responded. “No one in the ambulance. Let’s move.”
I wanted to protest, but Hank said, “Let’s get in the car. Now.”
As soon as Rafael was loaded into the ambulance, we were in the car and ready to follow. I wanted to be in there with him so badly it hurt. My heart was in tatters as the ambulance drove off with my baby. He was alone, and I hated it.
Please let him be okay.
Chapter 42
Rafael
My eyes blinked, trying to figure out what room I was in after what felt like being asleep for a hundred years. I scanned the area. I appreciated the soft lighting, but there were annoying beeping sounds.
What the hell?
I went to grab my phone to turn off the alarm and saw the tube hooked to my arm. I followed the tube up to the clear plastic bag of fluid connected to a pole.
Fuck. Me.
No. Oh, God, I wanted to go back to sleep. I had no recollection of what happened as I tried to sit up in my hospital bed. All attention was immediately directed to my throat, which felt like someone had stuck—
Oh my God.
What had happened started to dawn on me. Panic consumed me as I looked around. There was no Cody. No family. My stomach rumbled, no doubt a combination of what I was sure was a lot of vomiting and the dread of knowing that I’d done something so majorly fucked up.
A nurse walked in and said, “Your family would like to see you.”
The tears welled in my eyes. This was it. I’d pushed Cody too far. He would leave, and I deserved it.
Cody entered first. His face was pale, and his eyes were puffy and red.Oh no, angel.
Hank and Jill followed, both of whom looked just as distraught.
