The music comes back on.
The air feels heavy, suffocating as I struggle to breathe. It only took seconds for the world I knew to shatter into a million sharp pieces.
22
ZOE
“This is ridiculous. Why won’t they let us talk to someone?” Tristan hasn’t stopped pacing the hospital waiting room since he got here around two hours ago.
I recall Aaron guiding me into the back of his car while his driver took us to the hospital where Dominik was being treated. I don’t remember the details in between though. The lack of information from the nurses and the long wait for a doctor is causing my anxiety to escalate quickly.
“Walk me through it again,” Tristan barks.
I take a deep breath, trying to think of the words again, but Via comes to my rescue. “We told you everything already. He got hit hard on the ice, likely a head injury, and the opponent’s skate cut the back of his head when his helmet got knocked off, or so they think. That’s why there was so much blood on the ice.”
I close my eyes, forcing away the wave of fresh tears.
No matter how much effort I put into it, I just can’t erase the image from my mind. The sight of Dominik lying there with everyone around him in a state of disbelief. It’s clear that injuries of that nature are uncommon.
What if he’s not going to be okay? What if he’ll never play again? What if he doesn’t remember…
Stop.
A hand lightly nudges my shoulder. “Hey, hey… It’s going to be okay.”
As I look at Via, I feel my chin quiver, noticing the concern in her expression.
Pressing the edge of my palms to my eyes, I groan. “What is wrong with me? I’m so emotional.”
“Do I really need to say it?” Via whispers.
“Please don’t. I just want to see him.”
“I know, sweetie. You will soon. I promise.”
As I blink to clear my vision, I notice Aaron and Tristan exchanging a look, instantly grasping the meaning behind their wordless communication. Aaron will eventually confront me about what happened. I know he’s been anxious about Dominik, but he’s also been keeping an eye on me, trying to make sense of what happened at the game.
To tell the truth, I’m completely at a loss. I blacked out and had some sort of out-of-body experience. I was reacting, but I can’t even remember everything that happened. It feels like a distant dream. At that moment, I was only aware of my feelings and the strong desire to be near Dominik, despite not being allowed within five feet of him. I need to see Dominik first before I can talk about what happened, even if Aaron wants to hash it out.
Suddenly, the metal doors on the other side of the waiting room burst open, and a mob of angry hockey players pours in. I lock eyes with Noa, and the sadness on his face forces me out of my chair as I walk over to him. With a strong grip, he pulls me close, and my emotions overflow as I cry against his shoulder.
“He’s okay. You’re going to see him soon. I promise,” he reassures me.
I pull back to look at him. “You got an update since they took him away?”
Noa nods. “Yeah, Coach has been keeping us updated. He got hit pretty hard, but he’s stable. They’ve been doing tests since he got here, but I think they’re going to allow us to see him soon. No one has come out here to talk to you guys?”
“No.”
He frowns, clicking his tongue. “That’s fucked up. It’s been hours.”
“Tell me about it.” Tristan strolls over, nodding at some of the guys.
The atmosphere in this small waiting room is completely somber. As I look at the various faces, it’s clear that Dominik is respected and looked after by his team. Despite his reputation as a playboy, they genuinely love him, or perhaps they would extend this support to anyone on the team, since they are like family. These guys spend countless hours together, training and working toward a shared goal. So, when one of them gets injured, it must feel as though they’ve all been affected.
It’s a different world for them.
I often forget Dominik is a famous hockey player. I’ve always seen him as my brother’s best friend, the guy who was always at our house, eating our food and spending weekends gaming with Aaron. He’s someone Aaron could always rely on. A brother he never had.
