I don’t stop.
I can’t.
She’s not getting better.
We’re not giving up on her, but her body…
Our time is running out.
Running out…
Running…
Fingers snap in front of my face, jarring me out of my thoughts. “Earth to Rookie,” Nico singsongs as he observes me. “I got you some food.”
He drops a brown bag in my lap, the smell of burgers hitting me even through the closed paper and making my stomach roll.
“Not hungry,” I mutter, placing the bag on the floor as Nico opens his and pops a few fries into his mouth.
“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been brooding since you got to the station earlier. Don’t tell me you and Jessica already got into a fight. I know you’re all about setting records, but?—”
“It’s not Jessica,” I interrupt.
“Then what is it?
“It’s nothing.”
Nico opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, the radio crackles to life.
“All units be advised, there is a collision on the east end of Lake Drive. Potential casualties. Ambulance en route.”
The adrenaline kicks in as the words echo in my head. My fingers curl around the door handle, knuckles turning white.
From the corner of my eye, I see Nico close his box and put it to the side. He pulls on his seat belt, grabbing the radio to let dispatch know we’re responding, before he turns on the siren and floors it out of the parking lot.
Collision.
Potential casualties.
A cold sweat washes over me as I stare at the blurry road passing us by. The seconds seem to drag on like hours.
“Dad, I don’t want to go home.”
“You know the rules, buddy.”
“I don’t care!” I yell in protest. “I want to stay.”
“I understand that, and we can come again, but now we have to go home. Your mom’s waiting for us with dinner.”
“I don’t want dinner! I want to play with my friend. You’re the worst. I’m going to go out?—”
“Matthew!” Dad yells. I look up, my eyes meeting his green ones in the rearview mirror. “Don’t?—”
Bright light suddenly blinds me. From the corner of my eye, I can see Dad’s surprised gaze shift to the road.
Tires screech loudly against the asphalt before something slams into me, making my body jerk back and knocking all the air out of my lungs.
A loud bang snaps me out of my thoughts, making me realize we’ve arrived, and Nico’s already out of the car.
