Me:This is Oakley.
Me:Have you found her yet?
Me:????
Me:If I don’t get an update soon, I’m calling the police.
Ems Derek:We have her. Meet us at BayShore.
Me:Here. Where am I going?
Ems Derek:Emergency. We are in the waiting room.
Me:She woke up for a few seconds but has gone back to sleep.
Me:They mentioned something about a minor concussion, they are going to keep her overnight.
Me:If you guys want to go home, I’ll stay with her.
Ems Derek:We are going to take it in shifts. I’ll be in the waiting room if she needs me.
There are a few more messages from the hospital. Mostly Oakley giving basic information about wakefulness and letting them know I had been moved to a private room.
Then there is a break in the messages for a day, followed by what I can only describe as absolute ride-or-die behavior from Oaks.
Ems Derek:Good morning, Oakley. I would appreciate a daily update on how Emery is healing.
Me:What, like spy on her? No thanks. *thumbs down emoji*
Ems Derek:I would just like to monitor her well-being. I can’t help her if I don’t know what is happening with her.
Me:Pass. I’ve got it covered. Besides, Rambo moved in. He can be your spy.
Ems Derek:If you knew Xavier at all, you would know that getting information out of him is like getting blood from a stone.
Ems Derek:Oakley, please. We all care for her. Everything we’ve done has been to secure her future. I just want to support her however I can.
There is a seriously long break in the messages after that. Almost a full twenty-four hours.
Ems Derek:I’d appreciate a response.
I snort a laugh at the very Derek request.
Me:*thumbs up emoji*
Ems Derek:Is that a yes? You will send an update message each morning?
Me:*nodding emoji*
Ems Derek:Is that a nod?
Then…
Ems Derek:I’m assuming that is a nod. Thank you, Oakley.
I can actually visualize the exasperated look and sigh that Derek would have been featuring during this exchange. The amount of happy popping bubbles that fill my chest would normally alarm me, but the feeling is too amazing for me to be concerned about.
Me:I know you know about the traffic light system.
