Page 89 of Fragile

“Hudson, get her out of here!” Seb shouts somewhere, but I can’t see him. I can only see the love of my life lying lifeless on the grass.

“I know, I know,” Hudson soothes in my ear. “It’s okay. He’s going to be okay.”

My breaths come in ragged gasps as Hudson pulls me away from the scene, each step feeling like my heart is breaking more and more. “No, no, no,” I mutter to myself as the medics bring out the stretcher.

“It’s protocol, Quinn. They need to get him off the field safely.”

I know this. In my head, I know this, but seeing it happen to him, everything feels like I’m upside down, torn apart from the inside out. “H-he’s going to be okay, r-right?” I sniffle.

“He’s going to be okay.”

Even though his words are meant to calm me, they don’t, they wash over my head and do little to stop the fear gripping me. Even though I know this is all protocol, I can’t seem to marry up the idea that its Miles out there and he’s the one who needs help.

Because if I let myself lose control, I fear I won’t come back from it.

My hands cling to Hudson’s like a lifeline, grasping for something, anything, as I watch the stretcher come onto the field. I watch them haul his body onto it, and my focus flicks briefly to my brother, who’s helmet is off and he’s wiping his face. Something inside me snaps and tears fall freely, like a river that broke its dam. The closer Miles gets to the medics exit, the more I cry.

“Sssh, it’s okay, I swear, it’s just protocol. He’s okay.”

He’s okay. I repeat the mantra in my head over and over. Hudson stays with me and just lets me sob into his shirt as players all amble around the sidelines.

“Shit, I’ve gotta go to Coach. Will you be okay?”

“I’m here. I’m here.” Indie rushes over, pulling me into her arms. “It took me some serious convincing to get down here, and I’m pretty sure I owe someone money, but I’m here.”

The tears come back with a vengeance, fresh rivulets soaking into her sweater, but I can’t let her go. Because somehow my best friend knew I would need her, and here she is, showing up for me. “I’ve got you.” she whispers, wrapping her arms just as fiercely around me.

“I need to see him,” I mumble into her, the words being absorbed by the noise around us, but she hears me. Her hand strokes my back.

“I know, and we will. Hudson, go find out where he’s gone, please.”

“But—”

“Now,” she growls, and I hear his feet scurry away.

Indie lets me go and offers me a tissue from her backpack. “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. As soon as I saw him go down, I knew I had to get to you.”

“I just need to know he’s okay,” I say shakily.

“We will.”

Two seconds later, Hudson comes bounding over to us, breathing heavily. “He’s in the medic’s room, but they’re following concussion protocol, and he’ll be going to Oregon General.” He swallows, hesitating, and I see something flicker in his eyes.

“What is it?”

“I don’t—”

“Tell me, Hudson,” I snap, feeling like I’m going to be sick from the look on his face.

“He’s out cold. There’s an ambulance on its way.”

And in this moment, I realize that nothing will ever be the same again.

Chapter forty-one

Quinn

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