Page 31 of One Little Spark

“Aiden,” a nurse said as she walked beside the gurney. “I’m Kerry. I’m Hazel’s boss. She’s here, and they’re working on her right now. I’ll keep you updated, but we need to look at your knee.”

“I want to see Hazel. How is she? Is she gonna make it?”

Kerry pointed to a room in the ER and the EMTs rolled the gurney into it. Then they shifted him onto the bed.

“Please,” he begged, “I need to know about Hazel.”

Kerry reached over and touched his arm. “I will go find out for you, but you have to stay here and let this doctor examine your knee. It doesn’t look good.” She left the room. The doctor poked and prodded the bad knee and asked all kinds of questions to the point that Aiden thought he would choke the guy if he asked one more thing.

“Where is Kerry? How’s Hazel? Someone please find out how Hazel is doing!” Desperation made his voice rise and crack. No one answered and panic crawled up his gullet.Why the fuck was everyone ignoring his request?

As soon as the doctor and nurse walked out of the room, he was up off the bed and hobbling through the door, looking for Hazel. He took a few steps down the hallway and started to fall. Hands caught him and pulled him back up. He turned, and it was Jory who leaned him against the wall.

“Jory, man, how is she? How’s Hazel?” He needed answers but was afraid to look at his friend’s face. He would know in an instant if it was bad news.

Jory cleared his throat but couldn’t seem to get any words out. Aiden blinked.No. NO!he screamed in his head. He started sliding down the wall. Jory tried to hold him up but couldn’t. They ended up on the floor. “Please, God, no!” Aiden moaned. “Hazel can’t be— I can’t take it. I love her. Please, God, let her be okay,” he begged.

Jory grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “You asshole! You should have told me!”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry, Jory. I love your sister, man. Please don’t let her die. She just can’t be dead.”

Jory swallowed. “She’s not dead. She’s gonna make it.”

Aiden stared at him. “She’s alive?” he asked.

Jory nodded. “She’s got some cuts and minor burns. She’s suffering from smoke inhalation, but she’s gonna be fine.”

Aiden almost passed out from the shear relief. “Thank you, God. I couldn’t handle losing her, Jor. I couldn’t handle that at all.”

“I know.” Jory shook his head. “You should have told me,” he said in a quiet voice.

“Yeah, I know. I just…didn’t know how. I didn’t even want to really admit it to myself. I thought I could keep it buried. But when she moved in. She was …just…everywhere. I couldn’t deny it anymore. I’m so sorry. It was the first time anything happened between us, man, and I would’ve told you immediately. You just…showed up before I had the chance.”

Jory just stared at him for a minute, but finally gave a slight nod.

“Why are you two on the floor?” Kerry demanded. “Get up, Jory”—she pointed at him—“And help me get this one up.” They pulled Aiden to his feet, and Kerry brought a wheelchair over. “You can go see your sister now, Jory.”

“Thanks.”

“I want to see her,” Aiden demanded.

Kerry looked at him and shook her head. “I’m afraid it’s family only at this point.”

Jory went around to the back of Aiden’s wheelchair and started to push. “He is family.”

Chapter Eighteen

The familiar beeping sounds penetrated her consciousness and prompted Hazel to finally open her eyes. She was at the hospital. Was she supposed to be working? Why was she in a bed? She tried to take a deep breath, but her lungs burned. When she raised her hand to move the oxygen tube from her nose, she saw her right arm was bandaged. Had she been in an accident? Her family must be so worried.

She closed her eyes and, suddenly, it all clicked into place. The fire. Doc’s place. Tea. Doc. Was he okay? Did he make it out? She opened her eyes to find Jory standing beside her.

“Jory,” she mumbled, “did Doc…?” Her voice was raspy and sounded funny to her own ears.

“Doc’s fine. A few minor burns, but otherwise he’s okay. I think he’s driving the nurses crazy.”

She smiled but then immediately frowned. “Are you okay? Were you at the fire? Aiden! Is he okay?”

Jory sighed but said, “Everyone is fine.”

---