Page 94 of Lassoed Love

The voice on the other end, a nurse from Wattle Creek Hospital, delivers the devastating news.My father has been in a car accident and was rushed to the hospital. The details blur as panic seizes me, my breathing becoming erratic.

“Your father is in critical condition, ma’am. We advise you to come in as soon as possible.” The phone slips from my trembling hand, clattering to the floorboards.

“Isla, what the fuck is wrong?” Xavier’s urgent question echoes in my ears, but I can’t answer.I can’t breathe.The world around me blurs, and a tight vice grips my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs. My heartbeat reverberates in my ears like a drum, each thud louder than the last. My vision tunnels, focusing on nothing but the fragments of my own ragged breaths. A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead, and my hands tremble uncontrollably. The sensation of drowning overwhelms me, trapped in the constricting embrace of a panic attack that refuses to let go.

Xavier is immediately in my face, urging me to breathe in and out, his hands rubbing my arms, asking questions about what happened and who rang me.

As my body continues to shake with the remnants of the panic attack, Xavier’s soothing words and touch gradually bring me back. “It’s Dad, my dad, Xav. He's been in a car accident. I-I—” I stutter, attempting to regain control of my breathing astears well up in my eyes.

When I look at Xavier, he mutters a low, “Fuck,” before rushing to grab his keys and my bag from the kitchen table. He ushers me out of the door.

“Come, I’ll drive you,” Xavier says urgently, the weight of the situation evident in his tone.

The air is charged with urgency and fear as we quickly head towards the car, and I cling to the hope that Dad will be alright. With a trembling breath, I choke out a whisper, “Please, Mum... guide us through this.”

The words are a quiet plea, a desperate reach for solace in the face of the unknown.

As I utter my silent prayer, Xavier senses the weight of the moment. His hand finds its way to my thigh, a gentle touch offering reassurance when words seem inadequate.

Xavier murmurs, “We’ll get through this, baby. Your dad will be alright.”

His voice carries a comforting tone, a lifeline in the tumultuous sea of emotions, and I silently chant in my mind.

He’ll—he’ll be okay. He’ll be okay.

37

Naked - James Arthur

The hospitallooms ahead, its sterile facade a stark contrast to the chaos of emotions swirling inside me. Isla sits beside me, her eyes a reservoir of tears threatening to spill over. Fuck, I can’t stand the sight of her crying. It twists something deep within me, an ache that mirrors her pain.

As we pull up to the entrance, I steal a glance at her. Her hands tremble, and her gaze is fixed on the ground. I reach for her, fingers intertwining mine with hers.

“Isla, we’re here. We’ll figure this out together,” I assure her, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my mind, I reassure her, “Deep breaths, remember.” She nods, looking up at me, pain etched across her features, tears staining her beautiful face.

Entering the hospital, the antiseptic scent assaults my senses. I guide Isla towards the reception, my grip on her hand offering a reassurance Ihopeshe feels. The nurse behind the desk looks up, and Isla manages to croak out her father’s name.

The nurse updates us on Mr. Thompson’s condition, revealing that he’s currently undergoing emergent surgery. Sheelaborates, providing intricate details about his injuries—multiple broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, and extensive scratches and bruises. Isla winces at her words, trembling as silent tears fall down her cheeks.

“We’ve been updated, however, that the surgery is going well,” the nurse assures, her professional demeanour attempting to instil confidence. With a gentle hand on Isla’s back, I guide her towards the waiting room as the nurse instructs. The stark, sterile environment amplifies the tension in the air, and we take our seats, bracing ourselves for the uncertain hours ahead. Time drags on, each passing minute a testament to the vulnerability of life and the fragility of the moments we often take for granted.

Isla is silently fidgeting with her top, her distressed eyes revealing the turmoil within. Unable to bear her quiet suffering, I turn to look down at her, and the sight of tears in her eyes tightens a knot in my chest. Reacting instinctively, I wrap her in my arms, offering what little comfort I can in this moment of uncertainty.

She silently sobs into my chest, and I rub her back in gentle circles, murmuring assurances into her ear. I remind her that her father is a strong man, reiterating the nurse’s words about the surgery progressing well. With her face buried in my chest, her breathing gradually slows, and she nods in acknowledgment.

Feeling the weight of the situation, I gently ask, “Do you want to call anyone? Imogen or…” My voice trails off, leaving the question open-ended. She looks up at me, her lips swollen and puffy from crying, her eyes red-rimmed.

“I’ll call Midge now,” she says, wiping her eyes.

As she dials Imogen’s number, I can faintly hear her friend's voice answer the phone. Isla immediately starts crying into the phone, “Midge, oh my god.” I just hear Imogen’s frantic voice through the phone, questioning what’s wrong. “It’s Dad, Midge, he was in a car accident—” but her words trail off as she cries. Imogen is talking to her, but Isla isn’t paying attention anymore.

I gently grab the phone off her, looking at Isla for permission, and she nods. I place the phone to my ear, hearing Imogen’s voice clearly, “Isla, hello? Oh my god, where are you now?” Her frantic questioning fills my ear, and I start speaking into the phone.

“Imogen, it’s Xavier,” I begin, my voice steady but laced with concern. “There’s been an accident. Isla’s father is in the hospital, undergoing surgery right now.”

Imogen’s gasp is audible through the line, and she stammers, “Surgery? What happened? Is he going to be okay?”

I glance at Isla, who is still grappling with her emotions, and continue relaying the information. “He was in a car accident. The situation is critical, but the doctors are doing everything they can. Isla needs you here.”

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