Page 134 of The Assignment: Room 3

A paramedic appears at my side, “Hello, miss. I need to assess your injuries. My colleagues are on the way to the hospital with your friend.”

“Is he… did they…”

“I’m not sure, but I will find out for you when I know you’re okay.”

My body is bone-weary. Exhausted. Broken in a way so vast that no physical injury could ever come close. “I…” I start to panic, my body vibrating. “I can’t… breathe.” I sob.

Another paramedic comes to me with one of those weird foil blankets. “She’s going into shock.”

“Will you let us take you in the ambulance? What’s your name? Can you tell me that? Focus on the sound of my voice and try to take a deep breath.” He rests his fingers over my wrist. “Your pulse is too fast…”

“Her name is… Helena,” my mom chimes in. “Please, help her.”

“Can you stand?” His voice is commanding. It’s reminiscent of Flex when he’s taking charge of any situation, and it only makes me cry harder.

I attempt to stand up, but the burden of Flex’s death is too much for me to bear. The paramedic is quick to catch me and lifts me into his arms.

He sets me on the gurney and starts taking my vitals. There’s no cure for this. I hear my mom’s voice, and it’s all I can muster to tell her what I need. “Go be with Gracie.”

“I’m coming with you. Gracie is safe.”

“It’s not a request. She needs you more than I do. She’s scared, and she doesn’t have me or Flex to comfort her. It has to be you.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I need to know she’s with you. Please.”

“Okay, then I’m going to have Freya meet you at the hospital. I don’t want you to be alone.” Her words shake me to my core.I’m alone. I’ll never be able to crawl into Flex’s lap again and feel like everything will be all right.

I close my eyes as the paramedic gives my mom details of where they’re taking me.

“The police will want to come and interview her as soon as possible,” he tells her.

“Call Naddie,” I mumble.

“What, darling?” my mom says with such compassion it hurts.

“My phone. Call Naddie Callaghan. She’s a lawyer. Her husband is…” I choke past the lump in my throat, “Flex’s best friend.”

“Okay. I’ll call her now. I love you, darling.”

I don’t respond. I can’t. It hurts too much.

As the doors close and the ambulance pulls away from my house, I want to claw off my skin—the evidence of Flex’s sacrifice is coating my face and hands. And yet, I find myself unable to move. I shut down because it’s the only way my heart will continue to beat.

The sights and sounds around me cease to mean anything. I’m unable to process, or more appropriately, I don’t want to. I finally thought I had found my happily ever after, and to have Michael strip it away from me is the cruelest twist of fate.

The only thing keeping me going right now is my baby girl.Sweet Gracie. She needs me now more than ever. I will breathe in and out for her, but it’s the most I can do right now.

“She’s been catatonic for days. There must be something you can do for her.” I recognize my mom’s voice, but I can’t summon the strength to open my mouth and speak. I feelnothing. I don’t want to. I can’t.

“Physically, your daughter’s wounds are beginning to heal. Her orbital bone was broken in the attack. She has three cracked ribs and multiple contusions on her extremities, but more than anything, she witnessed something immensely traumatic. This is her brain’s way of protecting herself.”

“So, I just have to sit and hope she comes back to me? She has a daughter.”

Gracie.

“I’m aware. Unfortunately, you can’t rush it. This has to be on her terms. Until then, we are monitoring her closely.”

---