Page 25 of Breaking
The drive to Chester was a nightmare. The rain lashed against the windshield in relentless sheets, blurring the headlights of oncoming cars. The motorway was congested, traffic crawling in frustrating bursts, and every delay sent a fresh wave of panic through Jenna. Her hands gripped the wheel, knuckles white, as she forced herself to stay focused. She couldn't afford to lose control. Not now.
Her mind raced ahead to the hospital, to Sasha, to what awaited her. She barely registered the endless blur of passing streetlights, only the sensation of her heart beating overtime as she fought against the fear gnawing at her insides. When she finally pulled into the hospital car park, her legs felt like lead as she stepped out of the car, the cold air doing nothing to ease the heat of anxiety that burned beneath her skin.
Inside, the hospital was a maze of sterile white walls and muted voices. The smell of antiseptic clung to the air. A nurse directed her to the waiting area outside the Intensive Therapy Unit. Jenna spotted Grace sitting with Dani and Dylan in the row of stiff vinyl chairs, her young daughter curled up against her side.
Dani sat with her arms crossed, her body stiff with tension, while Dylan was hunched over in his seat, his face buried in his hands. Jenna sat beside him, smoothing his hair gently. He didn't look up, but he leaned into her touch slightly.
Jenna turned to Dani, who wiped at her tear-streaked face with the sleeve of her hoodie. "They won't tell us much," Dani said, her voice brittle. "They just keep saying we have to wait."
Jenna reached for her hand, squeezing it. "She's strong, Dani. She's always been strong."
The nurse returned; her expression sympathetic but firm. She took a seat next to Jenna, folding her hands in her lap. "We've done everything we can for now," she explained gently. "Her condition is critical, and the swelling on her brain is our biggest concern. We'll have to wait and see how she responds in the next twenty-four hours." Jenna nodded numbly, squeezing Dani's hand tighter. The uncertainty gnawed at her, but there was nothing more to do except wait. The nurse finally stood, giving Jenna a soft nod. "You can see her now, but only for a few minutes."
Jenna hugged Dani tightly, then stood and followed the nurse down the hall. The scent of antiseptic was overwhelming in the ITU, mixed with something metallic and faintly medicinal. The rhythmic beeping of monitors filled the air, their steady tones the only sign of life in the otherwise eerily silent room.
When she reached Sasha's bedside, Jenna almost lost her composure . Sasha looked so small, so unlike herself, buried beneath the crisp hospital sheets. Bruises bloomed across her pale skin, and the ventilator hissed softly beside her.
Jenna carefully reached for Sasha's hand, her fingers brushing against her friend's cool skin. She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat.
"Hey, Sash," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of machines and the tears clogging her throat. "I'm here."
She stroked Sasha's hand gently, trying to will some warmth into them. Memories flooded her mind-laughter under threadbare blankets in their shared foster home, whispering grand dreams of what their lives would be.
"Remember when we were twelve?" Jenna whispered, blinking back tears. "We made that ridiculous plan to run away to the seaside, buy a little café, and never let anyone tell us what to do again?" She let out a broken laugh. "You swore you'd learn how to bake, and I'd paint all the signs by hand."
Her grip on Sasha's fingers tightened. "You made it, Sash. You built a life. You took in Dani and Dylan when no one else would. You never let the world win." Her voice cracked, and she took a deep breath. "So please... don't give up now. We need you. I need you."
The machines beeped steadily, offering no response.
Jenna let her head rest lightly on the mattress beside Sasha's still form, breathing in the sterile scent of the room, feeling the ache of helplessness settle deep into her bones. She stayed like that for a long time, hoping for a flicker of movement, a squeeze of her hand-anything.
But Sasha remained silent.
As Jenna left the hospital, she felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her. Before she left, she let the staff know that she wanted to know if there was any change over the phone. There was no clarity, no certainty about what came next-only fear and exhaustion. All she could do was wait, just like the doctors had said. Nothing was decided yet, and that terrified her. For the first time in a long time, she knew exactly what she needed to do. And she wouldn't wait for anyone elseto step up. Sasha would need help getting back on her feet when she got better. And the children needed her.
Chapter 24
Jenna
Jenna sat on the edge of Sasha's old couch, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her. The house was quiet except for the occasional rustle from Dani's room and Dylan shifting in his sleep on the futon. She rubbed her bleary eyes, her lashes crusted with dried tears. The weight of the day hung heavily over her.
She had told herself she wouldn't fall asleep, but fatigue pulled her under before she could fight it. The next thing she knew, the sharp trill of her phone cut through the silence. She jolted awake, her heart hammering.
The screen glowed in the darkness-'Private Number.'
With a deep breath, she swiped to answer. "Hello?"
"Mrs. Bradshaw?" A woman's voice came through the line, calm but heavy.
Jenna swallowed, gripping the phone tighter. "Yes, speaking."
"This is Nurse Lindsey from Chester General Hospital," the voice continued. "I'm calling with an update about Sasha Wright."
Jenna's stomach twisted. "Is she...?"
There was an awkward pause. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Bradshaw. I wish there was better news. Sasha passed away early this morning. Her injuries were too severe. We did everything we could."
Jenna closed her eyes, her fingers trembling around the phone. A subconscious part of her had been preparing for this, but hearing itspoken aloud still made her feel like the floor had been ripped from beneath her.
