“We need to check for a concussion, he was hit with intense force. He’ll be going to the local hospital soon.” He steps forward to squeeze her arm. “I’m sorry, that’s all I know and can tell you right now, but I will let them know you’re on the way.”
With a heavy sigh, he turns on his heel, opens the locker room door, and disappears. Leaving the three of us standing here in the hallway. We may be surrounded by people milling about, but there’s a feeling of being oh-so-very alone. Surreal. Stunned.
Austin.The fear he must be going through, the pain he could be in. My heart pounds in my chest for him. And Stacey. Useless. Sitting upstairs, on her butt, posting photos or stories or TikToks…I do not care. She’s heartless, asking us to text her when we know something. Like she deserves to know.
I look at Mary, who is all but crumbling in front of me.
“Come ladies,” I say, pulling my car keys out of my pocket. “We know what hospital he’s going to and we’ll be there when he arrives. Yeah?”
Mary nods silently, tears starting to slowly trickle down her cheeks. Catching Georgie’s eyes, she mouths the words ‘thank you’ to me. I don’t need her to do that, this is justwhat you do. You take care of each other when the going gets tough…you don’t post a selfie.
“It’s settled. Follow me.”
There is strength in numbers, there’s the power of three. Like on that TV show Charmed. Three women, three strong women, backing each other up.
Our small gang makes its way to the parking lot exit, arms wrapped around each other and unsure what to expect once we get to where we’re going, but it’s fine.
Because we have each other.
