Page 80 of Free to Believe
“Later, Em. We’ll talk later.” Running a hand over my hair, he pushes to his feet before walking away.
I sit frozen, my eyes not seeing the ocean in front of me. Instead, I’m praying so hard this won’t end up in disaster. All the pain I’ve lived through, all the ways I’ve managed to hold on to the recesses of my heart, and finally someone made me believe.
But now that I believe, am I strong enough to survive?
48
Emily
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“Help me, please,” I whisper frantically.
“I can barely hear you, ma’am. Can you speak louder?”
“No. I…we’ve been in an accident. Jenna? Oh, God, Jenna!”
“Ma’am! Do you know where you are?”
My head is pounding, but I look around. “Polpis Road. Near Milk Street.”
“Are there injuries, ma’am?”
“Yes. God, yes.” I begin to cry.
Your fault, Emily.I know!I want to scream.
“We’ll send ambulances, but we need you to stay on the line.” I stop listening as I watch Jenna’s chest stop rising and falling. “Jenna! Jenna, can you breathe? Can you hear me?”
There’s no response.
“Noooo!” I scream. “No, Jenna!” Immediately ignoring my own bruised and battered body, I crawl closer to where I pulled her from the car. I try to feel for a pulse. I can’t find one.
Your fault, Emily.
Maybe I shouldn’t have moved her, but I thought I smelled gas, and I wasn’t taking any chances. Fortunately, the air bags in the Rover cushioned the worst of the impact. Us rolling didn’t.
“I’m beginning CPR. She’s not breathing!” I scream. Praying the CPR classes Jason made us all get certified in actually work, I find her sternum and move the heel of my hand slightly below it.Backwards from thirty, Em, I can hear Jason’s voice in my head. This way you won’t lose count.
Thirty.
Twenty-nine.
Twenty-eight.
Twenty-seven.
You shouldn’t have fallen in love, Emily. We had a deal.
Tears flow from my eyes and drip onto her bruised and beautiful face.
Fourteen.
Thirteen.
Twelve.
Eleven.
