Page 141 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

But Kate’s shaking only gets harder. More chaotic. More terrifying. With her back as stiff as a board, she slides off her chair and onto the floor, convulsing in a way that shakes me to my core.

I cover my mouth, my fear taking over.

“What the fuck?” Theo growls as he jumps to his feet.

“She’s having a seizure,” I explain, though I’ve never felt more helpless in my entire life. “What do we do? I don’t––”

“Do we call an ambulance?” Ash asks as she slides onto her knees next to Kate. She reaches for her but pulls back at the last second. “I don’t––I don’t know what to do.”

“Give her space,” a low, strong voice commands. My head snaps up to find Macklin barreling toward us from the entrance, his phone pressed to his ear. I turn to Theo and find him tossing his phone onto the table. He called his brother. Thankfully, Mack was already on his way and must’ve been parking or something, but it doesn't erase the helplessness drowning out my senses. I feel like my hands are tied. Like I’m paralyzed. Helpless. Like I can’t fix a damn thing. I can only watch. And it’s the worst feeling in the world.

Shrugging his arms out of his jacket, Macklin squats next to Kate and shoves his coat under her head, ordering Ash to back up.

Ash jumps back, giving Mack and Kate plenty of room as her eyes well with tears, the same helplessness blanketing her.

“Was she eating when it happened?” Mack demands.

We shake our heads as he pushes away a few of the chairs close to them.

“N-no,” I answer. “She’d had some wine, but that’s it.”

“Good.” He nods, internalizing the information before ordering, “Someone time it.”

“Th-the seizure?” Ash asks. Her voice is nothing but a whisper.

Mack nods again. “How long has she been seizing?”

“Th-thirty seconds or so?” Mia offers, looking just as confused, just as overwhelmed, as the rest of us while Ash pulls out her phone and starts the timer.

“Does she have a history of seizures?” Mack asks, his eyes never leaving Kate’s shaking body.

“Epilepsy,” Ash answers. Her eyes are even glassier now. She blinks, and a drop of moisture glides down her cheek and drips off her chin. “But I’ve never…” Her breath hitches, and she covers her mouth.

“We’ve never seen her have an actual seizure,” Mia clarifies. Her voice is numb. Almost distant. Like she isn’t here anymore. She’s absent. Disconnected. In shock.

With another nod, Mack demands, “What’s her protocol?”

“Protocol?” I ask.

“Usually, people with epilepsy have a protocol in place in case of a seizure. Some request an ambulance. Others ask to wait it out, especially if it’s the norm for them. Do any of you know what she’d prefer?”

“She’s pretty private,” Mia offers. “Sh-she doesn’t like to talk about it, so we don’t really know.”

Mack’s jaw ticks as his attention flicks to Ash. “Time?”

“Thirty seconds,” Ash replies. Colt’s behind her and pulls her against him, wrapping his arms around Ash’s waist and pressing her back to his front.

I turn to Theo, my lower lip trembling, and he pulls me into his embrace, anchoring me.

“Theo, call an ambulance,” Mack orders. “If she won’t tell you what to do when she has a seizure, we’ll decide for her.”

“She won’t want to make a big deal,” Ash murmurs. “And if she can snap out of it––”

“This is a big deal,” Mack grits out. “Theo. Now.”

Letting me go, Theo grabs his phone from the table and dials 9-1-1. I’m pretty sure he’s never felt more terrified in his entire life.

Then again, neither have I.

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