Page 9 of Confined Space

"Are you sure?" She reaches out to grip my arm, and I nod at her.

Turning around, I get back to clearing the scene and doing my job. But for the rest of my time here, I can't shake the feeling that something is off.

Chapter Four

CORAL

I stand in the hospital looking at my son lying on the gurney I was on. He has no injuries, not even a scratch on him, and I'm feeling really blessed. But his car seat is heading to be destroyed because of the accident. The seat is compromised and can no longer be used. I'm going to have to buy him a new one, using some of the precious money in my savings account until I can get into my trust.

"Coral," a voice says from the other side of the curtain before it's pulled back and in walks my boss. I've been dreading this encounter. She saw me being wheeled in and rushed over when I first got here.

"Hello." I know she's going to have to let me go because my left arm is in a half cast. I have to see an orthopedist, and he will determine if I need to be in a full cast or a hard brace for at least six weeks. I’m lucky I didn't have to have surgery to repair it, but I won't be able to work for a few days, and only with one hand after that.

"I talked to the hospital administration. We can't give you any sick leave, but we can allow you to take a week off without pay. When you return, you can run the desk as the ward clerk. We don't want to let you go, but there are policies we have to follow."

"Really?” I try to hold in my excitement. I get to keep my job. Not only do I need the money, but I like working here so far. “I would love to continue working for you."

"Good. You go home and get some rest. We’ll see you next week on nights as the ward clerk. You’ll be on the seven-to-seven shift."

"I'll get everything arranged to be able to do that."

"Okay. Your nurse will be in to discharge you shortly. Also, there is a sheriff’s deputy out here who would like to ask you some questions."

"Let him in, and thank you so much." I want to hug her because I’m so happy that I won’t lose my job.

After I answer questions from the deputy, he informs me that a detective will be called in because the driver took off and witnesses say he didn't even stop at the sign, he just ran into me. It was probably a drunk or the car was stolen. Either way, the deputy said it needs to be investigated because it’s considered attempted murder.

I sign my discharge papers, and with the help of one of the nurses, I get Archer into his frontal carrier and head out. I had to use a phone earlier to call Georgia and tell her I wouldn't need her to pick up Archer. She sounded concerned, but I refused to go into detail. It’s part of my insecurity in trusting people.

Now I'm walking out of the emergency room at nearly seven at night. I head over to the bus stop and wait, knowing the bus runs until ten. There should be another one along soon. Panic slowly creeps in as I get the sense I’m being watched. The hair on the back of my neck stands up. Before the emotion takes me too far, the next bus arrives.

By the time we get home, my body is aching everywhere and the pain meds the hospital gave me are wearing off. I'll fill my prescription in the morning. Thankfully, the attending doctor gave me a couple of tablets to last until then. Because I'm nursing, they can only give me light pain meds. My arm is throbbing, and I swear it feels like it's three times its normal size. I walk up the stairs, and Georgia's door flies open.

"Oh my God, Coral! What happened?" She looks at me with pity. Tears shine in her eyes as she takes in my bruised body and the cast on my arm. I’m dressed in a pair of scrubs because my clothes were ruined and blood stained.

"I was in a car accident. My car was totaled." I try to hold my tears back. A new car is going to cost me money I don’t have.

"Why didn't you tell me when you called?” She sounds exasperated. She moves to the side so I can get to my door. “I would have come and sat with you. I could have given you a ride home.” Part of me wishes I could trust and that I did call her, but I’m so guarded against getting hurt again. “Coral, you need to stop being so stubborn and accept help when it's offered. You lied to me and just said something came up and you wouldn't need me to pick up Archer."

I’m so tired and hurting that I can’t stop the words that fly out of my mouth.

"How can I trust when everyone that was supposed to help me in the past just turned their backs on me?” My anger is instant. I’ve trusted people before, and all it’s done is shown me that they’ll let you down. My own parents turned on me. Then there was Davis. “Tell me how?” I choke on the tears clogging my throat. “The police said the person who hit my car didn't stop. They just ran off afterward. Humanity doesn’t want me to trust.” I pause and take a deep breath as I try to control my anger, but it doesn’t help. Tears roll down my face. “What am I supposed to do with that? How much more can I take before I break?" I yell at her, causing Archer to lurch in his carrier against my chest, and I groan from the pain.

"Come on." She takes my keys and directs me inside my apartment.

I walk over to the sofa and collapse on it. I try to get Archer out of the carrier, but with my cast and him squirming, it’s no use. He cries harder and then I'm sobbing. How can I do this? I’m barely an adult and I’m the mother of an infant. I have no car. Barely any money. Life just keeps kicking me when I’m down.

"I'm sorry, little man, I'm trying here." Tears continue to roll down my face. Normally, I do everything I can to keep the tears at bay. I don't want to seem like I can't do this, but right now I don’t know if I can.

"Oh, sweetie." Georgia pulls me into her arms. But with everything hurting, I cry out and pull away. I can’t even trust tenderness from people now.

"It's not you. I hurt everywhere," I say.

Georgia helps me get Archer out of the carrier. She holds him to her, but he’s rooting around, wanting to nurse. She arranges pillows around me and helps me get settled so I can feed him.

Carefully, I nurse Archer as I try to calm down.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you." I hiccup.

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