Page 9 of He Saved Me

He’s seen these types of cases on TV shows and movies, but to be up, close, and personal was beginning to be too much for him to handle. He wondered what pushed the man to stab his wife repeatedly. The man had butchered his wife, forcing a son to kill his own father.

The young man rubbed his chest, trying to soothe the pain that settled in his heart. Tears blurred his vision as he stumbled his way to the rig.

Once they loaded the bodies into a separate ambulance, the young man climbed into the back, where the woman lay lifeless on a stretcher.

Before he buckled up, a movement in his peripheral caught his attention.

Hesitantly he lifted his eyes to the body underneath the snow-white sheet. He jumped back, bumping his head against the cabinet.

“Holy shit,” he gasped, chest heaving. With trembling hands, the young man pulled back the white sheet.

“We got a pulse!”

Chapter 2- Sadie

“She’s not out of the woods yet,” the doctor says. “She’s in a coma.”

“Again?” I ask breathily.

The doctor gives me a solemn look. “Yes. She’s in critical condition and has minimal brain activity. We will continue to monitor her, but you should be aware that she may not wake up this time. She lost a large amount of blood, and the injury to her head fractured her skull.”

“So—” I paused to breathe so I can control my emotions— “she could go into a vegetative state?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. I wish I had better news.”

My body jerks from the experience of falling in my dream waking me up. I blink a few times until the fog clears and glance around the room, taking in my surroundings. I turn to the side, and my eyes lock on Josiah slouching on the chair across the room.

His head against the back of the chair, eyes closed, and hands clasped together, resting on his lap. Turning away from Josiah, an involuntary

whimper escapes my lips. The tears form as the memories come flooding back, drowning me in a sea of sorrow.

“Sade.” My brother’s broken voice rips through my chest. “I’m so sorry.”

My eyes roam his face, tears streaming down his face, agony and defeat swirling in his eyes.

“For what?” I ask in confusion.

“For failing you. I couldn’t save her.” I hear the words catch in his throat. “I killed Dad.” He wipes his tears with his fist.

“Jo, you didn’t fail. It’s not your fault.”

He falls to his knees, clutching my blanket. My heart breaks at his words. He must know deep down that what happened to Mom is not his fault. But he took a life—our father’s. I can’t begin to imagine what he’s feeling and what it will do to him in the future.

I brush my hands through his hair, providing the comfort he seeks. He quickly recovers and stands on his feet.

“I have to go, Sade.” He says the words quickly.

“Wh-what do you mean?” Fear twist in my belly at the thought of him leaving.

Josiah wipes the remaining tears away and rubs his forehead. “I can’t stay. After what I’ve done, I can’t.” He cries some more, begging me to let him go, but I’m selfish. I can’t let him leave.

“Jo, don’t do this. You can’t keep running away. Please.Stay. We need you.”

Josiah stares at me for what feels like forever until he surrenders the urge to fight me.

“Ok, Sade. Ok.” His smile is weak—a new problem for tomorrow. But for now, we make peace and take comfort in one another for the loss of our father and mother and the day Josiah lost his way the moment he pulled the trigger.

I move over, allowing room for Josiah to climb into bed with me. My head rests on his shoulder, and his body relaxes.

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