Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Zack—

Long Beach, California

I wake to the creak of my door and the sound of my mother calling my name. Pulling the covers up over my head, I try to drown out the sound. But something about her voice shakes me to my core. There’s a thick tremble as she speaks. “Zack. Wake up.” She sniffles.

My brain goes from groggy to high alert. My body bolts upright. She’s crying. My mother does not cry. “What’s wrong, Mom?” Assuming the worst, panic sets in. Something’s happened to my father, I fear.

Her cries turn into sobs. She doesn’t respond.

“Mom. Where’s Dad?” My voice is growing louder.

More sobs. She slumps into me as her cry intensifies. Wrapping my arms around her back, I hold her, but my voice becomes more insistent. “Mom, what’s going on? Where’s Dad?” My own tears start to well, even though I’m still in the dark over what we’re crying about.

“He’s downstairs,” she finally spits out, breathless between sobs.

“What happened, Mom?”

“It’s Emily.”

My heart clenches in my chest.

“What?” My voice rises to a yell. “Mom, what about Emily?”

She cries more. My father comes to the door. I turn, catching sight of him. He’s been crying too. My heart jumps into my throat.

“Zack.” My father takes a deep breath. “Emily’s been in an accident, son.”

Nausea overwhelms me, my head spins, but I force myself from the bed. “Where is she?” I’m yanking on clothes as I speak.

“Long Beach University Hospital.”

Frantically, I search my desk for my keys, then take off down the stairs. My father shouts for me to wait, but I’m out the door before he can catch up to me. He rips open the passenger door just as I’m backing out and jumps in.

Pacing the ER waiting area like a caged lion, I wait and wait for what seems like forever. My mother arrives carrying my shoes. Looking down, I’m surprised to find I don’t have any on.

“Did you hear anything yet?” She whispers to my father.

He shakes his head and wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her to him tightly.

Finally, after what seems like days, Emily’s parents emerge from the double doors that block her from me. I rush to them. Mr. Bennett looks at me and shakes his head no. No? What does he mean, no? My father comes to stand next to me. Mrs. Bennett finally looks up and, seeing me, she completely breaks down. Wailing, she falls to the floor.

My breathing comes faster and shorter. I feel dizzy. My thoughts spin so fast I can’t see. They only stop when my entire world goes dark.