Free Falling

Chapter 30 | So, Uh, We Have A Situation

I wake up with a start when I hear the sound of rapid beeping. I quickly look at Jake in alarm, and I feel my heart speed up.

What's happening?

The door flies open and doctors pour in along with my parents in a panic.

"Honey, we need to leave." My mom says, ushering me out.

"No! No! What's happening? What's wrong with him?" I ask, but no one answers me.

My mom doesn't answer me as she practically pulls me out of the room. I hear a doctor yell code blue, and the last thing I hear before the door slams shut is the machine flatlining.

"It's gonna be okay." My mom repeats over and over again as she cradles me when we get to the waiting room.

"Stop it! It's not!" I say, my resolve finally breaking as I ignore the questions from everyone.

"Em, don't say that." Dwight says, suddenly appearing next to us.

"He can't die! Please!" I cry out. I'm not sure who I was begging to.

Anything and anyone that would save him.

"He's not going to." My dad says softly.

"You don't know that. It's been seven days dad! A whole week!" I cry.

I hate thinking this way, but all I can think of right now is my brother just flatlining in that room.

I know I'm supposed to be strong. I know I'm supposed to not give up hope and to help my family not give up hope, but I can't. I'm going to lose my best friend, and I can't do a damn thing about it.

I can't stop shaking and feel my breath leave me as I fall to the floor.

He's leaving me.

I can't lose him.

"Emma, you have to calm down. Breathe okay?" I hear Travis's voice say as someone begins to rub my back.

Get a grip.

Stop it.

I try to stop the attack, but it's too late. I feel my breathing accelerate and I can't stop it.

My surroundings turn into a blur as I try and catch my breath but nothing works. Nothing has been working and now Jake, my brother is about to die.

After what feels like a lifetime, I somewhat begin to calm down.

"Em, hey look at me." A voice says to me.

"He's okay." Another voice chimes in and I recognize it as the doctor's voice.

My head whips towards Dwight as tears fall from my eyes and I finally catch my breath.

"He's okay Em. He's okay." He repeats again, taking me into his arms to give my mom a chance to question the doctor.

"What happened?" My mom asks him.

"Jake had a sudden cardiac arrest due to arrhythmia, this is when the heart beats too fast, slow or irregularly. In Jake's case, his was beating too fast. They are usually brief and harmless but aren't susceptible to being the cause of an arrest. Fortunately, we got to him in time and resuscitated him. So he's going to be just fine."

I practically fall into Dwight's arms as relief floods me.

He's going to be okay.

'~'

A few hours later, I'm sitting back at Jake's side and Dwight is right next to me.

"I've never been so scared before in my life Dwight." I tell him quietly, breaking the silence we've been sitting in for almost an hour.