Forever and Always

Chapter 2

After arriving at the hospital, the paramedics rushed Jason to the ER. I however, suffering with minor injuries, was checked up on for any hidden injuries, but there were none. The nurses let me rest for a few hours and then I was taken to the waiting room.

My little sister was next to me, gripping on to the dog. She was sleeping, but I could see her cheeks were stained with tears. Nemo was awake and was looking up at me. I looked into Nemo's sad eyes that reflected my own grief.

Everything rushes back to me, my brother falling to the floor, the carpet soaked in blood, the man slipping out the window, Katie's screams, Nemo's barking, police sirens, cops rushing in the house,  my screaming as paramedics put my brother in an ambulance.  

Tears formed in my eyes, making my vision blurry. I wiped them away. Even though my parents were dead, my brother was injured, and the man who caused this mess was still out there, I had to be strong. 

I looked around the hospital waiting room. The chairs were a chestnut brown, and lined up in little groups of three for worried families. Dim lights hung from the ceiling, setting a gloomy mood for the open space. Ferns stood in pots by the elevators and in between the small grouped chairs. Across the room was a brightly lit gift shop full of giant stuffed teddy bears and balloons that said "Get Well Soon!" or "It's A Boy!". The automatic doors kept opening and closing with a thud. In the background phones were ringing, families communicated in hushed whispers, and crying was coming from all directions.

Taking up the third chair in our little group was a young boy who looked about my age. His messy dark brown hair framed his angled face.   He had a red plaid button-down shirt over a white tank top and some dark wash jeans on. His blue eyes looked up and met mine. I turned away and pretended to pet Nemo.

"That looks like it's uncomfortable," The boy said.

"What does?" I asked.

"That grip she has around him, he doesn't look very happy," He pointed out.

"Well he isn't happy, we just went through alot," I looked down at Nemo.

"I know," He said quietly.

"What do you know? I don't even know you," It came out a little bit harsher than I had intended.

"Yes, you do," He said.

"No, I don't," I looked at him questionably.

He started to open his mouth, but closed it again. The boy looked like he was thinking, but then he shook his head. He looked back up at me, "Well, my dad is the doctor taking care of your brother. He wanted me to watch over your sister while you were getting fixed up, and wait with you. He didn't think you wanted a nurse hanging around with you for your brother."

"Oh," The mention of Jason made me lose my words.

"My dad says he will be fine. It didn't look like the bullets made any major damage. He got hit in the shoulder, and near his elbow," He tried reassuring me.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Noah," He introduced himself.

"I'm Courtney," I played with the strings on my blood splattered pajama pants, trying not to make eye contact.

"I'm sorry about all of this," Noah said after a few minutes.

"It wasn't your fault that some insane man killed my parents, or shot my brother," I  whispered.

"I can still feel bad for you, can't I?" He replied.

"I don't need your pity," I muttered. That sounded meaner than it had in my head.