The Missing Pieces

Turn of Events

I feel like a burden.

"Mitchell Coby Grassi don't ever say that again. We all love you and we're gonna get through this together."

I know I just-

"KIRSTIE!"

Scott and I jump up and run in. Avi is on the floor shaking his girlfriend.

"I'm calling an ambulance!" Says Esther and quickly dials 911. Genevieve pulls us over in a parking lot.

"What happened?" Scott says frantically.

"She was- she was just sitting and talking and- and then she hit her head when she stood up and fell and sh-she passed out." Avi says and starts to cry.

I just stand there, not knowing what to do. I get down and check her breathing while Scott checks her pulse.

Breathing. I sign and Scott sits up. "She has a pulse."

Avi starts to calm himself down and Esther runs over. "Shh, Avi. It's okay. She's gonna be fine." Esther tries to calm him but I hear her struggling not to cry.

Kevin walks in. "I have a first aid kit." We let him through to Kirstie and he kneels down.

"No signs of blood, but she does have a small bruise. She could be internally bleeding."

I start to cry and Scott hugs me. "Mitch, we're gonna be fine. Look, the ambulance is here."

I know he's trying to be strong, but I see the tears in his eyes.

The EMTs come in and we all step out of the bus to give them space.

I hear some yelling and they get her out on a stretcher with an oxygen mask.

"I need the closest person to her to ride in the ambulance." Someone said and we sent Avi.

I turn around to see Scott and Kevin with tears in their eyes.

Is she gonna be okay? I say, trying to hold back my tears.

"Yeah, yeah she'll be fine." Kevin says and wipes his eyes.

I watch the ambulance take her away and start crying immediately.

Now I know what it feels like to see your best friend get badly hurt.

I wonder how they felt when I got hurt.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when everyone started walking back to the bus.

"We're going to the hospital. Only one visitor is allowed at a time, though, so we might have to wait." Esther explained. We all got on the bus and it was abnormally quiet.

I started thinking about everything and started crying. I don't even know why, I just needed to let some of my stress out.

No, Mitch. You're not stressed, stupid. That's selfish. We have enough on our hands.

"Mitch? Mitch, what's wrong?" I quickly wiped a tear. "Just, um, worried about Kirstie."

"Me too." Says Kevin.

"We're here!" Genevieve yells from the front.

Esther checks her watch. "We can go in in ten minutes. They don't want any visitors at the moment because of the stress."

Avi returns to the bus.

"Is she okay?" Scott asks.

"I don't know. I don't know anything yet because they made me leave but I'm scared and-"