Chapter Nineteen
Waiting. It should have been the death of everyone sooner or later. Sitting there, and waiting was the worst. I shook, and cried, and waited. Kristi came with Lexie, and held me tightly, while Lexie held my hand. I wasn't afraid to cry in front of them, but when Adam and James came I had to force myself to stop.
"Taylor," Adam yelled across the hospital. A nurse shushed him, but he ignored her running towards me. He hugged me tightly, and then pulled away to look at me. "What happened?" He asked.
"Drunk driver," I whispered, "Crashed right into us."
I managed to get away with only a few pumps and bruises. My arm did bleed a lot from scratching on the side of the door. I couldn't help it, I broke down in front of Adam, even though I vowed not to. He held me like Mason would have held me. "It wasn't your fault," He whispered in my ear.
"Yes it was," I cried, "We got in a fight, and when I tried to warn him he didn't want to hear me. And it was my fault the fight even started. I'll never forgive myself if he goes."
Adam hugged me again, and just let me cry on him. Soon James came, and hugged me too.
When Dad heard about the accident, he came running to the front desk. "I'm looking for my daughter," He gasped, "Taylor Rodes."
"Dad, over here," I yelled.
Dad looked over, and let out a sigh of relief. He was beside me in two long stride, holding me to his chest. "I thought I was going to lose you," He whispered, "Please don't leave me."
Instead of responding, I cried harder.
Within the next few hours, the waiting room was packed. Ashley, Sam, and Jordyn were there. Some of Mason's friends from school were there too. Jordyn's family was also there, weeping in a corner. From what I knew they were the closest real family Mason had had since his mother and brother died. A school couch showed up who said he couched Mason in football Freshman year, and even if he wasn't that good he still respected Mason, and thought he was a great kid.
Finally, Mr. Slatter showed up. Without talking to a nurse, he stormed into the waiting room, and yelled over the crowd, "Where's my son?"
When no one responded, I stepped forward, and whispered, "He's in intensive care."
A vein on Mr. Slatter's forehead popped out, and so did his eyes. His face grew red, and he stared right at me. "It's all your fault isn't it."
He pointed a shaky finger at me, and waited for a response, but my Father stepped in front of me. "Now you listen here," He started, but I put my on his arm. He turned around to look at me, and I nodded.
"Mr. Slatter, it's not my fault," I whispered, "You were the one who told him to get hit by a car."
He stepped back, his face filled with horror. "I...I didn't." He stuttered, and when I crossed my arms over my chest, he exploded. He pushed things over, and kicked the front desk repeatedly. Police officers had to assist him out of the building.
We continued to wait. Sitting there in the chairs that were open. Soon peopled started to go home: Jordyn's family, Dad with Lexie asleep in his arms, and Mason's friends from school, plus that couch. I sat alone in the waiting room with Kristi, Adam, James, and Jordyn. I played with my hands in my lap, anxious. "He's going to be alright," Kristi whispered into my ear. She didn't know that though, and neither did I.
"The family of Mason Slatter?" The nurse called, holding her little clip board.
We all stood up, but I stepped forward slightly. "Is he alright?" I whispered.
The nurse came over, and sat in a chair across from us. She looked at us, waiting for us to sit down. When we did, she let out a sigh. "It's weird," She whispered, "I think he's going to be alright."
"What?" We all yelled.
"Yes," She said, "It was a miracle. With a few operations and maybe a few more, I think he's going to be alright. There are many broken bones, and maybe a few torn ligaments, so he'll be here for awhile."
"Will...will...he be paralyzed?" I stuttered, fearing the answer.
"No," She answered, "I'm pretty sure with a few casts, and time for healing, he'll be as good as new!"
Adam and James cheered, and Jordyn and Kristi hugged. I just sat there, and cried I was so happy. Kristi came over to me, and hugged me tightly, she was crying too. I thought he was gone, and I was sure so did everyone else.
We took turns staying at the hospital, because he could wake up or be alright at any time. I took the first shift, and then went home to see Lexie. She was always anxious to hear about how Mason was doing. Every other day I would tell her the same thing, nothing. Then there was the night that I was allowed to go in and see him.
I almost jumped for joy in the waiting room, but didn't because it was more crowded than usual. I followed the nurse into Mason's room which seemed to be at the end of the hallway. When I entered his room, my breath caught. He was laying on the bed, eyes closed, and too many tubes in and around him. I ran over to him, and kneeled down beside his bed. I pushed the hair out of his face, and kissed his hand.
"Don't stay for too long," The nurse warned. I ignored her though, an just looked at Mason. When she closed the door behind her, and you could hear her heels click down the hallway, Mason opened an eye.
"Mason?" I gasped.
He turned his head towards me, and smiled. "You're supposed to be asleep," I whispered.
"The drugs weren't that strong, and I didn't want another needle stuck in me," He told me, and he slowly removed his hand from under mine, and put it over my hand. "I'm so sorry," He started.
"Please, not now," I begged, only wanting to be with him, and not listen about that stupid argument.
"No, I have to set this straight," He argued, "I want you to know how stupid I was. It was not your fault, and I don't even know why I thought it. Taylor, I am so, so, so, sorry."
"Please don't be sorry," I whispered.
"But I feel so guilty," He told me, "I am so sorry. I was a big jerk, and I said some hurtful things, and if I could take every one of them back, if it was possible."
I smiled at him, "Don't worry, it's all forgotten. I don't know what it's like between you and your Father, but I just wanted to help you. You helped me when I needed you."
"I know, and I'm sorry," He repeated. He looked at me, giving me a small smile, and then motioning for me to come on the bed with him. I smiled at him, and lay beside him. I closed my eyes, and thanked God that he was alright.
"How broken are you?" I asked, in small voice.
"I don't know," He told me, "I'm supposed to be asleep, so no one told me anything."
I smiled, and blushed, "Sorry, I forgot." I looked at him, and then leaned over to kiss him gently on the lips. He smiled, and closed his eyes.
"I hope that means I forgive you," He whispered.
"It sure does," I exclaimed.
"Good, now I feel a little bit better," He explained. He gave me a small smile, and then looked up at the ceiling.
"Would you like me to leave?" I asked, looking at him. He looked at me with wide eyes.
"No, no, no," He muttered.
I smiled, and held tightly to his hand. He winced a little, so I loosened my grip, but still held onto it. We stared up at the ceiling together, and listened to the people walk by in the hallway.
"When the my Mom's car exploded," Mason whispered, "My brother died right away, but she died slowly and painfully. It got to the point when there was nothing they could do." He paused for a minute then said, "They let me come visit her, and she told me to get in the bed with her like I used to do when I was little."
He choked on what sounded like a sob. "You don't tell me if you don't want to," I told him.
Of course he ignored me though. "I lay on the bed with her, and we listened to the people around us. She told me that there was nothing to be afraid of because whether or not people showed it, people were always afraid."
I thought about this, and looked at him.
"She was right," Mason said, "But it's different with this. This time I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid to die."
Okay, it might seem really stupid that he would ggive up jst like tht, but remember he hates his Dad, he was angry, and he got into a really bad car accident, like there was a chance he could have been paralyzed..... so please dont judge me to much. it gets better, I promise!!