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“I-is she ok?” There’s panic in her voice.
“I … I don’t know. They’re getting ready to transport her. I’m going to go with her, so just get there as soon as you can, okay?” I try to keep my voice calm while talking to her, but I am seconds away from breaking. I can hear the pain and tears in her voice.
“Oh my God. O-ok. I’m getting everything now. Just tell me one thing, is it bad, Bryce?” she asks.
“Liz, I don’t know. We’ll know more when they get her to the hospital.” I can’t tell her how bad it looks. I don’t want her driving any more upset than she already is.
By the time I hang up with Liz, EMS has her out of the car and they are loading her into the ambulance.
“I’m going with, Hardwick.” I tell Austin, who only nods in understanding. I jump in the ambulance with her.
Sitting alongside Kat, I clutch her hand into mine. “Kat, I’m here. I’m not leaving your side. I love you, Kat. Stay strong, baby. Please.” I try to control my breathing, but I’m so scared. Another round of tears run down my cheeks. Every muscle inside me is vibrating as I try to hold it together.
EMS gets to work taking vitals and doing what they need to with her. I answer whatever questions I can for them. We eventually get to the hospital, and they get her inside, rushing her back. Standing out in the waiting area, I wait for her parents and Vicki to get there.
Austin shows up about ten minutes later and finds me with my head in my hands.
He sits next to me. “Hey, Hawthorne. Have you heard anything?”
“No, they took her back. I’m waiting on her parents to get here.” Finally, I lift my head and place my hand on my chest. More tears come. Swiping them away, I try to compose myself.
Austin fills me in on what they think happened at the scene. The other driver needed medical attention and was taken by an ambulance to the hospital, but he remembered nothing of what happened. Based on witness statements, she had the green light and the man in the red sports car blew through the red and hit her. The impact sent her into the other cars waiting at the red, and his car jumped the sidewalk before finally coming to a stop.
Austin and I sit there for a few more minutes before I spot Mark and Liz running in.
“Bryce, honey, what the hell happened?” Liz runs over to me and hugs me. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. They just brought her back from surgery. Listen, I need to you sit down.” Mark and Liz take a seat and I kneel in front of them.
“She was in a bad accident. Austin and I responded to the scene. I had no idea until I got there that it was Kat.” Looking down and wiping away tears, I pause. “A car t-boned her. They had to extract her from the vehicle. Unfortunately, I don’t know what the extent of her injuries are. I just know they rushed her back there saying something about needing immediate surgery and that the doctor would come talk to us when he finished or knew something.”
Liz starts crying, and Mark pulls her close to comfort her the best he can with all this information. I rest my hand on her leg, and she places her hand on mine.
“Thank you for being there for her.” Liz says through soft sobs. We all weep quietly, waiting.
“I love your daughter, Liz. I’ll be there for her, always.” Wiping away more tears, I get up and hug them both.
When I turn around, I spot familiar faces coming towards me. Cook, Nash, and Gibson are all walking towards me.
“Cook,” He steps up to greet me.
“Nash,” I shake his hand and pull him in for a hug.
“Man, I am so sorry about Kat. She’s a strong woman, though. She’ll pull through.” Nash claps me on the back.
“Gibson,” I nod to the man. He comes up and places both hands on my shoulders.
“We’re all here for you and Kat. Lean on us, okay?” Gibson pulls away after I agree.
“Have they said anything?” Nash asks.
“Nope. She’s only been back there for maybe thirty or forty minutes. Doc said he’ll come out when he knows something.” I sit down in between Liz and Austin.
Everyone takes a seat, all waiting to hear how Kat is doing. I take Liz’s hand and hold it while we wait. With all that I can, I’m trying to be strong for her parents. Liz’s entire body is shaking, and she’s in a bit of shock herself, understandably.
An hour and a half later, a doctor comes out, and I immediately stand.
“Family for Katrina Morrison?” he calls out.