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“I’m her…”
“He’s coming. He has to come.” Monica grabbed the nurse’s arm and gave her a pleading look, her breath quickening.
The nurse looked from her to me and knew it was better not to argue than to cause any more stress. I followed her into the elevator, two nurses behind us. We rode down to the emergency room floor, and they pushed Monica into a nearby room.
“You will have to wait out here,” said one of the nurses, blocking me from coming into the room. “We have to run a few tests. It’s protocol.”
I saw Monica trying to prop herself up to see what was going on, a panicked look in her eyes. I gave her a reassuring smile.
“It’s okay,” I called to her. “I’ll be right out here.”
She looked like she was about to say something, but instead keeled over and puked onto the floor. I wanted so badly to go to her, hold her hair back, rub her back. Anything. But I knew the longer I put up a fight, the longer it would take for a doctor to see her. So I let the nurse shut the door and paced outside of it.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it. After a minute, it buzzed again. Another incoming call. I sighed frustratedly and slid it from my pocket. I noticed the screen had a long crack through it, probably from when I jumped out of the way of the car and landed on the asphalt. Through the crack, I saw my father was calling. I ignored his call, but he only called again.
I turned it off, knowing his incessantness would only continue. He was probably still livid from our conversation this morning, but now was not the time. My only focus was on Monica and making sure she was okay. The reckoning from my father could wait. It was truly the last thing I was worried about right now.
I watched as a doctor walked into Monica’s room and felt a small sense of relief. I then heard a familiar voice from down the hall and saw the same police officer from the scene of the crash. He spotted me and made his way over.
“Mr. Gunner.” He nodded. “I’m Officer Lundquist. I realize we were not properly introduced.”
I held my hand out and shook it firmly.
“How is she?” he asked, nodding to the closed door.
“Not sure,” I said, running my hand through my hair.
“I’m going to have to ask her a few questions. Get her statement. If the doctor allows me to.”
He turned and knocked on the door, before turning to me again.
“You’ll be next. So don’t go far.”
I nodded and watched him disappear into the room, trying to get a glimpse of Monica.
For the next twenty minutes, I paced outside the door, trying to hear anything from inside, but couldn’t. Officer Lundquist emerged from the room and led me down the hallway to a place more private. I told him everything about Veronica and how she had been borderline stalking me and harassing Monica. I told him I had suspected she sent the dead flowers to her, and we both decided it had been a threat against her life. I felt stupid for not seeing it before. I would never have expected her vengeance to turn violent. Deadly.
Once I was done giving my statement, the officer left back to the department, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I walked back to Monica’s room, but the door was still closed. I sighed and found a nearby waiting room, plopping down into an armchair. I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes. I wondered what was taking so long, and my worries were getting the best of me.
“Troy?” said a familiar voice.
I looked up and saw Erica walking toward me, worry in her eyes.
“Erica!” I stood up and she threw her arms around me, crying quietly.
“Oh, my God,” she said through her tears.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, confused.
“Are you kidding?” She pulled away and looked at me, her hands on my shoulders. “It was all over the news. The police chase. Dad’s helicopter. The accident.”
I groaned. Of course it was.
“I knew Dad was in New Jersey. Well, probably not anymore if he’s caught wind of this, which I’m sure he has. But anyway, I knew it was you up there. I just didn’t know why you were involved in a police chase, until I saw Veronica’s red car.”
“Oh, Erica.” I shook my head. “It was awful. Just awful.”
I felt my legs weaken as I sat back in the chair behind me. Erica took the seat beside me and I told her everything that happened. She listened wide-eyed the entire time. I couldn’t blame her. It sounded like something from out of a horror movie.