Page 97 of Deliverance

We step inside, so much commotion and chaos occurring in such a small area. The guy is practically holding me upright as he guides me to a waiting room to our left when I hear the doctor that took Bridgette raise her voice.

“Fuck! Get me the paddles. Clear.”

My head whips around, watching Bridgette’s body jolt before laying back still again. I take an automatic step, trying to move to her, but the paramedic is much stronger than me and I really don’t stand a chance.

“Nothing. Charge again. Clear!” she says.

“Please, please, please. I have to be with her. Someone has to be with her. She can’t be alone, not like this,” I cry.

The paramedic shakes his head. “You have to let them work. If your sister has a chance, even a slight one, you have to let them do what they do best, alright?”

I know he’s right. I know I’d only get in the way. I think there was a reason I got that feeling, though. A reason that I made that copy of Ronan’s key card. A reason that out of anyone that could have, I’m the one that found her. I’m not ready to just give up on her yet.

“As soon as they have an update, they will come get you. I promise,” he says.

“So, what am I supposed to do until then?” I snap.

He stares at me for a second before cupping my shoulder empathetically.

“Pray…hope. It’s all you can do.”

I feel like my heart is shattering into a million pieces as I numbly move to an empty chair. Slumping down into it, I rest my elbows on my knees before closing my eyes. I do exactly as he says, too. I hope. I pray. I promise God that I’ll be a better person from now on. I bargain that I’ll do whatever he wants me to do if she lives. I beg for her to live and for me to go in her place, because as I’ve so quickly realized, a world without Bridgette Brenton is not one I’m interested in living in.

Chapter Thirty Six

Bridgette

“They said that she should be waking up by now. Why isn’t she waking up?” a voice asks.

“Look at the monitors there. You see that? That’s her heart rate, her blood pressure and her oxygen levels. She’s okay. She’s resting. Her body just went through so much. It takes time,” a softer voice pacifies.

My head moves to the side and pain is the first thing I register. My ribs are absolutely killing me.

“Ow,” I rasp as I take a deep breath.

“Oh my god,” that voice from before says, rushing over to my side.

It takes me a moment before I’m able to pry my eyes open. When I do, I see Maggie beside me, holding my hand with tears in her eyes. She smiles as one slides down her cheek, lifting my hand up to her lips and pressing a kiss to it as she lets out a choked laugh.

“Thank fuck. I thought you went and died on me, baby B.”

I can’t help but smile at the nickname, the feeling of my hand in hers creating a soothing balm that only she seems to be able to provide. It takes me a few moments to figure out what exactly is going on, though. My eyes bounce around the room as a doctor comes in, shining a light in my eyes.

“Welcome back, Miss Brenton. Do you know where you are?”

I shake my head and guess. “A hospital?”

“Yes, do you know why you are here?” she asks.

My answer comes a little slower this time as I cast a look towards Maggie. Embarrassment washes over me as I look down at the stark white hospital sheet before giving a jerky nod.

The doctor says something to the nurse that I don’t quite catch before stepping outside the room. The door closes with a resounding thunk that echoes in my chest as I blow out a soft breath. Shit, why do my ribs hurt so much? Did I fall after I passed out?

“B,” Maggie says softly.

My eyes slowly lift to find her staring at me. It’s not a look full of relief like it was at first; her eyes aren’t drowning with pity or even empathy either. They just look…intense. I’ve never been so afraid to make eye contact with someone in my life.

“Why?” she asks, her word cracking at the end.