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Tayla

I was giving my rapt attention to the computer monitor on my desk.

But nothing about financial spreadsheets and billable logs could hold my attention.

Ms. Denise wasn’t playing when she said she wouldn’t be here long.

She had initially told me that it would be some months before she made her departure, but I hadn’t seen her all week.

She was out once she’d seen that I could hit the ground running.

I looked around the small office, notating the small touches I’d made to make it feel like mine.

On the wall to my right, I’d added a contemporary art piece featuring a black woman undergoing a transformation.

Her hair was cut short and nearly shaved, and her eyes were closed as brightly colored butterflies surrounded her.

I’d picked it up at a black flea market last week. It spoke to me, and I had to have it.

On the sofa, I added pillows in a few of the same bright colors as the butterflies. I became saddened as I sat, trying to refocus on the financials and upcoming payroll. I thought of all the good things in my life. Unfortunately, my past decisions left me with no one to share them with.

Before I could get too far down, there was an urgent, loud knock on my door.

“Come in,” I yelled. The door flew open.

It was Janell, the teacher’s aide from the Pre-K classroom.

Her face was stricken with panic, and her eyes were filled with fear.

I followed the path those same eyes had taken to find Drue limp in her arms. I immediately went to get my medical bag.

Because of Brice, I always carried one around.

I wasn’t an expert, but he’d taught me the basics.

“I don’t know what happened. He…he just collapsed,” she stuttered out. I could hear the break in her voice that let me know that a sob could break through at any moment. I tried to keep my voice even as I spoke, even though I felt the same panic.

“Calm down; everything is going to be fine. Could you lay him down on the couch, please?” I said hurriedly.

Once she did, I took out my thermometer, blood pressure cuff, and stethoscope.

I placed a probe cover over my ear thermometer and stuck it in his ear.

Once it beeped, I pulled it out to look at the reading. It was one hundred-four degrees.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

I immediately pulled my cell phone from my pocket and called Devin.

Drue’s emergency form specified that Dad would be called first because his mother was typically away, showing houses.

Chanel was a real estate agent. I hadn’t seen her much in the month I’d worked here.

As the phone rang, I added the cuff and replaced the phone with my stethoscope so that I could check his blood pressure.

I laid the phone, which I’d put on speaker, on the couch beside Drue.

“Hey Tay, what’s going on?” Devin answered.

“Mr. Haven, I’m leaving the facility in the next few minutes to take Drue to the hospital.

His temperature is one hundred-four degrees.

His blood pressure is stable at ninety-five over one hundred and ten, but I don’t like his breathing.

I know this isn’t proper protocol, but the ambulance will take too long to arrive.

So, I was going to take him myself, and you could meet me there.

” I could hear his rough breathing and the sound of scrambling in the background before I heard a car door close.

“Mr. Haven, was he sick when you brought him in this morning? I need to know what to tell the hospital.”

“Um, no. He seemed fine. I’m in the car now.

I just returned from a meeting. I hadn’t even gotten out.

I’ll be there in two minutes to take him myself.

” I removed Drue’s glasses, which had sat haphazardly on his face, and scooped him up to head towards the main door.

I perched Drue and all his dead weight on my shoulder until Devin came speeding into the lot.

He came to a screeching stop, not even bothering to take a spot.

I pushed through the doors, ran outside to meet him, and gently placed Drue in Devin’s arms. He immediately turned and put him in the car, buckling him into his booster seat.

“Thank you, Tayla.”

“Yeah, no problem. Please call and let me know he’s ok,” I said as he stepped inside the car. He backed out and sped out of the lot, heading towards the hospital. His car lights grew further and further away until I could no longer see them, and then I turned to return inside.

Please, let that baby be ok.

I offered a silent prayer, hoping he would be fine. I needed him to be. These people were like a family to me, and I couldn’t lose them in any capacity.