* * *
Daisy
We walk back to my parents’ house hand in hand. Nick slows his longer strides to match my smaller ones, and he periodically pulls our joined hands up to his lips to kiss my knuckles in a move so tender it makes my heart ache.
We’re going to get in his car, and then he’s going to drive us to his place where he already has a basket of food ready. Who knows if we’ll actually take it out to the pond, though. At this point, I don’t really care where we go so long as I’m with him.
When we reach the gate connecting our properties, my feet stall as I see flashing lights up ahead.
“Nick,” I say tentatively, gripping his arm for support as I make out the shape of an ambulance up ahead.
Oh god. What’s happened?
I can feel his frown as he tries to make out what’s going on too.
Something is wrong with someone in my family. That’s all I can think as I release his hand and go running toward home as fast as my feet can carry me.
Nick is right behind me.
When I finally reach the house, I see the paramedics wheeling my gran out on a stretcher.
“Gran?!” I scream as I go running up to them. I vaguely notice Dad standing with this arm wrapped around Mom. His face is grave and worried while Mom holds a hand up over her mouth, her eyes wet.
“What happened?” I ask them.
Mom shakes her head while Dad answers. “She just fell out in the floor. We called 9-1-1. She’s breathing, but they’ve got to take her in for testing.”
“Is anyone riding with her?” one paramedic asks.
I look to Dad, silently asking him for permission. I know he’s her son, but I’m closer to Gran than anyone in this family. It should be me in there with her.
Dad nods, letting me know it’s okay for me to go with her.
“I am,” I volunteer, jumping into the back of the ambulance after they hoist her up.
I grab my grandmother’s limp hand and hold it between both of mine, tears streaming down my cheeks as I behold her pale face.
The last thing I see before the EMTs close the door of the ambulance is Nick comforting my parents.
Oh god, if my gran dies while I was out losing my virginity to Nick, how will I ever forgive myself?