AncilChapter 11: The Reunion
William didn’t answer instantly but after a few seconds, he said, “Yes, but barely. We need to get her to a hospital and now.” The urgency in his voice grew as he placed his index and middle finger on her neck to find a pulse. “She has a pulse. But we need to leave now. Grace grab my coat.”
My mother ran into the other room to grab William’s coat as William pressed on Samantha’s chest forcefully and frantically. He was doing everything he could have done to get her to wake up and I just stood there, dumbfounded, without a clue of what to do. The thought that she was dead invaded my mind and I couldn’t help but think that it was all my fault. I killed Samantha.
“Don’t just stand there!” William shouted. “Start the car. Do something!!”
I nodded my head still oblivious to what was going on, got the keys, and started the car. I sat in the car with a really tight grip on the steering wheel while waiting for the others. William and my mom came about a minute after with Samantha’s body. My mom chased me out of the driver’s seat, took the wheel, and sped off. William remained in the back tending to Samantha who now looked purple. My mom called Samantha’s parents while we were on our way to the hospital.
For the entire trip, I couldn’t speak, my hands shook and my thoughts spiraled out of control.
When we arrived at the hospital the doctors quickly took Samantha off into the emergency room on a stretcher. William, my mom, and I sat in the waiting room in quiet and fearful anticipation. After about 20 minutes, Samantha’s mother, Elizabeth Hurlan, and father, Jack Hurlan rushed into the room. Jack, a tall guy with bulging muscles comforted his crying wife who looked very small and feeble to say the least.
“Is she going to be okay?” Jack asked.
“I don’t know,” my mom said. “I don’t know.”
Jack and Elizabeth sat next to my mom and they talked a bit more about the incident but my attention was elsewhere. I stared at the door to the room Samantha was in for a couple of hours until a doctor came out with news of the diagnosis.
“The family of Samantha Hurlan?” The doctor inquired.
We all stood up.
“Yes doctor,” Jack said.
“Well, I’ve got good news and bad ne-“
“Good news,” My mom interrupted sharply.
“The good news is that she should be waking up in a couple of hours. She suffered from a slight case of hypothermia. Her hypothermia was not directly caused by the extreme cold but by high alcohol levels in her blood. The alcohol acted as a vasodilator increasing blood flow to her skin and extremities.”
“And the bad news?” I asked.
My mom gave me a stern look.
“Well, the bad news is that her liver is pretty banged up and may not be able to function properly after this. She’s going to need a new one. But her liver problems are just the tip of the iceberg. Her blood pressure is abnormally high and her brain cells along with her memory seem to be deteriorating due to excessive drinking. I’m guessing that she is long-time binge drinker.”
“She once got alcohol poisoning a couple of months ago after visiting the al-cream store,” Jack said.
“Ahh yes, the al-cream store. Killing teenagers with alcohol poisoning since 2012. She’s very lucky to still be alive.”
“Can we see her doc?” My mom asked.
“Sure, but I recommend that you let her get some rest. She’s going to need it.”
We followed the doctor into the emergency room where Samantha lay on a bed in the middle of the room with tubes in her nose and a needle in her hand which was connected to a machine. There was an annoying beeping sound coming out of it.
We all gathered around looking down on her sleeping body which was still a bit muddy and dirty looking. I wasn’t sure if to feel happy for her or sorry for her. She was still alive but her life would never be the same again and I felt like it was my fault. It was haunting me.
“Can I be excused for a minute?” I asked.
No one answered but I just slipped away into the corridor and into the hospital washroom. I got a good hard look at my face which was the first time I did after my episode with Samantha in the forest. I looked dirty, really dirty. There was mud in my hair, my neck, and all over my clothes. I was surprised my mother didn’t point out how incredibly dirty I looked. But I didn’t dwell on that thought for too long. I unraveled toilet paper and used it to clean myself up along with the water in the taps. My clothes were still muddy but at least I wasn’t.
I went back out into the corridor and ventured through the hospital in hopes of finding something to eat or drink. I was starving.
The hospital was huge and some parts were lonely while some parts were flooded with people. The people weren’t the happiest bunch on the planet. As a matter of fact, most of them looked downright miserable. There were families clutching each other and persons in pain. Their misery was contagious as I couldn’t help but feel miserable myself seeing the people in their misery. Maybe, it was just because I was hungry. I convinced myself that it was and I kept searching for a vending machine.
I found one in a lonely waiting room which only had one person sitting with their head down, looking distressed. The vending machine swallowed my change and vomited a bottled water that instantly emptied out as it touched my parted lips. But one bottle wasn’t enough, I got another one and then headed back in the direction from which I came.
I got a quick glance at the girl sitting in the room as she rose her head and gave me a small smile that seemed forced and fake. Her makeup was smeared and her face was wet. It didn’t take me very long to realize who it was.
“Kate?” I said.
