CHAPTER 146
ROBERT’S POV
~ I looked back at my son who seemed like he was going to die in my arms, biting hard on my lips till I almost tasted that metallic tang of blood.
“Please don’t die on me, Liam,” I prayed silently in desperation. “Don’t die on your daddy. We still have a lot of things we haven’t done yet. So, please stay put for me and your mummy.” ~
It didn’t take long for the ambulance van to arrive. The back of the van was opened and two young female medics putting on matching medical gloves and uniforms alighted. One had short dark hair with large cartoonish eyes while the other was an auburn with freckles splattered all over her cheeks, giving her a somewhat unique look. The wheels of a stretcher squeaked as they pulled it down from the van.
Gently as though he was the most fragile thing ever, Liam was lifted off the floor and onto the stretcher and strapped in place. His fever had gone down like the middle-aged medic said it would but his eyes were shut, no longer flickering.
The middle-aged man assured us not to worry, saying he was just asleep possibly from the effect of the drug. I could tell what he said was true Liam was taking deep steady breaths as though he was controlling his breathing.
Despite knowing he was okay and hadn’t passed out on us, my heart hung in my throat like a heavy stone attached to a stalk, weighing me down with fear. It was almost impossible to steady my erratic breaths and get a hold of myself as flickers of apprehension coursed through me. Would he be fine? Would we make it to the hospital on time? Would he be able to walk again? What if he passed out while we were still on the way?
All these thoughts ran through my mind like a whirlwind, leaving me feeling flustered and utterly helpless. I couldn’t rely on Lily for emotional support because she too wasn’t having it easy and couldn’t care less about the way I felt. Her eyes were all red and puffy like she’d been crying all day and she’d been quiet for some time now. Alarmingly quiet, as if nothing else in the world mattered, not caring if the heavens might even fall as her entire focus was on Liam.
Liam was pulled into the back of the truck. As Lily and I were about to climb in, I spotted Lila running towards us. One of the school security guards, who had formed a barrier to keep people away, tried to stop her, but she was determined, manoeuvring through a small gap between his legs before he could react. This took the security guard by surprise but also angered him. He turned to grab her, but I stepped forward, blocking his way, and quickly said, “She’s with us.”
He didn’t say anything. He just sighed and shot Lila a look before turning back and leaving.
“Are you okay?” I asked as I pulled her in for a tight hug, knowing nothing happened to her. But I knew I needed to be fast because the ambulance was waiting for me.
Lila nodded, her eyes large and liquid. “Is Liam going to be alright?” She asked with a small, shaky voice, knowing what happened.
“Yes honey,” I reassured, trying to hide all that fear and panic welling up like a river inside me. “He’ll be fine.”
“Can I come with you guys?”
I glanced at the back of the van. Lily was watching us closely. I could tell something was going through her mind at that moment but I couldn’t quite figure out what it was. Looking back at Lila, a corner of my lips twisted awkwardly as I didn’t know what to tell her.
I took her to the back of the van and asked the two medics if it was okay for her to come with us.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the medic with the large, cartoonish eyes said with a kind smile. “We have limited space, and only a parent or guardian is required to accompany the patient. But given how critical your son’s condition is and the state you and your wife are in, we made an exception to take you both.”
With that said, I looked back at Lila and sighed sadly. That meant she couldn’t come with you.
Before I could say something, Lily beat me to it. She came forward and hugged her tightly.
“I’m sorry honey but you can’t come with us. We have wasted too much time so we have to be on our way. Stay put ok? Don’t do anything that might hurt you and when the games are over, stay where I can find you easily. Once we get to the hospital and see the doctor, I’ll be coming back to pick you up.”
“I can have my chauffeur come pick her up,” I chimed in almost hesitantly, a bit apprehensive Lily might snap at me again and reject the idea. But to my surprise, she didn’t. She just ignored me almost as if I didn’t talk.
Lila nodded to every word Lily said. We gave her a quick hug before saying our goodbyes as the back doors closed and the van drove off, its siren sound piercing the air and wailing noisily as it did.