I rushed inside immediately looking for anyone.
"JJ!"
My head snapped toward the voice. Justin.
Running over to him, I asked, "Where is she?"
"She's over here," he directed, leading us to a room.
I stepped inside, quickly noting that Lance, Joey, Heather's parents, and Chris were there already.
"How is she?" I asked.
"Her ankle's fine," Lance said grimly, "but they're still checking her head for any permanant damage."
I looked down at her. Her ankle was in a thick blue cast, she had a white gown on, and I glanced up at her head, which was covered a bandage and plugs on it.
My throat closed up as tears fell slowly down my cheeks.
JC pulled me to him, saying little words to comfort me.
Soon after, the doctors and nurses came in, saying they had to examine her head a little further. They herded us out of the room like sheep.
I looked up from JC's shoulder to see a single tear trickle down from her eye.
*******************************************************
We all sat in the waiting room for what seemed like hours, which it probably was.
JC still held me and comforted me, while Justin apologized profusedly for what happened. Lance was sitting deep in thought, Joey and Chris were trying-I repeat, trying- to comfort Heather's parents. Meanwhile
I was just sitting in my own little world. Justin's apologies were distant as I thought. I was losing my best friend...the sister I never had...the only person that would have the success of figuring me out...
Just then, the doctor stepped out of the swinging doors.
Everyone stood up.
"What's the news?" Lance questioned eagerly.
"It seems that she hit her head so hard, she's now in a coma."
"What?" we asked, disbelieving.
"I'm sorry." Without another word, he left. The nurse said we could visit her.
We filed in and I took her cold hand. "Hey girl. It's me. Even though you can't hear me, I just want you to know...we're all here for you. Even the guys. You have the strength to do this. You can pull through. The strength is in your heart...it always has been." I turned and walked a couple steps toward the door.
"Thanks Jessie," whispered a raspy voice.
A gasp from everyone was heard as I stopped dead and turned around, but once I did, her eyes closed again, into what I knew was another coma.
"No," I whispered shakily. I was losing her AGAIN.
The doctor and the nurses rushed IN, rushing us OUT.
Staring once again into space I rocked slightly, as if I were on some kind of drug or something.
A couple minutes later, the doctor came out again. "I'm sorry, but Heather has once again slipped into a coma."
Heather's mom started sobbing and the doctor interrupted, "BUT!"
That got our attention.
"This coma, it seems, is a little lighter. You can visit her before we have to keep you out for today."
We all said our prayers and left the hospital in higher spirits than just a couple hours ago.
***************************************************
I stared at my looming house. It seemed so dark and cold without her. She was apart of my life so much, I could swear that she was at my house almost 24/7. Now, since she was gone, the house seemed gloomy and depressing.
I opened the door and heard the creak echo throughout the house. The memories lurked at every corner and threatened me to attack and make me break down. Which I almost did. Only a couple tears trickled down my face before I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned around.
"What's wrong?" JC asked, wiping the tears away.
"I can feel them here JC," I whispered, my voice raspy from the lack of its use.
He hugged me tightly then looked stern. "C'mon Jessie. You're gonna stay with me."
"No, I can't," I refused.
"Yes, you can," JC insisted. "Please. This isnt good for you. You need to be optimistic about this."
I squeezed my eyes shut and nodded slowly. "Ok."
"I'll be right here."
I went up the stairs and packed slowly. I didn't care what happened anymore.