I sat in ICU. I was fine, but the doctors wanted to check for broken bones. I busted my knee up so it was even worse than before the crash and I had to get stitches in my shoulder and on my hand.
Chelsea walked away from the crash with a sprained wrist and a broken finger. Billy, the lucky shit, had a few scratches and bruises. Kat shattered her left hand. Paul's left arm was gashed so he had to get massive stitches. Benji broke his left leg and had a concussion. Cat was, for the most part, in as good a shape as Billy, except she had a headache and needed her leg bandaged from ankle to thigh.
I was still waiting for news on Joel and Ryan. I sat for what seemed like hours with the others as we waited. Our crash was already on the news. I just ignored the annoying television and looked at the stitched between my thumb and forefinger on my right hand.
"Hey Benj, I look like you now." I said, holding up my hand.
I was trying anything to not think the worst things possible about Joel and Ryan. I wanted to wake up from this terrible nightmare, but it wasn't a nightmare, it was really happening.
The doctor came into the room. "We're having problems stabilizing--"
"What kind of problems?" I asked, cutting him off.
"He's been badly injured. We're not sure he's going to pull through."
"Can I see him, either of them?"
"They're in the same room. So follow me." I stood and limped after the doctor to room 79. I looked at Joel and then to my brother. They looked peaceful if you ignore the tubes and heart monitors.
The doctor left me alone with them. I sat on the floor between them and held their hands, hoping they'd pull through for me.
An hour went past when I heard a shrill steady tone. I looked up as doctors and nurses ran in, pushing me out of the room. Billy was standing outside the door; I was pushed into him by a nurse. "Just tell me whose it was!" I began crying. Billy hugged me and took me to a chair. He held me close trying to comfort me.
I heard a doctor say "Time of death: 7:51 PM." as he came out of the room. He looked at me. "I'm sorry. But your brother--"
"My baby brother? He's dead?"
"I'm afraid so. But your fianc� is fine."
I fell to the floor in tears. A part of me was now gone. Billy tried to hug me but I pushed him away.
"Tate please. Please get up."
"Leave me alone Billy." I looked up at him. Tears threatened to fall from his sad blue eyes. He had been a good friend of Ryan�s and now Ryan was gone. I hugged Billy and cried on his shoulder. "I'm sorry." I whispered.
The others came quickly when they heard the news. No one's eyes were dry, tears stained our faces. I broke apart from my friends and sat on Joel's bed as he slept. I looked at the now empty hospital bed that Ryan had been in maybe fifteen minutes before, I sat there silently and cried.
"Baby, what' wrong?" I looked over to see Joel awake and worried. He took my hand and held it tight. "Tate, please tell me." He pulled me into a hug and kissed my forhead.
"Ryan... didn't make it." I whispered.
Joel had me lay down next to him. "I'm so sorry."
I hugged close to Joel, careful not to hurt him more.