Mary Ellen Mercer
I sat there, staring blankly at the wall across from me. It was midnight and I was stuck in a hospital. I ran a hand through my hair and slumped down in the chair. I looked down at my muddy clothes that were splattered with Tyler's blood. I put my head in my hands, unable to sit still or even think.
"Tyler, are you an idiot?" I hissed. The blonde boy looked at me, a mischief smile on his face.
"No, are you?" he asked, holding his hand out to me. "Come on, Mary Ellen, it's not that far." I didn't take his hand. I stood there with my arms crossed and my dark curls blowing in the wind.
"I'm not breaking my neck for a thrill, Ty," I said. He sighed and stepped back up to me, taking my hands. I sighed, but didn't step back. He looked down at me, entwining our fingers.
"Nothing is going to go wrong, Mary," he said, kissing my forehead. I rolled my eyes and looked away. "I promise."
"Promises are overrated," I said, staring at the moon.
"It's not that far over the hill, Mary, it'll be fine," he said, pulling me towards the ledge to show me the fifty foot straight drop. I snorted.
"It'd take ten minutes to go around, Ty, I think that you can wait that long," I said, stepping away from the edge and trying to pull him with me.
"That's your problem, M, you never want to do anything other than follow the rules. You rule the school, but how? How can someone who's never been drunk or had any fun? Why do you always obey the rules?" he asked, his tone just making me even madder.
"Because people who don't break the rules don't get hurt doing something stupid like this!" I shot back. He looked at me, his green eyes pissed. I slumped against a tree and watched him.
"Fine, you take the long way, play it safe, and I'll meet you down there," he said and turned away. I pushed off from the tree quickly and looked at him, reaching for his arm.
"Ty, wait, don't be stupid," I said. He spun around.
"I'm not being stupid, Mare, I'm just trying to get you home before your little curfew," he said.
"Screw my curfew then, just come with me," I said, begging because I knew it wouldn't end well. He stepped back, an appalled look on his face.
"Mary Ellen breaking the rules? I'm-" He was cut off by a scream, maybe my own, as he fell over the edge backwards.
"Tyler!" I screamed, running closer to the ledge and looking down. I heard nothing and I could see nothing in the darkness. I ran a hand through my hands and spun around, pulling out my phone and seeing if I had service. None. "Damn you, Tyler," I hissed under my breath and took off running towards the path.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and turned on the flashlight, looking around for Tyler. I brought my hand to my mouth to cover my gasp when I saw his body lying on the ground. I ran over to him and knelt next to him, feeling for a pulse. I sighed in relief when I found one and looked at his head, which was bleeding from striking a rock when he came down. I pulled off my hoodie and put it by his head in hopes to keep it from bleeding and pulled his phone from his pocket. I sat back on my heels, not sure what to do when he had no signal on his either. I looked at him and wiped the tears from my eyes, trying to find all the info my mom had talked about for injuries of when people fell. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to find the answer from her nurse talks.
I looked at Tyler's body and started my examination, or what I hoped was. When I was satisfied that moving him wouldn't put him in immediate danger, I looked at him and found my inner base strengths. After all, he shouldn't be too hard to pick up. He was just skin and bones, after all. I took him gently into my arms, staggering a bit, but I'd lifted flyers in cheerleading. I could carry my unconscious boyfriend to a place where I had signal.
I staggered up the hill, Tyler getting heavier with each step. I managed to make it to the top of the hill and gently placed him on the ground, checking each of our phones and sighing in relief when I found one with Tyler's phone. I slumped down on the ground next to Tyler after calling 911 and buried my head in my hands and sobbing. The next few hours were a blur.
"Hon?" a voice asked. I looked up, knowing I looked like crap. My mom stood in the doorway, looking tired. I took one look at her and then next thing I knew, I was in her arms. "I'm sorry, Mary. You tried your best."
"Stop talking like he's dead," I muttered. She stroked her hair.
"I meant you tried your best to stop him from going over the edge," Mom said. I looked at her and brushed my hair from my eyes.
"What he did was stupid, and I told him so. He met the consequences," I said simply. She stood.
"Get some rest hon., I have to get back to work, but I'll check back in," she said, smoothing my hair and pushing me back onto the couch in the waiting room and covered me with the blanket that was draped over the back.
I yawned and stretched the next morning, blinking at the sunlight and trying to get my bearings. I bolted up when I realized where I was and what I was still dressed in. I looked down at myself and sighed. I had nothing else to wear. I swung my legs over the side of the couch and pulled out my phone and frowned when I saw two and realized that I still had Tyler's…and he had over two dozen texts from his friends and his parents, who were saying that they couldn't get a ride back, but would be there as soon as they can.
I walked out of the waiting room and down the hall to the dining hall. I knew the hospital like the back of my hand, having gone to the day care here often when my mom had to work. I ran a hand through my hair and ducked out of a door and out into the employee parking lot to find my mom's car, remembering I had a pair of practice clothes for cheerleading.
I hurried across the parking lot and shivered from the cold as I opened the driver's side of my mom's car and opened the trunk. I dug around in my bag for a pair of shorts and a tank top and closed the trunk before sprinting across the parking lot, tired of the looks the visitors were giving me as they tried to find a place to park.
I ducked into the bathroom and quickly changed, stuffing my filthy clothes into a bag in hopes that they could be saved. I stared at my reflection in the mirror before grabbing a ton of paper towels and scrubbing my face until the dried blood and mud was off. I stared at my reflection and dug in my bag for my make up so it didn't look like I was a raccoon from not getting enough sleep.
I turned and left the bathroom, feeling better, but the pain in my chest for Tyler was still there as I walked down the hall towards the ICU. I looked around before ducking into the unit as a doctor entered and didn't acknowledge me. I kept my head down as I hurried down the hall, taking the long way to avoid the nurses' station and any nurses. I stopped at the end of a hall and my breath was knocked out of me, I felt light headed, and my vision blurred.
I looked at Tyler's body, looking frail in the hospital gown beneath the itchy hospital sheet. He had a few IV's hooked to his arm and a heart monitor. And, around his head and blocking his blonde hair, was gauze, covering the spot where his head had struck. His left arm was also in a cast, probably from landing on it. His face and arms were covered in scratches and bruises. With his eyes closed, and the subtle rise and fall of his chest, he looked as though he was sleeping.
I glanced over my shoulder before stepping into the room and easing the door shut as I walked over to him. I looked down at him and brushed my hair from my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat, trying not to cry. I sunk down into the chair next to his bed and took his hand as I watched his face for a sign of movement, a sign that he knew I was there. He didn't move. He gave no sign.
I watched him a moment longer before brushing the tears from my eyes and standing.
"I love you, Tyler," I murmured and turned. I walked to the door and glanced at him before easing the door shut behind me.
I hurried down the hall the same way I came, hoping to avoid the nurses, doctors, my mom, and even the cops that loitered in the lobby, keeping the reporters out. I avoided my dad's gaze as he looked at me from his post by the door. I hurried past as he spoke on his walkie- talkie. I ran a hand through my hair as I emerged outside and into the fresh, crisp autumn air. I could actually breathe.