We Won't Forget
Chapter #10
Derek was pacing the waiting room, going back and forth for the past hour, waiting for some news on Marti. He hadn't heard anything since he first brought her into the E.R.
"Sir, are you here for Marti Venturi?" He turned to see a doctor looking at him.
"Yea, what's going on?"
"Well, long story short, she has a minor concussion."
"Okay, that's it? That can heal, right?"
"Probably, but right now she's…she's in a coma. It will take a few days for her to wake up, because she's so young. We're not sure what the result will be yet, either."
"Coma?" Derek repeated.
"I'm sorry." The doctor said. "Do you by any chance know what could've caused the concussion? Did she hit her head earlier, before she fainted?"
"Um…" He thought for a moment. "This morning, she bumped her head on a table; I didn't think it was serious. She was fine until we reached the beach." He looked down. "Why didn't I do something sooner?!"
"Calm down, sir—"
"Derek." He corrected.
"Derek, she'll be fine…most likely."
"Most likely?"
"Well we're not sure yet, the signs aren't clear."
"Let me see her."
"Okay, room 236."
Derek ran down the hallway and hit a dead stop in front of Marti's door. He took a deep breath. He closed his eyes as his hand touched the doorknob, and walked in the room. He opened them and saw Marti, lying in her bed peacefully.
"Marti…" He walked toward her. No answer, obviously. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "I know, I never apologize for anything, but I just feel bad for putting you like this."
It was silent. He didn't know what else to do or say. Luckily, he didn't have to, because the whole family suddenly ran into the room, straight toward Marti.
"What's wrong? What happened? Is she going to be okay? What'd the doctor say?" All of the questions came at once. Once everyone became calm, Derek explained everything. They all grew quiet when he told them that the doctors weren't sure what the result would be.
Derek looked over at Casey, and he grew silent as well. She felt his eyes on her and turned toward him. He remembered something. She was the one he couldn't stop talking about when Marti fainted. She was the one that he felt the need to protect. She was the one who'd been on his mind for this whole vacation, and then some.