Chapter 28: Hospital Visit

I paced outside of Banfield Pet Hospital. They kicked me out 10 minutes ago for moving around too much. They said I was upsetting the other patients. I had tried to sit still, but I just couldn't stand it in there.

Someone I loved was in surgery and I wasn't able to do anything to help them. I felt like tearing my hair out. I had seen Lisa just this morning. How could she be involved in an accident? How could she be in surgery right now?

It was all too familiar.

The door of the hospital opened. I looked up, hoping for a doctor, but it was only Dale, the man who had run Lisa over.

"What do you want?" I said, managing to stop my pacing. My foot tapped.

On a normal day, with his military uniform on, Dale was probably an intimidating white guy in his early 50's. I bet he scared the new national guard recruits all the time, but now he looked sad and helpless. His eyes were puffy from crying. And it was almost like…

"I just wanted to check on you," he said.

"I'm fine," I said to the ground.

"Miss Hayes," he said, "I can't express-"

"Then don't," I said. The words came out like a sob. I began pacing again.

Dale watched me for a moment and then he went back inside. I didn't need anything else from that man. He'd already explained the situation. Dale had been driving to work when a shadow shot out from the trees. He slammed on the brakes but it was too late. Lisa had been hit.

After that, Dale brought her here and called me. I don't know why he was still sticking around. Didn't he have a job to do? It would be better than hanging out and acting like…

I shook my head and paced faster, as if I could outrun the thought.

This wasn't the same, I told myself. I wasn't trapped in a plastic seat, listening to hushed conversations under the glow of the hospital lights. I wasn't that clueless little girl wiggling in a chair, trying to believe false words. This was different. It had to be. I couldn't do that again.

6 years ago…

My life changed forever. It was a no-show day at the circus and we were somewhere in Utah. I remember that there was snow on the ground. Cathleen and I were making a snow tiger.

The circus had strayed from its usual path so that my parents could ask about purchasing a new tiger from another circus. They were out that day making the initial negotiations. I had wanted to go with them but they had told me to stay behind.

So there Cathleen and I were, playing behind the cafeteria among the trees. We were laughing and having fun when a snowball smashed into Cathleen's face.

Immediately, I turned toward where the snowball came from and shouted, "Keith!"

"Yes?" Keith responded. He came toward us from a different direction. He had a look of utter confusion as he said, "What did my sister do to her face?"

I wasn't fooled. "We know it was you," I said. Cathleen nodded as she wiped the snow and tears off her face.

Keith only smiled and said, "Do you? And what proof do you have?" Curse that smile. At fourteen, his angelic face should have been covered in acne, but Keith was as childlike as ever.

"You're such a jerk, Keith and I'm tired of it," I told him.

Keith yawned. "And I'm tired of you blaming me for every little thing, but you don't see me complaining."

"That was a complaint."

Keith waved me off. "Tuh-may-to, tuh-mah-to," he said.

"You just made your sister cry," I snapped. Cathleen was still sniffling. Her face was red.

Keith rolled his eyes. "And it's Wednesday. What's your point?"

I was about to go up to Keith and show him exactly what my point was when we heard someone calling out.

"Kelsey!" The voice sounded frantic. "Kelsey, where are you?!"

We all turned and I answered "Yes?"

A figure came through the trees. I stared.

"Aunt Sarah? What are you doing here?" I asked.

Aunt Sarah didn't respond she rushed up to me and gave me a fierce hug. "Thank god," she said into my ear. Her arms squeezed tighter.

"Aunt Sarah, you're crushing me," I squeaked.

She still didn't let go immediately. I waited as Cathleen stared and Keith snickered.

Finally, she released me. "Kelsey, honey, we have to go."

"Go where?" I asked. I still couldn't believe she was here. Aunt Sarah was Dad's sister. She lived all the way in Oregon. That was nowhere near Utah.

"To the hospital," she said. "Come on." She took my hand and started pulling me away.

The hospital?

"Why? I'm fine," I said as I resisted her pulling. "Anyway, Mrs. Gailon expects me to watch Cathleen. I can't just go."

Aunt Sarah just stared at me like I was speaking a different language.

Suddenly Keith said, "Don't worry about Cathleen. I'll take care of her." His voice was different.

I turned back to look at him. I was going to tell him I didn't trust him with Cathleen for a moment, but then I saw his face. It was grim and serious. I looked back at Aunt Sarah. This time, I really looked at her and I knew something was very wrong. "What happened?" I asked.

Aunt Sarah looked like she was about to cry. "There's been an accident. Your parents are in the hospital. We need to go see them, Kelsey."

She pulled me forward again. This time I didn't resist.

On the way there, Sarah explained the situation as Uncle Mike drove. My parents had been in an accident. They were visiting another circus to look at a tiger, like they told me, but something happened. The elephants at the circus had gone crazy and my parents and a few other people had been badly hurt. When I had asked how badly, Aunt Sarah had tried to look confident as she said, "It was bad, but it'll be alright."

I tried to believe her. Not just the reassurance but all of it. It was hard to take in. I had seen Mom and Dad just this morning. How could my parents be part of an accident involving animals? They were some of the best animal trainers in the US. Mom actually had a few awards. None of it made any sense to me.

The three of us entered the hospital with Aunt Sarah holding my hand tightly. Soon we met Mrs. Gailon, Mr. Maurizio, and Ruth in the waiting room. They all turned when they saw us.

It was Ruth who spoke first. "You actually brought Kelsey?" Ruth said. "She was better off at the circus."

Sarah squeezed my hand. "She's their daughter. She should be here. I should have been here hours ago. I would have been if someone had told me. Instead, you tried to hide this from me like you hide everything that isn't part of your oh-so-perfect circus."

Aunt Sarah was white with rage. I wanted to pull away but her hand was like a vice. Mr. Maurizio tried to calm her down. "Now Sarah," he began.

"Don't you 'Now Sarah' me," she hissed. "My brother is in emergency care."

"Sarah," Mike said quietly.

She turned to him. She was crying. I noticed the others looked like they had cried recently as well. Every adult was just standing there looking sad and helpless. It was almost like…

Aunt Sarah gave my hand another painful squeeze. I looked up at her face. It was red and puffy from the crying and the cold. "Come and sit down with me," she said.

I stared at her. I didn't want to sit down. How could I sit and do nothing while my parents were in emergency care? How could anyone?

Aunt Sarah pulled me into a seat and I waited with the adults to hear news of my parents. The wait seemed endless with the smell of the hospital, the buzz of the lights, and a growing feeling of dread that would not go away.

I couldn't take the stillness. My legs bounced and my hands moved of their own accord. Ruth kept sending me looks. Aunt Sarah told me to sit still but I couldn't. Moving was the only thing that helped.

Hours passed like days until the doctor came out. Aunt Sarah and the others rushed forward. I don't know what the doctor said to them, but I remember seeing the hope die on their faces. That was enough.

When Aunt Sarah turned to me, I felt like running away. I didn't want to hear it. Her eyes told the story, but she insisted on coming over and telling me anyway. She embraced me and I couldn't escape.

"I'm sorry, Kelsey. I'm so sorry," she began.

I shook my head and tried to pull away, but it did me no good. Aunt Sarah held me tight as she told me that my parents were dead.

A/N: I am 80% moved in and eager to continue the story. As always thank you for the favorites, follows, and reviews. See you all next month!