Hi! I was so glad when I received those positive reviews. I was really unsure about this story and I kind of dreaded looking at the reviews for fear everyone would hate it. I'm so very glad that is not the case. This is back in the present (well, nearly present) day now, and shall stay that way! The fact that I started with a prologue type thing means that the automatic chapter thing -y will always be one ahead than the current proper chapter… if that makes sense. It's a little confusing for me, but I hope it's alright for you! In answer to the guest's question: yes. Anyway, on with the first proper chapter!
Shattered: Chapter 1
"The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living." - Marcus Tullius Cicero
Saturday, 04 October 2014
Cal watched as the two nurses left his little brother's room, leaving him alone with his still unconscious brother. Cal looked down at the sleeping Ethan. He had an oxygen mask firmly fixed over his face, his skin was pale, he was hooked up to machines and he had a dressing on his right side from the thoracotomy. Cal, no matter how many times he had seen it in patients, and indeed his brother, would never get used to the sight of it.
"Thought you promised me never again?" Cal spoke sarcastically as he sat by the bed. His legs felt weak and the stress and tiredness from the day started to catch up on him. "God, you certainly worried me there, Ethan." Cal blew out a long breath. Ethan couldn't hear him, but Cal still found comfort in talking to him. He always did. Even when Ethan was sleeping when they were younger, Cal would sneak into his room, lie in Ethan's bed next to the younger one, and talk quietly to him. It was an action he always found comfort in, still to this day. "You… we, went through so much when we were younger… I'm glad it wasn't ruined now. Although, I suppose I better add this to the 'amount of times I've saved Ethan's life' tally!" He laughed sadly. A tear dripped down his face and he wiped it away hastily, even though no one could see him. The memories of years ago flashed through his mind but he pushed them to the back of his thoughts. That was gone and passed. "You better not try anything like that again. It's not good for my heart!" Cal took a deep breath in. "I'm so glad you're alive, Ethan. You're my little brother, and I'll always love you." Cal sniffed and he hesitated to hold Ethan's hand. He retracted his own instantly and stood up, smiling at his peacefully sleeping brother. He couldn't hold Ethan's hand, not yet. It was too hard. It only reminded him of when they were younger.
His tear filled eyes, even though he didn't want to look, drew to Ethan's bare arms. His heart clenched at them. The scars were mostly faded - helped by different creams Ethan had gathered over the years - but you could still see them. To Cal - they were as clear as day. He just hoped no one else treating his brother saw them. He doubted it. Not even he, himself, thought about or noticed them while trying to save his brother's life. Now was a different matter, though. No longer were people saving his life, they were just monitoring him. When Ethan finally wakes, Cal knew he was going to want a long sleeved top. Just in case.
Cal blew out a shaky breath as he left his little brother's room - where Ethan was still peacefully sleeping and recovering. He smiled in spite of it all. In spite of the day that was thrown upon him, that shook his world, that pulled at his heart. He seemed to have a knack for saving Ethan's life, only this time, thankfully, Ethan wasn't intending to take his own. When Cal saw Ethan on death's door, he could only be thankful that he knew Ethan was fighting for his life, that he wasn't giving up.
He nearly lost his life because of a stupid car crash. Ethan nearly died because a man didn't look where he was going. Cal leaned against the wall nearby to Ethan's room, glad Ethan would be okay. He remembered the helpless look he received off of Ethan when he was treating his little brother. Ethan was in so much pain, and he seemed truly terrified, but his brother really was fighting for his life - something Cal was more than happy to see. Obviously, he hated seeing Ethan so weak and vulnerable, but this time, Ethan wanted to live. Their mother would be so pleased if she was alive. She would be so pleased to see that Ethan wasn't giving up.
Cal made his way back down to the ED, wiping his tears away. He could feel tears still threatening to creep out of his eyes, but he was more or less composed. He could feel his eyes still stinging from the sheer effort he had not to cry - even though a few tears still fell. He wiped the back of his hand over his eyes once more and knew he looked less emotional now.
Upon arriving at the bottom of the stairs, he noticed something strange. A crowd of his colleagues were stood around the reception desk. Even Lily - who should have been resting after the terrible ordeal she experienced earlier in the day. Something bad must have happened to cause her to be out of her cubicle. He stood in amongst them, eyes laid on what they seemed to be staring at. He stood, confused for a moment or two, then he saw it. Something terrible had obviously happened at the crash site.
Dixie and Jeff walked solemnly through the doors into the ED, dreading telling everyone who hadn't made it when the van unexpectedly blew up. They both examined who was in front of them, staring at them, awaiting the news, the terrible news they had to deliver. Charlie, Connie, Tess, Tamsin, Cal, Noel, Louise, Robyn, Rita, Max, Lofty, and a few others, including Lily, who wanted to hear the news about the car crash she was involved in. That was a lot of people to break the news to at once. Jeff and Dixie exchanged a quick glance with each other. They almost wanted the other person to say something, but neither could muster up the courage.
Charlie was the one who finally broke the tension with one simple name. "Ash?" He asked hopefully, with an air or despair lacing his tone. He hadn't come through the doors after Dixie and Jeff. He hadn't been admitted yet. Everyone now hoped that he was held up in another ambulance; held up in traffic, even. Yet they knew, deep down, that it wasn't the case. Jeff shook his head solemnly. Ash hadn't made it. The car crash had injured four people, but taken a good man's life. Everyone felt the rush of pain, the rush of conflicting emotions that arrived when news like that was delivered. Their colleague, their friend, was never to step foot through those doors again, was never to grace the ED with his warm smile, was never to save another life, and no one got the chance to say good bye.
No one spoke, no one had the words, the sentences, to say anything. There wasn't any need. The pain of losing Ash practically radiated off of everyone. No one made a move, everyone just stood still. They were all trying to get their heads around what happened, they were all trying to contemplate the loss of their colleague and friend.
Someone moved eventually. It was Cal. They saw him dart up the stairs in double quick time, taking the stairs two at a time. He nearly slipped once, but he was fast. Everyone either knew or guessed why he left reception. They all drew one conclusion, one correct conclusion. Ethan had been involved in the crash and he didn't knew that it had, in fact, claimed a life. Cal was there to wait by him, to tell him the devastating news we he woke.
