Untitled Zelda Story Part 2

"Aren't you going to eat lunch?" Salem said an hour later.

"I'm not hungry." Hilda muttered. "When are they going to call?"

"If you don't feed me soon, the humane society will be calling." Salem said.

"Here." Hilda said as she pointed and a bowl of cat food appeared. Just then the phone rang and she dove for it. "Hello!"

"Is this Ms. Hilda Spellman?"

"Yes!" Hilda cried.

"Ms. Spellman, this is Officer Parker of the Westbridge police department. I'm calling to inform you that your sister Zelda Spellman has been involved in an accident."

"An accident? What happened? Where is she?" Hilda cried.

"She's being taken to the hospital. You should go down there as soon as possible. Do you have a friend or relative who could drive you?"

"I'm fine. I've got to go." Hilda cried as she hung up the phone. She pointed and a folder and her coat appeared on the table.

"I hope this is the right insurance file." Hilda muttered as she pulled on her coat. "Salem, stay here and don't say a word to Sabrina. I'll be home as soon as I can. I just hope Zelly's with me!"

***********

"I'm looking for Zelda Spellman." Hilda said as she hurried up to the desk in the emergency room. "The police called and told me she had been brought in."

"Are you a relative?" the nurse said as she came over to Hilda.

"She's my older sister." Hilda said.

"Why don't you come with me?" the nurse said as she led Hilda down the hall and into a private room. "Just sit down and I'll go and get the doctor."

"A private room. This isn't good." Hilda said as she dropped down onto the couch as the nurse walked out. "She has to be alright."

A few minutes later the door opened and the doctor came in. "Ms. Spellman?" he said as Hilda jumped up.

"Yes. How's my sister?" Hilda said.

"I'm afraid I don't have good news for you, Ms. Spellman." the doctor said as he led Hilda to a chair and then sat down facing her.

"What happened to Zelly?" Hilda whispered. "She went out on a date last night and she never came home."

"It appears that your sister and her date, a Mr. Willard Kraft were the victims of a hit and run driver. Their car was rear ended on a road with a very steep embankment. The car rolled over the edge and flipped several times before hitting a tree."

"How bad?" Hilda whispered. She could feel tears starting to form in her eyes but she struggled to hold them back.

"Mr. Kraft was relatively lucky. His seat belt held him in place. He suffered several fractures and serious internal injuries but it looks like he will recover fully. I'm afraid that your sister wasn't so lucky. Apparently, there was some sort of defect in her seat belt. It gave most likely when the car was first struck and your sister suffered severe internal injuries as well as a major head injury. The accident occurred at around ten o'clock but they weren't found until nearly ten this morning. I'm afraid that initial delay complicated your sister's condition. She had major brain swelling and had to be taken to the operating room on arrival. I'm afraid that she suffered a cardiac arrest on the table. She was revived but it this point things don't look hopeful. You're sister is in a coma and on total life support. I'm sorry to have to tell you this."

"When can I see her?" Hilda whispered as she started to cry.

"She's been moved to a room in ICU. I'm afraid you'll only be able to see her for a few minutes. Hospital rules limit visitation."

"Fine. Just take me to her." Hilda sobbed as the doctor led her out.

A few minutes later, they stepped into a small room in ICU. Zelda was laying in the bed hooked to a respirator with IV's dripping in both arms. A heart monitor was beeping in the background. Her head was covered in bandages with a bolt sticking out and connected to one of the machines by a tube. Zelda's eyes were covered with gauze pads and taped shut.

"I'm afraid you can only stay fifteen minutes." the doctor said.

"Fine. I'd like to be alone, please." Hilda whispered as she sat down beside her sister and gently wrapped her fingers around Zelda's hand, being careful not to disturb the monitor clip that was attached to one finger. How could this have happened to her sister?

"Zelly, it's Hildy." Hilda whispered as the doctor left. "I know you can hear me. Please wake up, Zelda. Wake up!"

Hilda was sitting by Zelda's bedside frantically racking her brain trying to think of any spells that she might know for putting her sister back together again when a nurse came in.

"I'm sorry," she said as she walked over to Hilda, "but visiting is over. You'll have to leave now."

"Alright." Hilda said as she stood up. When can I come back to see her again?"

"In four hours. Oh, her doctor needs to speak to you as soon as possible concerning her treatment."

"Okay." Hilda said as she hurried out into the ICU waiting room. She was in deep shock and felt like a robot that had to do as programmed. She couldn't believe this had happened to her sister.

"Miss Spellman?" the doctor asked as he came over to her.

"Yes. The nurse said you needed to talk to me."

"Yes. Why don't you come in here. We'll have more privacy." the doctor said as he led Hilda to a private room. "Miss Spellman, you've seen your sister, haven't you?"

"Yes." Hilda whispered.

"Miss Spellman, I'm afraid I don't have any hope to offer you concerning your sister. The preliminary tests show definite signs of brain damage. Your sister's chances of coming out of her coma are 1 in a million and even if she does come out of it, I'm afraid that she will be severely limited. Has your sister ever mentioned what she would like done in a situation like this?"

"No." Hilda whispered. "Isn't there something that can be done?"

"I'm afraid not. Right now the only thing that's keeping your sister alive is the machines she's connected to. I know this will be very painful but you need to start thinking about at what point you might be willing to terminate the life support."

"What? You mean you want me to let her die?" Hilda whispered.

"No. I just want you to think about all of your options. We'll talk more later." he said as he stood up and walked out.

**********

"Val, do you know what this assembly's about?" Sabrina said as she came into the school auditorium and took a seat by her friend.

"No idea." Val said. "My science teacher was really upset though. I think something serious is going on."

"Students, this assembly will just take a few minutes." the secretary said as she stepped onto the stage and went to the podium. "I'm very sorry to have to tell you this but Mr. Kraft was injured in a car crash today. He's in the hospital in intensive care. Since the principal is in Arizona at a principal's conference, the school board has designated a temporary substitute until he returns or Mr. Kraft is able to resume his duties. As of now, Ms. Quick will be new acting vice principal."

A couple of custodians came in dragging Ms. Quick. The pushed her over to the podium where she stood there frozen in terror.

"Would you like to say a few words to the students?" the secretary asked.

"Yes! Go home! School's dismissed!" She cried.

**********

"How's Zelda?" Salem said as Hilda came hurrying in.

"Not good. They don't think she's going to make it." Hilda said as she dropped into a chair. "They won't let me see her for another four hours so I thought I should come home and wait for Sabrina."

Just then the front door came open and Sabrina came hurrying in.

"Aunt Hilda, have you heard about Mr. Kraft?" she cried. "He was in a car crash! They stuck Ms. Quick in charge of the school so she let us all go early. Where's Aunt Zelda? I want to tell her!"

"Sabrina, I'm afraid I have some bad news." Hilda said as she led Sabrina to a chair and motioned for her to sit down. "Zelly was with Mr. Kraft when his car crashed and I'm afraid she got hurt really bad. She's in the hospital."