Part Two
Ty barely remembered the ambulance ride. Red lights flashing, a wailing siren. It was all so surreal. The police had separated him from 'Becca while the doctors worked on her. It took three of them, and he screamed soundlessly, as they wheeled her away. As long as he could watch her, maybe, death couldn't steal her away.
He answered their questions woodenly. Told them his name and address. Described the attacker he had briefly glimpsed. They told him they would contact his mother. He just asked where 'Becca was.
They sighed, and slowly shook their heads. "She's been moved to intensive care. Why don't we wait till your mother gets here."
Ty shook his head, resolutely. "No. I want to see her now. Right now. She needs me. . ."
The police officers looked at him in sympathy, "Okay," they whispered. "Come with us."
They led him up a confusing set of stairs, through hallways and elevators. After a while, white faded into white and it was like an eternity of blankness, reaching away from him, forever. The hospital's smell thick in his nose. Then all too soon, it was over, and his sister was lying in front of him.
Tubes and wires swallowed her frail form. She looked washed of color, as if the tubes were sucking the substance from her, instead of feeding her life. He tried not to look at her throat. "Can I hold her hand?" He directed his question toward the only one in the room in white.
"If you're gentle. . ." The whispers filled the room, drowning out the uncomfortable noises of the sustaining machines. He timidly laid his hand over hers.
"Can we get you anything?" One of the police officers asked.
"Can you fix my sister?" Ty asked blankly.
"No. . ."
"Then I don't need anything from you." With sudden inspiration, Ty pulled a chair over beside the bed. He had a new awareness - he was capable of sitting. . . "I love you, 'Becca, don't you even think of leaving me. I just bought you a whole new summer wardrobe. Who'll wear it if you don't? Tell me that . . . I love you, little Rebecca."
The police officers shifted uncomfortably. They really couldn't leave until his mom got here. "Bill, why don't you stay with the kid. We'll see if we can locate his mom."
The other police officers stepped out of the confining little room, and breathed deep in the space outside.