A steady beeping was heard in the distance, an oddly monotone sound. She could hear voices around her, but the owners were unclear to her. Suddenly, she felt an excruciating pain in her head. It was like a really big hangover, like she'd just been hit by a truckā¦
Her eyes sprang open at the realization. She had been hit by a truck, a large one at top speed. Will was hovering over her face, watching as her glazed over eyes tried to focus. She was in a quick and obvious panic. It was when she saw his face that she realized he was holding her hand.
"Oh, God." He placed his hand to her cheek and she began to cry. "Where is she?"
"She's fine, sweetie, just a scratch on her leg." He placed a soft kiss upon her lips. "They said her mother saved her life." Apparently, the driver of the semi had a heart attack at the wheel and passed out, losing control. He made impact with the two cars next to Karen's and that sort of cushioned the severity of the collision between the truck and her car.
"Where is she?"
"Grace and Jack took her to the cafeteria for breakfast." She thought for a moment as her tears slowed.
"Breakfast? How long have we been here?"
"We can talk about it later, Kare. Why don't you rest?" He brushed her hair away from her forehead, trying his hardest to calm her. She reached her hand out to touch his face, wanting to feel him beneath her palm. Her arm brushed her stomach and she stopped moving, looking downward. She bit her lip as another wave of tears invaded her eyes. He leaned down and pulled her into his arms, cradling her the best way he could.
"Is it?" She took his face in her hands and choked out her question. He only nodded, before pulling her close once again.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
She couldn't understand how she hadn't been injured more than she was. Her only physical injury was a sprained wrist, a dislocated shoulder, and a sore back. She believed that God was clutching her and her child in his arms during the whole accident. Otherwise, she didn't think she would have been breathing.
Even though her physical injuries were minor, she was bleeding emotionally. She lost her baby. It had been too much for her body to handle and the child just didn't have a chance. The doctor said she would have had a baby boy, whom Will would have wanted to name Anthony.
She rolled over in her bed, at least glad to be home. They had kept her for one more night, wanting to make sure that she would be okay to go home. She didn't really care, either way. She was numb.
"Are you hungry?" Will tilted his head and awaited her response. She only shook her head. He crawled in bed next to her and moved until they were face to face. "Do you want to talk?"
"No." After all their years of being together, she had still never really learned to be comfortable with showing emotion. Sure, she had cried in front of him, but talking was a different story. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm going to get Emily in a few minutes, do you want to go?"
"Are you walking there?"
"Yes." She nodded in approval and sighed. "So, do you want to go?" She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.
"Why would I? I feel like shit."
"Going for a walk might make you feel better."
"Please, don't push me, honey." She met his eyes and he nodded in understanding. "And don't give me that pitiful look." She turned her back to him and cuddled closer to her pillow, willing him to just leave her alone. He comprehended her change in demeanor, and he left to get Emily from school.
A tear fell down Karen's cheek. Nothing even remotely bad had happened to her family in years. Emily had never been endangered at all, and she couldn't be more relieved that she was able to protect her daughter. But she couldn't keep the thought from her mind that she had failed to protect her son, her baby. She had carried him six months, but couldn't protect him from the harsh realities of the outside world, a world into which he had yet to enter. She was not fine at all.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Emily sat in front of her on her bed while she braided the young girl's pigtails. She had promised to do so right before their accident, and she wanted to make sure she kept her part of the bargain, even if it was a little late, and her wrist ached while she did so. It was also a good excuse to get her daughter to sit still for a while, giving her time to talk. She wasn't sure how Emily was really handling the accident yet and she wanted to make sure it wouldn't be too damaging, if at all.
"Grandma called today. She wanted to make sure we were still doing okay after our accident." Emily brushed the hair of her dolly and shrugged. "I know how I'm doing. How are you doing?"
"How am I doing what?"
"No, honey, are you feeling okay about our accident?" She wasn't sure how much her daughter understood, but she wasn't willing to take any chances. There was no way she was letting her daughter grow up in a home where she was afraid to show and speak about feelings, not like her. "Does it make you feel sad sometimes?"
"No. I was sad when you were in the hospital, but Daddy said you're better now. So, I'm not sad." She wrapped a small rubber-band around the bottom of a braid and sighed at her daughter's innocence. It was comforting to know that she was still young enough to escape any kind of emotional damage that could have been done. She sighed and took Emily to change into her pajamas.
