We both quickly get dressed and I go knocking on the Matthews door. Mrs. Matthews clad in her robe comes to the door.

"Can we see Two-Bit?", I ask calmly

"Sure boys, but why at two in the morning?", She asks
"Darry was in an accident", I say

She returns with Two-Bit in tow within seconds .

"Hey, Sodapop. Hey Pony. What brings you here at this hour?", Two-Bit asks

"Darry was in an accident. Can we borrow your car?", I ask

"Sure but I want to come. ", Two-bit says

"How about you find Steve, borrow the t-bird and meet us at the hospital", I suggest

"Alright", Two-bit says

Buck gave us the t-bird after Dally died. Said he know Dally would want us to have it. Driving that t-bird brought a lot of memories. It was like having a piece of Dallas still with us.

Two-bit tosses me the keys and he head in the opposite direction. I got behind the wheel with a frightened Pony beside me. I started the car , my knuckles clutching the wheel tightly and my mind filling with worries. I glanced at Pony, he was shaking and he was scared out of his wits. The ride to the hospital was very quiet and you could cut the tension with a knife.

Though the silence I began to pray, "Please God , don't take Darry away. We have lost so much in the last two years. You took our parents and two of our brothers. We can't bare another loss, especially not our older brother. Our family is already broken too to handle another loss. If you have to take someone spare Darry and take me instead. " , I prayed silently

I pulled into the hospital parking lot and parked the car. So many memories flooded back. It pained me so bad I felt there was a weight crushing my lungs. I couldn't breathe it hurt so bad. I remembered getting in the truck with Darry as we drove to the hospital to indidify the bodies. I didn't go in with Darry , I didn't want to remember them like that.

I felt the cold as we went to the basement. I remembered how pale Darry was and how sick to his stomach he was. He was so sick he vomited in the bathroom downstairs. Pony was with Two-bit and Johnny at the house. He didn't want to go and Darry let him stay behind.

I couldn't handle that if I had to do that. I didn't know if my brother was dead or alive. The cops didn't know because they didn't have any information. It was in all in god's hands.

Pony and I got out of the car as we headed to the front desk. I walked with Pony at my heels to the desk. I found the nurses' station, I walked up. There was a young blonde nurse sitting shuffling thought the files.

"I am looking for a Darrel Curtis Jr.", I say softly

"Hold on a second", the nurse says

She looks though the files and looks up at me.

"He is having emgerancy surgery", she says

"How is he?", I ask

"I don't have that information. I could page the doctor", she says

"Thanks.", I say

"You can take a seat over there. By the way, I am Nurse Anna Yancys", Nurse Yancys

"I'm Sodapop Curtis and this is my brother Ponyboy", I say

"Are those your real names?", she asks

"Yep", I say

I guide Pony over to the seats. Pony lies his head in my lap and I play with his hair as we wait. I hoped Darry was okay. As I sat there all of my memories flooded back. I remember when Darry and I walked Pony to his first day of school.

Pony reminded now in this state bought back memories of then. Walking a small Ponyboy to class with his oversized bag back hanging over him. He carried his brown snack with a shaky hand and bit his lip nervously. Darry and I calmed him down as we sent him on his way.

I was like the nervous mother worrying over my baby brother. Darry was like a reassuring father who convinced he would be fine to me
I can't raise Pony by myself. I just can't. I don't know how Darry is able to switch from big brother mode to guardian mode. It's amazing to me.

A voice brought me back to the real world.

"Sodapop?", Pony says shaking me

"Huh?", I ask

"The doctor's here", he says

I look up to see a young doctor with brown hair and innocent eyes. He reminded me of Pony just older. He was wearing white scarabs still stained with blood. He looked tried and fresh from the operating room. I tried to not focus on my brother's blood on the man's shirt.

"Are you Darrel's brothers?", he asks

"Yes, I am Sodapop Curtis and this is Ponyboy", I say softly

"I am Doctor James Smith", he says

"How is Darry?", I ask

"He was in rough shape when he came in. He had internal bleeding, broken leg, and a broken spinal cord. I have some bad news, he may not make it through the night. Let alone he may not walk again. He's resting in ICU recovery", Doctor Smith says

"Wait, he may not walk again.", I ask nervously

"Darrel's spinal cord was inflamed after being throw from his car. If the inflammation and swelling doesn't go down he may not walk again if he regains feeling he will have to relearn", Doctor smith explains

I see Pony sitting nervously and paling with each passing minuet. He had tears rolling down his face. I wanted to cry but I had to stay strong. I didn't care if Pony cried in front of a stranger. Our brother might not make it through the night and if he does he may never walk again.

I didn't care the greasers weren't supposed to cry in font of strangers. I just held my baby brother close. Their older brother may not walk again so who cares what the other people think. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach my broken family may be changed forever. Little did I know how much it would change.

( Use Shift + Enter for Single Line Breaks )Save

ng nervously and paling with each passing minuet. He had tears rolling down his face. I wanted to cry but I had to stay strong. I didn't care if Pony cried in front of a stranger. Our brother might not make it through the night and if he does he may never walk again.