CHAPTER 43- LOOK BOTH WAYS
The scene was in what seemed like slow motion.
Maya watched in horror as Riley stepped off the curb and into the street. She looked back for a split second and suddenly she was flying through the air and landed with a heavy 'THUD' onto the windshield of the car. The car screeched to a halt in the middle of the street, causing Riley to roll off and land on the concrete.
Maya's hands flew up to cover her mouth in horror.
"RILEY!!" She screamed, running as fast as possible, while still having Gabriel attached to her chest. Josh caught up to Maya and took the baby, joining Topanga, Cory, and Auggie across the street. Amy and Alan ran up to the scene, panicking and horrified at what they had just witnessed. Alan pulled out his phone and dialed 9-1-1.
"My granddaughter just got hit by a car! Please send someone to Central Park! And hurry, she is 8 months pregnant!" he shouted into the phone. While he was giving the details to the 9-1-1 dispatch, Topanga and Cory dashed across the street, where their daughter lay in a bloody heap, crumpled in front of the car that had hit her.
Topanga kneeled by Riley's side, holding her hand with tears streaming down both sides of her face, sobbing uncontrollably. Cory was still in shock, trying to process what just happened. He was stroking her back, trying to calm her down.
By this time, Maya had rushed over and was holding Riley's other hand, stroking it gently.
"Please be okay, Riley." Maya whispered into her ear. "Please be okay. Please." She was kneeling next to Riley's head and crying.
Josh and Auggie were watching the whole scene in horror, unable to assist. Auggie had tears streaming down his face and Josh was trying to calm both Auggie and Gabriel, who had woken up and was fussing.
"I'm sure that she'll be okay, Auggie. She'll be okay. The ambulance will be here soon, and the hospital will make her better." Josh consoled Auggie and tried like hell to convince himself that his niece was going to be okay, tears forming at the corners of his own eyes.
The driver of the car had fled the scene on foot. The only description that the witnesses could recall was a blue baseball cap, but nothing else. They could not identify if the driver was male or female, young or old. But that was secondary to saving the life of a 16-year-old girl who was 8 months pregnant.
"16-year-old pregnant female, car vs. pedestrian! Obvious head trauma, and facial abrasions!" The ER staff rushed Riley to the nearest trauma room to stabilize her. "She's hemorrhaging! Call Emergent OB, now!"
When she was finally stabilized, and the OB had rushed down to the ER, it was decided that this was risking the lives of both Riley and her baby. So, an emergency C-Section was scheduled and performed. While Riley was fighting for her life, she had also given birth to a miraculously unharmed, healthy baby girl. 6 pounds, 4 ounces. Baby Matthews was taken to the nursery while Riley was taken to the ICU to recuperate.
"Riley. Please wake up. Please." Maya sobbed at Riley's bedside, holding her hand. It was hard to see Riley like this. She had a breathing tube and was on a ventilator. She was wearing a collar around her neck to prevent her from moving her head. Maya gently stroked Riley's hair, careful not to touch the stitches that the doctors had placed. "Please wake up. I need you." She gently kissed Riley's forehead and softly cried into the hospital mattress.
Topanga and Cory were standing outside the room, talking in low, whispered tones to the doctor.
"What is happening?" Topanga pleaded. "Why isn't she waking up? Its been a week." Topanga's eyes, red and puffy from crying, searched the doctor's face for answers. The doctor sighed.
"After Riley's surgery, there were some complications. She may not wake up." The doctor placed a hand on Topanga's shoulders. "I'm sorry." She stepped back just as Topanga crumpled to the floor, overtaken with grief.
"Is there a chance that she can come out of it, Doctor?" Cory asked, choking back tears of his own. "Can she get better?"
"We are continuing to monitor her vitals, especially her brain activity." The doctor explained. "If we start to see a decrease, then we will talk about other options. Please know we are doing everything we can." She walked away, leaving Cory and Topanga in the hallway, with no other option but to wait.