About a week later I somehow managed to bully the nurses into letting my get out of bed and into a wheelchair. I'd had to convince them that I didn't have a broken back, neck, head etc. They finally gave up.
In my wheelchair, I felt like a 'Long Vehicle' with my leg sticking out in front of me. I still had to take my 'friend' Mr. IV with me everywhere, though. It was a pain in the ass. At least I got rid of those 'booger' tubes up my nose.
The doctors had told me I had suffered a broken nose, both left arm and leg were broken and a cracked rib. It seems that I had 'been lucky'. I sure as hell didn't feel lucky.
I sat in my new chair and fiddled around, getting the IV caught.
"Frik!" I cursed as the needle moved under my skin.
Walker Hanson strode in and stood in the center of the room.
I wanted to see Jamie and Jessica to see how they were doing. I had been told time and time again that 'they weren't well enough to be visited'. Well, today they were going to be well enough for me to see. I had the wheelchair. Anyone stopped me and I'd run over their feet.
"Where's Jamie?" I asked, wheeling with one arm. The IV caught again.
"ICU."
"Jess?" I asked, manuvering around with more care.
"Kris..." his tone softened and he pressed his fingers against his temples.
I looked up and he looked away. "What?" I asked, watching him intently.
"She..." he faltered and shook his head. He wiped his hands down his face and sighed, looking to the ceiling.
I shook my head slowly, my body suddenly going numb.
He turned and looked at me. "She didn't mak-"
"No!" I screamed at him. I wheeled out of the room and down the hall, ignoring Tay's call.
Didn't make it... didn't make it...
I wiped furiously at my face, ignoring my pounding nose. They lied to me. They said she was all right.
Let him drive in peace, Kris...
I somehow came to the elevator, and I pressed the down button. The hum of the lift pounded in my ears.
... in peace..
I wheeled out into the large corridor and steered blindly into the cafeteria. I looked around, my vision hazy. My eyes landed on something.
A hunched figure sat alone in a corner, arms folded on the table, a styrofoam cup sitting in the center; alone. I wheeled up and gingerly touched him on the shoulder.
"Isaac..."
He looked up, misery written all over his face. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was mussed. His face was haggard and wet. "They say she died quickly." he said in a flat tone.
I said nothing, my eyes filling. I bit my lip to keep from quivering.
"They say she died of internal haemorrhaging."
"No, stop." I couldn't bear it. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" My voice sounded like a stranger's. Not my own.
He shook his head and stared off, not hearing me.
"I didn't say goodbye, Kris. I never got to tell her goodbye." he choked.
I bowed my head and studied my fingers, not wanting to see his face. I then noticed that the IV needle had been torn out of my arm and left a bloody spot. I sighed and watched it wind down my arm, my chest tightening. The bead of blood reached my fist and pooled between my fingers. His hands came into my view, and pulled my fingers back. A silver chain with a pendant dropped into my palm, bright against the dark blood.
"She was holding this when..." he said softly.
Something wet slid down my face and fell onto the chain, blending into the blood.
"I killed her." the tears came and my vision blurred. "She was leaning over to get my necklace and then she died. All because of me." I lifted my head, feeling numb all over. "Ike, I killed her. It's my fault."
His face broke. "No, you didn't. It was that kid in the car. This is his fault. And he has paid for it."
I shook my head, the necklace clamped in my fist. "I killed her..."