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“Mrs. Delisse? I’m Jennifer from California General ER in La Jolla.” I woke feeling battered and bruised, like I’d been in a bar fight and lost the battle. Bright fluorescent lights burned my eyes. I was lying in a sterile hospital bed, a wide-eyed young nurse looking over me in concern.
“Where’s my husband?” Broken memories punched back at me. The scrape of my flesh against metal as hands pulled at me. There was the shriek of sirens and urgent questions. Now I was here. I needed to make sure Mark was okay.
The nurse, who had a small scar running from her upper lip to the bottom of her nose, tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. I watched her right eyelid twitch in what appeared to be a nervous tic. “The two of you were in a car accident. You received a concussion, but your vital signs look good and you don’t appear to have any significant injuries. Just some superficial cuts and bruises on your face and arms. We also put a few stitches in your right thigh.”
“What about Mark?”
She flinched. “I’m afraid his injuries are serious.” Her full sentences sounded like clipped words. “Head Trauma ... Possible brain damage ... Multiple fractures ... Very serious condition.”
My stomach clenched. Senses heightened, I zeroed in on the tiny drops of crimson blood splattered across my starched white hospital sheets. “But he’s going to be ok?”
“At this point we’re not one hundred percent sure. The doctor inserted a chest tube for your husband’s collapsed lung. We’ve taken multiple x-rays and sent him straight to surgery to stop the bleeding and mend his broken pelvis and femur. We should have another update for you soon.”
My mind flashed to my injured husband lying helpless on a hospital gurney, bleeding, surrounded by bright lights and masked doctors. I imagined our children growing up without a father, me getting old alone. Why hadn’t I said something when I saw those headlights coming at us? If I’d just opened my mouth and warned him.
“Mrs. Delisse, ma’am, are you feeling dizzy or lightheaded?” The young nurse’s high-pitched voice yanked me back to my new reality.
“Why do I only have a few scratches and bruises? How could he have gotten so hurt if I’m fine?”
“He was in the line of impact. His head hit the roof when the car tumbled.”
My mind went numb. “I need to see him. I need you to take me to him. Now.”