Lost in the Silence - A.R. Breck Page 0,5

emotions. “My bad. You just seemed hot with that sweatshirt on all night. Thought you might want to cool off.” His voice, which is the second time I’m hearing, isn’t cracking like every other boy this age. This one is already deep, filled with a rasp that makes my breath catch.

“Not cool dude.” Logan shakes his head, then looks over at me. “You did have your sweatshirt on all night. Are you sure you’re feeling okay? It’s like a hundred degrees out here.”

My face burns in embarrassment at Jackson calling me out, even if he did just save me from unthinkable humiliation.

“I’m fine. I just don’t feel good.” I feel three sets of eyes boring into me. I feel wet and gross, and most of all, so completely uncomfortable knowing I just got my period.

And Jackson knows.

“I’m going home.” I skirt around Easton, and rush home, feeling the scrape of wet clothes chafe against my skin with every step.

“Hold up, Cara! Wait! We’ll walk you!” Logan hollers.

“No, it’s right around the corner. I’ll talk to you tomorrow!” I shout, waving over my head without bothering to turn around.

I speed walk home, making a beeline for the shower and discarding my wet clothes into the bathroom sink. My underwear has a stain of reddish-brown inside of it, and I feel the first wave of tears hit me. I don’t even have pads or anything.

I look underneath the sink, seeing my mom’s stash and taking a handful out. I place them on the sink, then hop into the shower.

I place my face under the water as my eyes burn from tears. The beginnings of cramps start in my lower belly and more than anything… I want my mom.

I’m so mad at Jackson for throwing his drink on me. For calling me out on wearing a sweatshirt all night. He could have continued being the jackass he apparently is and laughed and pointed at the red stain between my legs. But instead, he decided to cover it up. Hide the embarrassment from his friends.

Protect me.

Why?

1

Cara

"We've got a young female, pregnant, stab wound to the lower abdomen. She's falling in and out of consciousness. Currently headed to Surgery Room Two for a cesarean." Comes and unknown voice above of me. I try to open my eyes, but the lightheadedness is making me so dizzy I can barely even move.

"Is she going to be okay?" Rose's screeching voice beside me calms me for a second until reality crashes into me.

Jackson? Where's Jackson?

"Heart rate one fifteen!" The voice urges above me. I can feel a jolt on whatever I’m lying on, the wind against my face picking up speed.

What’s happening? Where am I?

“I’m sorry Ma’am, you’re not allowed beyond this point. We’ll be able to update the family once we know more.”

“I’m the only family she’s got!” Comes a sob breaks from Rose, and my heart leaps at the sadness in her tone. Why is she so sad?

A few beats of silence, and I wish I could see what was going on. Then, “The waiting room is right around the corner. We’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as we can.” The voice in the stranger is much softer this time. Sympathetic.

I can hear Rose’s cry get further and further away, and then other voices replace her devastating cry.

“Update me.”

“Young, pregnant female, stab wound to the lower abdomen. Approximately thirty-eight weeks along. Water broke about an hour ago. Dilated to about a six. We can’t wait, we need to intervene. The baby’s stats are all over the place and the mother is losing too much blood.”

“Ma’am, can you hear me?” I see a light shine in my eyes, but my lids feel glued shut and I can’t for the life of me move my hand.

I’m in labor?

Where’s Jackson?

“She’s been unresponsive so far. Has been since we picked her up. Her friend says she fainted moments before we arrived.”

“Has anyone notified her parents? She looks like a kid.”

“The girl said she doesn’t have anyone.”

Silence.

“We need to look into this. Can you have someone check on it?”

I hear some shouting, but the whooshing in my ears makes everyone’s voices around me muffled.

I’m in labor?

A sudden, intense pain stretches across my stomach. My body coils tight as a severe contraction claws through my stomach with heated talons. I’ve never experienced such an intense pain. One that squeezes my entire stomach and stretches around to my back.

It’s absolutely excruciating.

“She’s having a contraction! We’ve got to move, now. The