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It took us almost an hour to get to the hospital by taxi since the medical team that airlifted August from the Sphinx would not allow me to fly in the helicopter with him.
As soon as we burst through the sliding doors of the emergency department, the stark white lights and the antiseptic smell of the hospital hit me like a ton of bricks.
Rushing to the reception desk, I inquired about August, my heart pounding in my ears over the murmurs and beeps that filled the room.
Dressed in blue scrubs, Nurse Dina nodded calmly as I spoke, then she told me, “Yes, he’s being evaluated at the moment.” She glanced at something on her computer screen but didn’t give me more information.
“Can I see him?” My words came out rushed, desperate.
“Not while they’re assessing his condition. You can have a seat in the waiting room, and we’ll let you know as soon as we hear something.” She pointed toward a set of doors to our right.
How could I possibly sit still and wait, while August was in there alone, suffering, or worse, dying? The thought just made my stomach churn.
“Can you at least tell me his condition?” I asked. “Are his injuries life-threatening?” I held my breath for her answer.
“All I know is that he was conscious when he came in,” Nurse Dina offered, which was a relief, but did little to quell my anxiety. “I’m sorry I don’t have more for you.”
“That’s a good sign, Veronica!” Daphne exclaimed from behind me, her attempt at reassurance clear in her tone. “Come on, let’s head to the waiting room.”
Reluctantly, I walked to the waiting area with Caleb and Daphne. At least it was less overwhelming than the rest of the ER, with pale beige walls and rows of blue fabric chairs. A few other worried faces looked up briefly as we entered, obviously harboring their own stories of fear and concern.
I began pacing immediately, wringing my hands together. “I still can’t believe this happened.”
“He’ll be okay,” Daphne said.
“How can you know that?” I said, frustration bleeding into my words.
“It’s what I believe, and I’m sticking to it,” she said firmly.
“This is all my fault,” I said, shaking my head in disgust. “If I hadn’t been so close to the edge of the platform, there would have been no need for August to keep me from falling into the ditch. He’s here in this hospital because of me. This is a thousand times worse than going to jail.”
“I disagree,” Caleb said with hesitation. “Not about the jail part, of course. The fault lies on the parents of that unsupervised child. Nobody in their right mind should let a little kid run around on top of a slippery platform above one of Egypt’s oldest monuments. It’s not a playground.”
“Or maybe we can blame August himself,” Daphne said.
I whirled around to face her. “How can you say that?”
She shrugged, looking calm, like she believed it. “It’s obvious he’d do anything for you, without a second thought for his own safety or wellbeing. That’s not a fault, though. That’s simply pure love. You would have done the same for him, I’m sure of it.”
That part was true. In fact, I tried to reach for him before he fell, but my reflexes just were not fast enough. Luckily, I didn’t actually see him hit the bottom of the ditch, or that moment would be etched in my mind for the rest of my life. The bad news was, the only thing I could do was wait and hope that he was going to be okay.
A few long hours later, a middle-aged doctor with a gentle face, framed by graying hair, finally exited the ER and called out my name.
I rushed to him and asked, “How is he?”
“He’s going to be fine,” he said.
I felt a sob catch in my throat.
“August has a slight concussion, a fractured arm, and a few bruises and scratches,” he added. “He must have some angels watching over him because usually the outcome is a lot worse when someone takes a fall like that. We expect a full recovery.”
The relief was overwhelming, and tears immediately streamed down my face as I thanked him.
“Can I see him?” I asked, my voice thick with emotion.
“Not just yet. He’s being moved to a private room. We’ll let you know as soon as you can visit,” he explained before excusing himself.
Caleb and Daphne wrapped me in a hug, their warmth and love a tremendous comfort as I tried to relax.
