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Momma? Oh thank goodness. The sounds of my mother’s voice calmed me. She’ll put the wet cold washcloth on my forehead and I’ll feel better.
“Jessie, she said my name. She said my name.”
My heart felt like it was physically hurting. Colt’s voice was laced with fear.
“Colt, the doctors made us sign something.”
Was my mother crying? Why is she crying? It’s just the flu! Mom, I just have the flu!
“What . . . what did you sign?”
Sniffling, my mother started talking after the longest pause. “Her fever is now a hundred and five. They said her body could go into a coma and . . .”
Coma? My body was feeling funny as the voice of my mother slowly faded off into the distance.
Colt. I just needed Colt.
GRABBING ONTO THE bed, I listened to Jessie talking about Lauren. The hospital in College Station had transferred Lauren to Brackenridge once they diagnosed her with bacterial meningitis. Lauren’s condition had only gotten worse.
Coma? Shaking my head, I whispered, “No.”
Sniffling, Jessie placed her hands on my arms and forced me to look at her. “Colt, the bacterial meningitis is . . . it’s not good. They can’t control the fever and her temperature is so . . . it’s so high and her body could put itself in a coma, so I need you to prepare for . . .”
Taking a step away, I shook my head as I felt my entire body start shaking. “No. No, she’s not leaving me. She is not leaving me.” Turning back to look at the love of my life, I whispered, “Lauren would never leave me.” Glancing back to Jessie, my heart dropped.
Tears streamed down Jessie’s face as the door opened and my mother walked in. Jessie turned and whispered, “Ellie—”
Giving me a weak smile, my mother moved closer to me. “Colt, honey let’s step outside for some fresh air.”
Shaking my head, I stood firm. I was not leaving Lauren. “She’s not . . . she’s going to be okay. She wouldn’t leave me, Mom. She knows how much I love her and need her.” Turning to Lauren, I walked up to her and took her hand again. Kissing the back of it, I felt my tears begin to fall freely. “Please, baby. Please don’t do this to me. Lauren, I beg you!”
Jessie quickly left the room as I buried my face down into Lauren’s neck. Her skin felt so hot. So incredibly hot. “Lauren, please wake up. Don’t leave me, sweetheart. I’m nothing without you, Lauren. Please wake up.”
A woman began talking. “Sir, we need to put the icepacks on her stat.”
Strong hands took a hold of my shoulders and pulled me away from Lauren. No. I can’t leave her. Turning, I saw my father. “Dad, no I can’t leave her. She needs to know I’m here. She needs to know I won’t leave her side.”
“Colt, you need to get some food and some sleep.”
Pushing him away, my father stumbled against a chair. “I’m not leaving her!” I shouted as my mother jumped. Covering her mouth, she began crying.
“Gunner,” she whispered as my father took another step toward me. “Colt. Listen to me, son, I know how much you want to be here, but you need something to eat.”
Warmth trickled down my cheeks as I felt my tears. “Dad, I can’t lose her. She’s my everything. The very reason I breathe.”
Tears formed in my father’s eyes. “Son, I’m only asking for two hours. Please.”
Wiping the tears from my face, I slowly walked into my father’s arms. “Dad, please tell me she’s going to be okay.”
Two nurses walked into the room as one cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, we can only have two people in here at a time.”
Turning, I nodded my head. “What about her fever?” I asked.
The younger nurse gave me a weak smile. “We’re going to be doing something called ice packing. We will place icepacks in key locations to bring her body temperature down, but we need to do it now.”
Guiding me out of the room, my father said, “Your mother will be with her while we go get you something to eat.”
Stopping in front of my mom, I attempted to talk but my voice kept cracking. “Mom . . . please . . . please don’t leave her.”
