Chapter 34 The Next 24 Hours Are Crucial
“Seriously? You’re asking me about Sabrina? She’s your wife! Why don’t you just call her yourself?” Daniel was fuming.
Daniel had considered Curtis dependable, especially after Curtis had taken the initiative earlier that day. He had even suggested a place for Parker to hang out, and yet he was calling Daniel at noon.
“If you care about someone, say it. Make them feel it. If you keep quiet, you’ll regret it one day,” Daniel advised.
Daniel was far from naïve. He clearly sensed the estrangement between Curtis and Sabrina. They did not seem committed to making their relationship work, as if they were just play-acting.
But Daniel was willing to give them a chance. He was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt because real relationships take time to grow.
Yet Curtis, who clearly cared about Sabrina, would not even voice it. That alone made Daniel furious.
Curtis hung up, aware that Daniel would not reveal anything, mainly because Daniel himself was in the dark. He hesitated but chose not to call Sabrina, as if that call would unleash some divine wrath.
Instead, he dialed Barry’s number. It took a while for Barry to pick up, and when he did, his shaky voice signaled something terrible.
“Grandpa had an accident.” Barry managed to say, his voice quivering.
“Which hospital? I’m coming right away.”
“It’s okay. Sabrina and I are here. You take care of your stuff, if we need help, I’ll call you,” Barry hurriedly refused Curtis’ offer and hung up, his hands trembling as he sat outside the operating room.
Even under the sun’s warm glow, he felt icy chills run down his spine. He was terrified to even glance at Sabrina.
Sabrina stood in front of him, staring intently at the operating room door. Her reunion with their grandfather had been so brief. Before they could even schedule a medical check-up, he was whisked away into surgery.
The outcome hung in the balance.
Sabrina seemed to be silently praying for her grandfather, ready to shoulder any weight for his well-being.
“Don’t worry, Sabrina. Grandpa will be fine,” Barry murmured, trying to offer solace.
ne,” Barry murmured, trying to offer solace.
“How can he be fine? Did you see the state he’s in? It’s terrible! What happened? Weren’t you at the park. with him?”
How could her grandfather get into an accident? Accidents don’t happen in parks, do they?
Barry was shaking, struggling to find the right words. His emotions needed settling before he could tell Sabrina the details.
Two more agonizing hours pa*sed as they lingered near the hospital entrance. But instead of their grandfather Parker emerging from the operating room, it was Curtis who appeared. No one asked how or why he was there as all their attention was solely on Parker.
At last, the doctor came out of the operating room. Everyone rushed forward, hearts pounding. “The surgery was a success, but considering the patient’s age and his previous medical history, he may be in a coma for several days. The next 24 hours are crucial. If he makes it through, his chances of recovery
, you should prepare yourselves,” the doctor informed them. He removed his mask
and addressed the anxious trio, his voice heavy with the gravity of the situation.
Sabrina’s legs wobbled, taking her back to the dreaded day when Barry had phoned her about Grandpa being seriously ill.
This time was different. It felt like the Grim Reaper was lingering by Parker’s bedside.
Curtis stepped forward to support Sabrina, steadying her as he exchanged a quick thanks with the doctor.
Through a gla*s partition, they glimpsed Parker entangled in a web of tubes, medical devices beeping beside him. Each fluctuation on the monitors signaled that Parker was alright.
Sabrina and Curtis settled by the door while Barry went to find Ada.
They had heard that Ada was hurt but not as severely as Parker. Her absence puzzled them, but Sabrina’s thoughts were focused solely on her grandfather.
After a while, Barry returned with Ada. Her clothes were stained, her hair a tangled mess. Scrapes and bruises marred her face, arms, and legs, casting a sickly shadow over her already pale skin. She glanced nervously into the ward, then at Sabrina, who was visibly lost in her thoughts.
“I’m sorry, this is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, the accident wouldn’t have happened,” Ada confessed.
Sabrina struggled to maintain her composure. It was too early to determine who was at fault or in the right. Ada’s confession did little to shake her convictions.
“Let’s rest for now. The doctor said that if we get through the next 24 hours, Grandpa will be fine. You’re injured too. Barry can drive you home,” Sabrina suggested, exhaustion seeping into her voice. Curtis. gently gripped her shoulders, offering her a moment’s rest.
Under normal circumstances, they would not share such intimate contact, but today was far from normal. Sabrina was too exhausted to care. Clearly, her grandpa’s dire state had wrung her emotionally dry. Barry was on the same page but had to shift his focus to Ada for the moment.
Sabrina was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she did not notice Barry’s return. It took Curtis’ soft touch and a quiet, “Barry’s back,” to pull her out of it.
Seeing Barry, Sabrina exhaled, asking, “What exactly happened? Why did they get into an accident? Where were you guys?”
Barry’s face crumpled in despair. “Honestly, we really just went to the park.”
It was true, he was not lying.
Given their grandfather’s frail condition, they had not ventured far, just a stroll in the nearest park. But fate had other plans. As they were leaving, a truck appeared out of nowhere and started racing toward them.
They thought they were in a safe spot, out of harm’s way. But then the unimaginable happened. The truck veered right at them.
Barry had just enough time to push Ada out of its path.
When he turned back for Grandpa, it was a second too late. The truck had already knocked him over.
