Lyric’s P.O.V:
“Lydia!”
With my heart in my throat, I ran towards the pool as fast as my legs could take me and without thinking twice, jumped in.
The water was clear so I easily spotted Lydia’s form, but she seemed to be convulsing. Pushing my hands and legs outward, I began swimming towards her to get her out. A second later, I saw another figure jump in, a woman, and she began swimming towards Lydia as well. When I got closer, I found out that it was Tanya and we both reached Lydia at the same time and hoisted her up and out of the water.
Lydia gasped for air as soon as we surfaced and I could instantly tell that she was in pain.
All the boys as well as Trisha and Avery were already standing at the edge of the pool and Harvey and two of Derek’s ex-SEAL friends immediately reached for Lydia.
“Careful with her head.” I warned as they lifted her up from our arms and placed her on a nearby sun bench. I was rushing towards her an instant later, as soon as I was out of the water.
“Lydia?” I shook her to get her to focus but she was shaking like a leaf. “Lydia what’s wrong?”
Suddenly, Lydia clutched at her throat and began gagging.
“Something’s wrong,” Tanya spoke from the opposite side of the sun bench. “She shouldn’t be gagging like this. She looks like she’s in pain.”
“She hit her head.” It was Derek who spoke, making alarm bells ring inside my head. “When she slipped and fell, I saw her head hit the side of the pool.”
“Shit!”
I tilted her head to the side when the gagging had subsided and as Derek had said, found a bright red patch at her temple which denoted the point of impact.
“We need to get her to a hospital.” I looked up at Derek. “Tell mom and dad to contact her parents immediately. I’m not wasting any more time.”
“I’ll drive you to the hospital.” Cody offered. “My car’s faster and it won’t be stopped at traffic lights.”
“Alright.”
Tanya handed me a towel while Derek made the phone call and I wrapped Lydia carefully in the towel before lifting her up in my arms. By now Lydia was no longer conscious and I was holding on to my sanity with the thinnest of threads.
Thankfully, someone had already informed Rosewater City Hospital ahead of time, so that when we reached there in Cody’s car, who had driven like a madman, the nursing staff had immediately arrived on a stretcher.
“Are any of you family members?” A doctor asked as she was being wheeled into the emergency room.
“No.” I answered. “But, I’m her boyfriend.”
“Tell me exactly what happened?” He asked. “Is there any medical history I should be aware of?”
“Yes.” I told him exactly what happened. “But she started gagging as soon as we got her out. And also, she has a bullet inside her brain.”
“Pardon?” The doctor looked at me wide eyed.
“She’s a school shooting survivor.” I told him. “That’s how she has the bullet. I’m not aware of any other conditions, but I’ve already informed her parents, they should be arriving within four hours.”
“Alright.” He nodded before opening the emergency room door and yelling at the nurses to prepare for a CT scan. “Wait outside while we organize everything and run some tests. Meanwhile, please go to the reception and fill out the necessary documents.”
*
Stephen, Nathan and Mrs. McKenzie arrived at the hospital exactly three and a half hours later, along with all the necessary documents that were needed for her treatment.
“How did this happen?” Nathan asked me and by the look in his eyes, he was ready for a fight.
“It was an accident.” I told him truthfully. “She slipped and fell into the pool.”
“How could you just let this happen?” Nathan snapped, raising his fist but Stephen intervened immediately.
“Enough, Nate.” He pulled his brother away from me. “David said it was an accident, didn’t he? Keep calm, Lydia needs us now.”
Nathan cursed a blue streak but he left in the opposite direction to accompany their mother to the doctor’s office.
“I’m sorry for his behavior.” Stephen apologized but I shook my head.
“He was right; I should’ve been there beside her.”
“Unless you’re stuck to her with glue, it’s impossible for you to be with her 24x7…even if you are living together.” Stephen shrugged. “We’ll wait here. Why don’t you go get changed?”
It was only then that I realized I was still in my T-shirt that had now dried completely and my swim trunks.
“I think I’m good-”
I began but Stephen cut me off. “Unless you want to get pneumonia, I suggest you take a warm shower, get changed and then come back. We already have Lydia to worry about; I don’t want you getting sick as well.”
“I’ll be right back.” I told him before catching a cab home. But instead of going back to my house, I went to mine and Lydia’s apartment. I had gotten more clothes after my parent’s anniversary party, which I now changed into after following Stephen’s advice and taking a warm shower. Before heading out again, I took an overnight bag and threw in some of Lydia’s clothing so she could wear them before getting discharged.
On the way to the hospital, I also made a call to my parents as well as Derek, updating them on Lydia’s condition and the safe arrival of her family.
When I walked into the hospital forty minutes later, I found out that all of Lydia’s test reports were ready and that she had been shifted to a private cabin on the second floor. Hurrying to her room, I knocked on her door twice before entering.
“Lyric?”
“Lydia…” dumping the bag at the nearest table, I rushed over to the bed to take her outstretched hand. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“Like a hot iron rod had been shoved down my throat.” She whispered; her voice a bit rough. “Where were you?”
“Sorry, I wasn’t here when you woke you.” I kissed the back of her palm. “I went to get changed. Where is everyone?”
“I sent them to get something to eat.” She shrugged. “They’ll be any minute now.”
“We’ve been really worried about you.” I told her, taking a seat next to the bed, her hand tightly held in mine.
“I know. And I’m sorry-”
“Don’t apologize for something you can’t control.” I told her immediately. “Even if you didn’t have a bullet inside your head; brothers, parents and boyfriends have a right to worry about the people they love the most. In this case, it happens to be you.”
The door opened before I could say anything else, revealing a solemn looking Stephen, followed by Mrs. McKenzie and Nathan. The doctor came in last, a folder in his hand.
He moved to the back of the room where there was an X-ray light and placed the x-ray on the stand, switching the lights on. The image of Lydia’s skull came into view and sure enough, the bullet was right there.
It was one thing knowing that she had a bullet in her head, but seeing it…I was having a hard time swallowing the lump in my throat.
“What’s wrong?” Lydia let go of my hand and I helped her sit up so she could study the x-ray plate properly.
“I’ve just informed your family. We have good news and bad news,” the doctor started, pointing at the bullet on the screen. “The good news is, you just have a minor bruising from the point of impact where your head hit the concrete. No concussions or any other damages.”
“And the bad news?” Lydia asked, but I got the feeling that she already knew something was very, very wrong.
“Due to the impact with the concrete…the bullet has shifted inside your head.”