Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 60978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Eliza froze, her body trembling under Lana’s restraining hand. Her face crumpled as she watched her daughter struggle against the nurses’ gentle but firm holds.
The little girl screamed and screamed, continuing to thrash as much as she could. The sound of her distress made me want to howl right along with her. Every instinct I had demanded I bring Lily to Eliza at all costs. But I also saw the truth in Lana’s warning.
A doctor looked up as we entered, his forehead creased with concentration. He was careful as he examined Lily, speaking softly to Lily even though she continued to scream. Her hair stuck to her face where sweat coated her skin with her extreme stress.
“Ms. Jans?” he asked, glancing at Eliza. “The nurse is right. We’re giving her a mild sedative to help calm her down. Not only to treat her, but to keep her from hurting herself. She’s going to if we can’t get her to calm down.”
Eliza’s face fell at the suggestion. I watched her struggle with the decision, torn between wanting to end her daughter’s pain immediately and fearing the idea of sedation.
“How long would she be out?” she asked, her voice small.
“The shot probably won’t make her sleep given how worked up she is. The medicine I give her before I reduce her shoulder will make her sleep longer. Honestly, sleep is the best thing for her. With the medicine, we’ll watch her here a few hours until everything wears off. My guess is, she’s going to sleep the better part of the day tomorrow and you should let her.” The doctor’s tone was reassuring but firm. “It’s the safest approach at this point.”
One of the nurses gave Lily’s good hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s going to be OK, sweetie. We’re going to help make your shoulder feel better.”
Lily screamed and sobbed, anything she might have said unintelligible as she continued to fight even the gentlest restraining hands. She sounded feral and I felt the answering call inside me, demanding I remove her from the situation by any means necessary. Since she needed to be here, I couldn’t make my wants a reality. If I felt this helpless, I couldn’t imagine how Eliza felt.
Unable to stop myself, I stepped into the curtained bay, moving past Eliza and the doctor. All the noise and chaos around Lily seemed to fade as I caught her eye, focusing on her small face flushed with tears and fear and sweat. Recognition flashed across her features, momentarily cutting through her panic. Her good arm reached out toward me, fingers stretching as if I were a lifeline in the middle of a storm.
She continued to scream, the wild scream of a wounded animal in incredible fear, her gaze focused on me now. “Cash! Cash!”
“I know, kid,” I said, taking another step closer. “Your shoulder’s playing tricks on you, huh?”
A nurse started to protest my presence, but the doctor held up his hand, watching with cautious curiosity. I dropped to one knee beside the stretcher, putting myself at eye level with Lily. Close enough she could see me clearly, but far enough I wasn’t crowding her or restricting the medical staff’s access.
“Remember when I sang to you in your room?” I asked, keeping my voice steady and calm. “How about I do that again while the doctors help fix your shoulder?”
Lily hiccupped through her tears and she continued to cry, but she’d calmed down enough she was more coherent now she had someone to focus on. She reached out for me again, her fingers outstretched as she tried with all her might to reach me. I carefully moved closer, letting her grab onto my fingers without jostling her injured arm. Her small hand felt impossibly fragile in mine, her grip surprisingly strong.
“Look at me, Lily,” I said, squeezing her hand gently. “I need you to look right at me. Don’t watch what they’re doing. Just listen to my voice.”
I cleared my throat and began to sing. Not the lullaby from before, but a slow country melody my grandfather used to sing when I was young. My voice was rusty at first, self-consciousness creeping in as I became aware of everyone listening. I hadn’t performed for an audience since before prison. But Lily’s eyes locked onto mine, wide and trusting, and suddenly nothing else mattered.
The song flowed easier as I continued, my voice finding its familiar path. The nurse approached Lily’s other side, alcohol swab in hand. I saw Lily’s eyes start to drift toward the movement, and I gently squeezed her hand again.
“Stay with me, kid,” I murmured, before picking the song back up seamlessly. I watched her small face relax slightly, her gaze returning to mine. Behind me, I heard Eliza’s soft intake of breath. I didn’t turn, but I felt her presence drawing closer.