Chapter 6 At The Hospital

"Oh my God!" Ellen's eyes shone with unshed tears. "I'm sorry I have to park. I...I just can't..." She bit her lips as she tried to hold herself from breaking down. I could not believe what was happening. My whole life was crashing down in just one day and the day was yet to be over. I knew Blake and I had not agreed to marry based on love but it still hurt. He was my husband and I would not lie, he was kind to me. He was fulfilling his promise of helping me achieve my dream. But even that dream now was vanishing into a never-manifesting mist. "Please take me to the hospital." My voice was low and shaky. She dabbed at her eyes and stared at me in pity. "As much as he's my brother, I still feel for you. I know how it feels." She reached across to squeeze my hand in comfort. "I'm sorry." I nodded, unable to form any comprehensible words. I bit my lower lip so hard yet I could hardly feel the pain. "Are you not going to check your burnt store?" The sympathy glistened her eyes and coated her words. I gave small shake of my head. "No, it's just a store. Blake's a person. I need to be there for him." "I know how much you love that store. It's not just a store, it's your dream." She reached for my hand again and I let her. At this point, I needed all the support I could get. "Well, life has once again won." I wiped tears that hung from my lashes and released a heavy sigh. "Let's just go to the hospital, please." "Okay. But do you have an address?" She asked, starting the engine. Oh. That was true. The caller had not left any address. "Let me call them." I dialed Blake's phone and the same person picked on the second ring. "Kindly send an address, thank you." The call ended and few seconds later, my phone pinged with notification. I checked it and it was the address. I raised the phone so Ellen could see where she was going to be driving us to. The drive to the hospital was mostly quiet. Ellen tried to make small talks but I was just not in the mood. I did not trust myself not to cry as soon as I opened my mouth. I was on a rollercoaster of emotions right this moment. "We're here." She drove into a big compound and parked where she saw other cars parked. I got out as soon as she turned off the engine. My legs were jelly as I raced into the medical building. I met a lady behind the receptionist desk. "Hi. Blake Bertram, please." One could easily tell I was doing a lot to control my tears. "And you are?" "Riana Tanning. Sorry. Bertram. His wife." I showed her my ring to make up for my mistake. She looked like she believed me and understood how I would be feeling at this moment. I heard Ellen's low heels make clicking sounds as they approached me. "We're here to see Blake Bertram." She said. The woman looked at us both. "And you are?" "His sister. Ellen Bertram." Ellen introduced. "Alright then. Family. He was taken to the emergency ward. You'll have to seat and wait for the doctor." She informed us. Wait for the doctor? I was a bundle of mess, I could not wait. " But someone called me from his phone." "I think that would be the man who brought him in. He should be around somewhere." The young woman roamed her eyes around the area, searching for this stranger who had called me with Blake's phone. "Wait, let me call him." "No need. There he is, walking in from the entrance." The receptionist pointed towards the door. I turned to see a tall man who would be around Blake's age walk up to me. "You're Riana Bertram?" "Yes. How do you know my name?" I was a bit surprised. He dangled Blake's phone before me. "Oh. Sorry. You're the guy that brought him in?" "Yes." "Than..." My words of gratitude were swallowed by Ellen's surprising act. "What did you do to my brother, you crazy asshole? Drunk and driving, weren't you? Or on the phone while on the highway?" She accused him hotly. Anger shimmering through her hardened gaze. "Hey. Why would you think that? I'm not the hit-and-run bus. What the hell is wrong with you?" He was upset by her behavior. I pulled her away from him. "Stop it, Ellen." "He knows what happened to Blake." She was shouting now. Passersby glanced our direction in curiosity and interest. I hated garnering attention in public especially for the wrong reasons. "I'm sorry for my sister-in-law's erratic behavior. She's acting based on emotions. She and her brother really share a deep bond so it's quite painful for her to receive this information of his accident. I'm really sorry. I know you have other things to do, so I'll just let you be on your way now. Thank you." I rushed through explanation and apology. I pulled Ellen who was still glaring at the guy away from him and took her outside the building. "What is wrong with you, Ellen? Please I know you're sad and angry. I am too but you can not just go about accusing the very same person that helped save his life by rushing him here. That's mean and ungrateful. Please." I was dead tired already, covertly wishing that this was all a dream that I would wake up from. I could collapse on the floor and remain there without a care in the world...for at least few hours. She ran a perfectly manicured hand through her face and sighed. "I'm just so...you know..." She sniffled. I reached for her hand and squeezed. "It's okay. The doctor will be out to keep us updated." "What if...what if he..." Her lips quivered. "No." I shook my head, refusing to even let her insinuations becloud my sense of reasoning. "Blake is fine. Nothing will happen to him." But even as I hung onto positivity, fear and uncertainty lurked somewhere within asking the same question Ellen had wanted to ask. Blake would not die. I affirmed strongly in my head, willing every part of my to believe it, including the part that was roped in by fear and uncertainty.