Accident

The piercing ring of my phone jolted me from my restless sleep. I fumbled for it, my hand closing around the device. Glancing at the screen, I saw Grayson’s name flashing.

“Hello?” I answered groggily, struggling to shake off the drowsiness.

“Eli, you need to come to the hospital right away,” His voice was taut with urgency. “Tristan’s been in an accident. It’s serious.”

My heart lurched. “What happened?”

“I don’t have all the details yet, but his condition is critical. They’re taking him to the hospital now. I need you to come. I don’t want him to be alone, and I know you can help.”

“Of course,” I said, trying to shake off the haze of sleep. “I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

I threw on some clothes and rushed out of the house, my mind racing. The drive to the hospital felt endless, each red light and traffic delay only heightening my anxiety. The city outside blurred as I focused on getting to Grayson and Tristan as quickly as possible.

When I arrived at the hospital, He was waiting in the lobby, his face etched with worry. He looked up as I approached, his expression softening with relief.

“Thank you for coming,” he said, his voice heavy with gratitude.

“What happened?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.

“Tristan was in a severe car crash. He’s been rushed into surgery. The doctors said it’s touch and go right now. I’ve been trying to keep it together, but this is a lot.”

We hurried to the emergency room, where chaos reigned. Nurses and doctors moved quickly through the corridors, their faces grim. I followed Him to the waiting area, where the tension was palpable.

The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an hour. Grayson and I sat in silence, the sterile environment of the hospital amplifying our anxiety. The distant beeping of medical equipment seemed to echo our growing worry.

Suddenly, the doors to the waiting room burst open. A striking woman with a look of sheer panic entered, her eyes darting around the room. She rushed toward us, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Gray!” she called out. “What’s going on?”

Grayson stood up, meeting her with a comforting embrace. “Vic, you already met my wife the last time. Babe that’s Vic, Tristan’s cousin.”

Scarlet’s gaze shifted to me, her eyes searching for reassurance. “You’re the nurse who helped Tristan before?”

“Yes,” I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “I’m here to help in any way I can.”

Scarlet’s eyes filled with tears, and she sat down heavily in a nearby chair. “I didn’t even know about the accident until now. Tristan and I were supposed to meet later today. He was so looking forward to it.”

I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. “He’s in surgery right now. The doctors are doing everything they can, but it’s too early to say much.”

Scarlet’s shoulders shook with silent sobs, her face buried in her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening. He was so excited for today.”

Grayson sat beside her, offering a comforting hand. “We’re all in this together. Let’s hope for the best.”

The hours seemed to stretch endlessly as we waited. The hospital staff came and went, their movements a stark contrast to the stillness of our anxious vigil. The emotional weight of the situation was evident on everyone’s faces.

Finally, the door to the waiting area opened, and a doctor entered, his expression weary but resolute.

“Tristan is out of surgery,” the doctor said. “He’s stable for now, but it’s too early to predict his recovery. Let me explain what happened.”

He took a deep breath before continuing. “Tristan sustained multiple injuries in the accident. He had significant trauma to his chest and abdomen. We had to perform a thoracotomy to repair a punctured lung and to address internal bleeding. There was also a fracture in his right femur that required stabilization with internal fixation. We’ve managed to stabilize him, but he’ll need to be closely monitored for complications, particularly given the extent of his injuries.”

A collective sigh of relief escaped from Elina, Grayson, and Scarlet. The immediate danger had passed, but the uncertainty of Tristan’s recovery loomed over us. Scarlet’s tears flowed freely as she sank into a chair, overwhelmed by the emotional strain.

Grayson and I exchanged a look, silently acknowledging the gravity of the situation. The room was filled with an unspoken understanding of the fragility of Tristan’s condition and the hope that he would recover.

As the doctor left, the room fell into a subdued silence. Scarlet’s tears had slowed to a steady stream, and Grayson’s face was a mask of determined calm, though his eyes betrayed his worry.

I sat down beside Scarlet, trying to offer what comfort I could. “He’s stable now, but we’ll need to be patient. The recovery process can be slow, but the fact that he’s out of surgery and stable is a positive sign.”

Scarlet nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor. “I just wish there was something more I could do. He’s always been so full of life… I never imagined this could happen.”

I reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Sometimes all we can do is be here for him and support him through his recovery. He’ll need all the strength he can get.”

Grayson stood and began pacing the room, his anxiety evident despite his attempts to remain composed. “I’m going to check in with the doctors and see if there are any updates. I’ll let you know if there’s anything new.”

As Grayson left, I stayed with Scarlet, trying to provide a steady presence. The minutes ticked by slowly, and the hospital ambiance seemed to weigh heavily on us. The distant sounds of medical equipment and muffled conversations from the corridors created an almost surreal backdrop to our worried vigil.

After what felt like an eternity, Grayson returned. His expression was more relaxed, though still tinged with concern. “The doctors are keeping a close watch on him. They’ve stabilized his condition, but it’ll take time to see how he recovers from the trauma and surgery. They’ll update us periodically.”

Scarlet’s eyes were red from crying, but there was a glimmer of relief in them. “Thank you for being here, Grayson. I didn’t know what to do when I heard. Tristan means so much to me.”

Grayson nodded, his gaze softening. “We’re all in this together. Let’s focus on being there for him and each other.”

The tension in the room eased slightly as we settled into a more hopeful silence. I glanced at the clock—it was late, and the hospital was beginning to quiet down for the night.

Grayson turned to me. “Elina, thank you for coming. I know it’s been a long day. If you need to get some rest, I can manage things here.”

I shook my head. “I’d rather stay. Tristan might need me if he wakes up, and I want to be here for Scarlet too.”

Grayson nodded in appreciation. “Alright, let’s keep each other company then. We’ll get through this.”

We settled into the waiting room, where the comforting hum of the hospital’s quieter nighttime atmosphere contrasted sharply with the earlier chaos. Scarlet leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting shut as exhaustion began to overcome her.

Grayson and I exchanged a weary glance, understanding the weight of the situation but finding solace in our shared presence. The hours passed slowly as we waited for more news, each moment bringing us closer to the uncertain future of Tristan’s recovery.