CHAPTER 103: WHEN THE GLASS STARTS TO CRACK

"Glass doesn’t just shatter all at once. It starts with cracks, invisible at first, until one day...without warning, the whole thing breaks."

My head was low, I kept staring at the glass window in front of my mom’s room, watching the nurses prep her. Suddenly, the doors burst open, and my mom was wheeled out on a gurney.

Two nurses were wheeling her out.

She was in a new hospital gown, her hair was tucked messily under a paper cap.

Her eyes were closed. She didn’t move.

The were moving fast, as i ran along pacing behind them.

The steady beep of the portable heart monitor clipped to her IV pole followed them.

I reached for her cold hands, and held it tighter.

"Mom...please... no matter what happens, don’t stop fighting. I haven’t given up on you. Please... don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on us."

Her eyelids fluttered, maybe she heard me, maybe just from the harsh hallway lights, and then the nurses kept pulling her away.

"Sir, you can’t go past this point." One of them blocked me gently with her arm as the gurney disappeared into a set of double doors labeled:

OPERATING ROOM 3 – RESTRICTED ACCESS

"Mom!" My voice echoed down the hallway.

The doors swung shut in my face.

I stood there, frozen, my breath kept coming in gasps. Then my knees bent, and I dropped onto the plastic chair outside the OR, elbows on my thighs, head hanging low.

I pressed my hands together like I was praying... though I didn’t know if I was praying, begging, bargaining. I just knew I needed her to keep fighting.

Please. Please. Please.

I didn’t care if it was to God, the universe, or just to her somewhere deep in her mind. I just needed her to hear me.

"Ash?"

The sound of my name made me lift my head.

Alia was running toward me, her ponytail kept bouncing. She threw her arms around me, and I caught her, holding her tight.

"Ash, why are you crying? Did... did something happen to Mommy?" she asked, her small hands pressed against my cheeks.

I sniffed. "Nothing, Peach," I said, trying to smile, though it probably looked bad. "Mom’s fine." My voice cracked. "I’m just.." I sniffed again, wiping my eyes with my sleeve, "...just really glad you’re okay."

Her big eyes searched mine, not entirely convinced.

"Where’s June?" I asked.

"She’s here." Alia turned and pointed down the hallway.

June was walking toward us with Marcus at her side. Behind them was Mr. Halloway...June’s dad. Mr Halloway carried a thermos in one hand, and a paper bag in another.

I stood immediately, trying to pull myself together.

June didn’t say anything at first, she just ran towards me and pulled me into a hug.

Marcus patted my shoulder, and Mr Halloway put the bag on the chair beside me and gripped my shoulder firmly. "I came as soon as I heard. Son... I’m real sorry you’re going through this." He sighed. "You need anything...anything at all, you say the word."

"Thank you sir," I bowed.

"We’re here for you, Ash," June said, as if she was trying not to make me crumble.

Marcus gave a small nod. "You’re not alone in this, man. We also brought dinner."

Mr. Halloway glanced toward the OR doors. "We’ll wait with you. No rush, no leaving early. You shouldn’t be sitting here by yourself."

"She’s been in there for over an hour," I said quietly. "They said it could take a while."

"That’s okay," June replied. "Then we’ll be here a while."

"Before I could say anything else, June hooked her arm through mine. "Come on pookie. Let’s go."

I blinked at her. "Where?"

"Outside," she said, tugging me toward the doors. "You’ve been in here for hours. Just... come out for a minute, get some air."

"I can’t leave..."

"Yes, you can. You’re not doing any good just pacing in here and staring at the clock."

I frowned but let her pull me toward the entrance. Rain was still dripping off outside.

It was already getting late.

I checked my phone, 7:30PM

She stopped in front of the doors and pointed toward the car park. "There. See that black car?"

I followed her gaze. Parked across the street, headlights off, windows fogged just slightly... Was Dominic’s car.

"He’s been waiting for you," June said, watching me closely.

"Why didn’t he just come in?"

She shrugged, smirking faintly. "I don’t know. Go ask him." Then she gave me a look that was part teasing, part... something else. "Honestly? I think he’s just waiting for you to notice."

I hesitated, then glanced back at the hospital. "If anyone asks...."

"I’ll tell them you’re with me," she interrupted.

"What if mom needs me?" I turned to her.

"She’ll be fine. I’ll alert you. Now go, before he decides you’re not worth the gas."

I stepped off the curb, crossing the wet pavement toward the black sedan parked under the streetlamp.

I opened the passenger door and slid in.

"Hey, babe," Dominic said softly..

I didn’t answer. My hands were still cold, and I rubbed them together slowly, staring at the dash.

"I’m really sorry about today," he started. "I didn’t know you weren’t cool with the video. I just wanted to help... you know, so when you went back to Blackwell, people would get off your back and the bullying would stop."

I kept my eyes down. "I know you tried to help," I sighed. "But you could’ve asked me first."

I looked up at him.

"Was that why you didn’t reply to my text?"

He exhaled, leaning back in the seat. "Yeah. I didn’t know what to say. I figured if I could just explain in person, you’d understand I wasn’t trying to..." He stopped himself, sighing. "I messed up, Ash."

Silence settled between us. He held my hand and leaned in to kiss me.

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked quietly.

I stared at our joined hands. "A little," I said honestly. "But... I’m more tired than mad."

His brow furrowed. "Why?"

I turned my head toward the hospital. "My mom’s surgery is today," I said. "She’s in the operating room right now."

His eyes widened instantly. "Oh my God... Rivera, I...." His voice faltered. "I forgot it was today. I’m so sorry for not coming earlier."

I shook my head, not wanting an apology for that.

"Hold on," he said, letting go of my hand for just a second. He reached down to the floorboard and came back up with a small paper bag. "I, uh... got you and Alia some burgers."

"Really?"

"Yeah," he said, shrugging. "Double cheeseburgers, extra pickles." He smiled and handed it to me.

I took the bag from him, it was really comforting in a way I didn’t know I needed.

Guess I was really hungry after all.

"Thanks," I said quietly.

"I know it’s not gonna fix anything," he murmured, "but I hate the thought of you sitting in there, stressed, on an empty stomach." He glanced toward the hospital, then back at me. "And for the record, Ash... I’d never let anything hurt you. Not if I can help it. Not now, not ever."

I swallowed, looking down at the bag again. "You sound like you’re making some kind of promise."

"I am," he said simply. "You matter to me more than... all the stupid drama, the school, the videos, any of it. You’re it, Rivera."

He leaned in just slightly. "So... do you want to go in now? Or sit here for a bit and eat? Either way, I’m not going anywhere."