Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“Baby?” I touch her forehead, and she’s clammy and burning up. I don’t know if that’s from the steam in the room or if she’s running a fever. Bending my ear to her mouth, I can hear that she’s breathing, but it’s a very shallow breath.
“Fuck.” I scramble to pull my phone from my pocket and dial 911. “My wife,” I say as soon as they pick up, not letting them start their spiel. “I just got home, and she’s collapsed on the bathroom floor.” Tears prick my eyes, but I fight them, not letting them fall. I need to be strong for her.
“Sir, can you tell me your address?”
I rattle off our address.
“Can you tell me if it looks like she’s taken anything?”
My eyes scan the room, even though I know she didn’t. “No. No, she’s been sick. I should have stayed home with her today.” I reach down with my free hand and grab hers, and it’s ice-cold. “H-Her hands are cold, and her fingertips are blue.”
“What about her lips?”
I glance at her lips. “Blue too.” I don’t know how I missed that. “I don’t know how her hand is cold. She was burning up when I touched her forehead. I mean, the shower is on, and the room is steamy, but I don’t think that’s why. Hurry! Please hurry. You have to help her.”
“Sir, we have an ambulance en route. Please stay on the line.”
“Monroe, baby, please wake up. Please.” I lean down and kiss her cold lips. I don’t give a fuck if I get sick. “Her color is off too. She looks almost ash-like.” I try to give the woman on the line as much information as I can.
“Sir, the ambulance is one minute out. Is your front door unlocked?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
“Can you go unlock it?”
“No. I can’t leave her.”
“Sir, we need to be able to get into your home to help your wife. Can you run and unlock the door for me?”
“Fuck.” I bend down and kiss Monroe’s cold lips. “I’ll be right back, baby. I promise. I’ll be right back.” This time, I can’t stop the tears as they start to fall. I scramble to my feet and race out of our bedroom and down the hall to the front door. I unlock it and swing it open, letting them know to come on in. I turn and race back to the bathroom as fast as I can, dropping to my knees. “I’m here,” I tell her, stroking her hair out of her eyes. “Wake up for me, baby.” I reach up, yanking on the end of her robe to pull it off the hook, and I lay it over her. I don’t want anyone seeing her like this, but I’m too afraid to move her to dress her.
“Sir, did you get the door unlocked? The paramedics are there.”
“Y-Yes. The door’s open.”
What’s taking so long? I called what feels like half an hour ago. I know, in reality, it’s been a matter of minutes, but they need to get here. My thoughts are interrupted by shouting, asking where we are.
“In here!” I call back. I hang up the phone and shove it back into my pocket. I hear feet rustling, and then three paramedics rush into the room. They surround us and start working on her. One of them pulls her eyelid up, and her eye rolls into the back of her head.
“Be easy with her!” I shout, fear pushing my panic forward.
“Sir,” the female paramedic addresses me, “we’re doing our jobs. We’re going to help her, but you have to let us. I’m going to need you to step back.”
“No. No. I can't leave her. I never should have left her.”
“Legend?”
I look up to find Roman standing in the doorway. His eyes are wide and filled with worry as he takes in the scene around us.
“Come on, man. Let them do their job. We’ll stand right here.” Roman grabs my arm and tries to get me to stand.
“I can’t.” I jerk my arm to break out of his hold. “Don’t take that off her. She’s naked,” I tell the paramedics, completely losing control.
“Legend.” Roman is closer now. He wraps his arms around me from behind and drags me away from her.
“No. Rome, no. She needs me. I can’t leave her. She needs me. Mo!” I call out.
“Listen.” His voice is stern. “She needs them. They need to have room to work on her. This is their job, man. Let them do it.” He hugs me from behind, his arms locked around mine, holding me in place. “Take a deep breath.”
“I can’t breathe without her.” More tears fall as I watch the love of my life unconscious on our bathroom floor.
“I know.” His voice cracks. “Tell me what I’m seeing, Legend. What’s going on?”