***
My phone rang just after nine that night.
I saw Linda’s name on the screen and smiled, expecting her to tell me Terry was running late.
I moved to a quieter spot in the gym and answered. Instead, I heard her crying.
She was crying so hard that I could barely understand her.
“Chloe, honey, Terry’s in the hospital,” she sobbed. “There was…” She stopped for a moment, taking a shaky breath. “There was a car accident.”
I remember thinking that the pause before the words sounded strange.
I quickly booked a ride to the local hospital.
In the cab, I called my parents.
“Sweetheart, what happened?” my mother asked when she heard me crying.
“Terry! An accident!”
“He’s at the hospital? Do you want us to come over?” my mother asked.
“No, his mom is there. I’ll let you know if I need anything.”
***
That night, I sat outside the ICU with Terry’s mom.
