Even though he’s not seizing anymore, Dad still hasn’t opened his eyes. Now that I’ve regained some of my wits, I think of taking his pulse, which I thankfully find. It’s weak, but it’s there. I don’t know what just happened to him, but he’s not dead. I’ll hold on to that until I can’t.

A few minutes later, we hear sirens, followed by two paramedics entering the house. Wren probably led them in. They don’t ask me any questions, so I assume Wren also answered what they wanted to know.

Quickly, they lift my father on a gurney and lead him outside toward the ambulance, a thin metallic cover spread over his body. We all follow him, and when I go to climb into the ambulance with Ma, I’m stopped by one of the paramedics.

“Only one of you can go with him,” the middle-aged man says with an empathetic smile.

Shit.

I nod even though it’s killing me to know I won’t be there with him and Ma. What if something happens in the ambulance?

The man closes the back door of the ambulance, then walks to the front, where he climbs in.

“I’ll follow them with my car, then,” I say to no one in particular.

“But… Aaron…” Callie’s weepy voice makes me turn to her. Wren’s arm is wrapped tightly around her shoulders, but she looks inconsolable. It doesn’t matter how old she acts most of the time. Right now, she looks like a little kid. A kid who has been exposed to way too much already at such a young age. “What will happen to…to…”

I close the distance between us and hug her to my chest. Wren subtly peels away, watching us with concern.

“It’s okay. Everything’s going to be fine,” I say, although I don’t even know whether I believe the words or not.

She only cries harder.

Fuck. I need to comfort her, but I need to be there for my mom too, and I can’t do both. Callie can’t be at the hospital. It would only be more traumatizing for her to wait for news in the cold waiting room.

I’m torn in two. Again and again and again, the story repeats itself.

“I’ll go.”

I turn to Wren, who has a determined air to her.

“But…” I start.

“You need to stay with her,” she whispers behind Callie. “She needs you.”

I know she’s right. Still, it doesn’t make me want to stay away from my parents any less.

“I’ll make sure Martina is okay,” Wren says as if reading my thoughts, “and I’ll give you updates whenever we get them.”

Callie’s fingers grasp the back of my shirt even tighter.

“Okay,” I tell Wren.

She throws me a look that means more than words.