Forty-Six | Cole
Forty-Six
Cole
“Lyric! Lyric!” I shouted, pressing the phone to my ear as if that would allow me to hear anything other than the sound of a horn after what sounded like a horrific accident.
I was in my truck in a matter of seconds, not wanting to hang up with Lyric but desperate to know where she was heading. She had asked if my mom called, which left me even more anxious—had something happened to Lyric and the babies? Was something wrong?
Knowing that I didn’t have any other choice, I hung up and immediately dialed my mom as I started the truck and headed for home.
“I was just getting ready—” my mom started before I cut her off.
“Where was Lyric going?” I demanded, checking my mirrors before cutting across several lanes to do a U-turn.
“She’s headed to the school. Kara got hurt, and Lyric was taking her to the clinic. What’s wrong?”
“I called to check in, and there was a loud sound, like she got into a car accident.”
“Oh my God,” my mother whispered. “Go find Lyric, and I’ll take Chloe to pick up Kara. I’ll call your dad and have him—”
“I found her,” I said, swallowing hard as I came upon the accident that blocked the middle of the road. I pulled over to the side and threw the truck in park as I stared in disbelief.
People were out of their cars, walking around with cell phones pressed to their ears, while several people huddled around Lyric’s car.
I didn’t wait to hear what my mom said before I tossed the phone into the passenger seat and hopped out of the truck.
I took off running, ignoring everyone around me as I tried to get to her.
“You need to stand back—” someone started to say until they realized who it was that was running at them.
I recognized the woman but couldn’t remember her name. Shit, I couldn’t remember anything at that moment.
I stood there, paralyzed, when she slowly moved to the side, and I got a glimpse of Lyric.
Her head was tilted back against the headrest as blood dripped down her face, her eyes closed as if she were sleeping. I took a few cautious steps toward her, studying the air bag that was pressed against her stomach, pinning her and the babies in place.
“We need to get them out,” I muttered, shaking my head as I looked inside the car at the shattered glass that littered the seats and floor. “Lyric, baby, I need you to wake up.”
I reached inside and tried to press my fingers against her neck, checking to see if she had a pulse.
My heart sank as a wave of nausea washed over me when I felt nothing.
“Someone fucking help me!” I screamed, tilting my head back as I cursed the clouds in the sky that brought a sudden darkness that would forever consume me.