Beauty in Pain

Chapter 1 Valerie was in the middle of a good dream when she heard her ten year old daughter, Candy speaking. Candy’s voice was very faint and sweet, but soft which is why she could hardly hear it. Valerie had fallen into an unusually deep sleep on the living room couch when Candy said, “Mommy, mommy.” Valerie lifted her head instinctively, but barely opened her eyes wanting desperately to go back to sleep. Her head dropped. “Mommy,” Candy said again pausing and then she screamed, “Valerie!” Valerie lifted her head and said, “I know I didn’t just hear you call my name. What’d you call me?” She said sternly and without thought before dropping her head and closing her eyes again. “June’s been in a car accident,” Candy said. Suddenly, out of nowhere the words registered and Valerie sat up. “What? My sister what?” she questioned, but Candy was gone. Valerie screamed, “Candy! Candy! What did you say about June?” Candy came back into the living room and said, “Chuck called and said his mother was in a bad accident. He’s talking to mom (as everyone calls Candy’s grandma) they’re on the phone, but I think you need to get up.” There was something about the way Candy said, “I think you need to get up.” Those words hit her like a ton of bricks. Valerie immediately sprung up to go ask mom what happened, but she was already coming down the stairs with her big sister, Samantha. Samantha was the eldest of four sibling daughters and often at mom’s side. It’s strange how things work out sometimes. Samantha never spends the night in Brooklyn. Whenever she comes over she’s always in a hurry to rush home to her husband, Peter. Last night was different for some reason. Out of nowhere Samantha came over and announced she was here for the weekend. Valerie plopped down on the couch and joked about Peter not being able to survive in New Brunswick alone. Joking with Samantha was why Valerie was so out of it and couldn’t crawl up the stairs to her bedroom last night. Samantha’s stay was so bizarre they stayed up all night talking and drinking red wine. That’s why she happened to be in Brooklyn to receive the horrible news. Samantha and mom came into the living room. Mom said “Valerie, June’s been in a car accident and Chuck says it was bad. He’s trying to get to the hospital. Theresa was left a message and Melody will be there tomorrow.” Valerie was automatically happy at the mention of Theresa’s name. At least one other sister lived in Georgia too, thank God. That meant Chuck wouldn’t be alone. Mom’s voice contributed to the hysteria. Valerie asked, “How did Chuck find out?” Samantha answered, “A chaplain went to Steve’s house to notify her family.” It made sense; after all, Steve is a tenant at the address on her license. “A chaplain?” Valerie questioned. Samantha nodded a yes. They thought June was dying. Valerie began to involuntarily picture loved ones passed on, one after another. They were everywhere simply standing in and about the room looking onward. Although Valerie found these images warming, they were also disturbing. First, she saw her grandparents, then various aunts and uncles. She did her best to ignore them and tried to stay focused on the issue at hand asking, “What hospital is she in?” Mom let out a sad exaggerated gasp before answering. She said, “June was taken to Douglasville County Hospital but should have been taken to Grady because of the trauma she experienced.” Chuck, not driving, was anxiously trying to find someone to take him to the hospital. Cousin Paul who also lives in Georgia was able to get to Chuck fast. He took him to the hospital and they arranged to have June moved to Grady Hospital by helicopter. Valerie called Grady Hospital to obtain an update about June, but got nothing. Someone answered quickly, but when they transferred her to the trauma emergency line she was placed on hold. While listening to Grady’s telephone recording about the hospital, which seemed to last a lifetime, she learned a little information. It mentioned about how the hospital services most of Atlanta’s ambulance needs and how they were best in dealing with traumatic injuries. Valerie thought, I guess June’s in the right place. Once someone picked up the phone, Valerie identified herself as June Peterson’s sister. They wouldn’t say much over the phone. Valerie was only told that June was brought into the trauma emergency room and was being operated on as they spoke. The admitting clerk also insisted that a family member be available inside of the hospital for decisions. Chuck and Paul couldn’t move as fast as the helicopter, but they were on the way. Valerie asked, “What kind of decisions need to be made?” Only to find out that to could not be discussed over the telephone. She took a deep breath thinking repeatedly decisions, decisions, decisions… oh God…they think she’s dying. Theresa first found out June was in a car accident through voicemail. Samantha called her, but could not get through, so she left a message. Theresa heard the phone, but was in the middle of something so, she ignored it. She thought they’ll leave a message if it’s important, and she was right. When the message tone blurted she freaked. Theresa instantly tried to listen to the message, but her battery died. She immediately yelled for her son, Rick. “Rick! Let me borrow your cell phone. Rick!” Theresa screamed. Rick came into the room and let his mother call her voicemail. It was then that Theresa heard Sam’s voice telling her about their little sister, June. Theresa tried to reach Chuck, but couldn’t until later. When they finally spoke, Chuck was already at the hospital with Paul. Theresa could tell the accident was bad, but she figured it was something that June would definitely recuperate from physically. She asked, “When are visiting hours?” Chuck screamed, “Just come now!” Then the line went dead. Theresa called Paul. When she asked about time, he stated quite calmly, “I don’t know how much time you have.” Paul’s words changed everything. Theresa dropped everything and began running frantically to the nearest bus stop. She reached it in no time. The bus doors were closing when she lodged her hands between them attempting to pry them open. Theresa wasn’t strong enough, but wasn’t going to let go even if it forcibly dragged her away from the curb. “I can’t miss this bus!” she screamed angrily. The driver let her board the bus, but that’s when Theresa realized she had no change. She dashed quickly and forgot to get coins. The severity of the situation began to hit her and she cried hysterically at the thought of having to get off the bus. She cried, “My sister may be dying at Grady Hospital. Please don’t kick me off the bus. I have to get there now.” The driver told Theresa not to worry and let her stay. The bus ride was long, but it finally reached Five Points. Theresa knew this was her stop, but didn’t know where the hospital was located. A woman simply took her by the hand and said, “Let’s pray, baby.” Theresa walked with the woman as if in a trance. They prayed and walked. When it was over they were standing in front of Grady’s Emergency Room. Once Theresa was inside, she walked all over the emergency room peaking in on people trying to locate June. Eventually, she found June in a recovery room. Theresa took one look and knew her sister was dying. She cried and screamed, “No! No! I need you! You can’t go yet!”