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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 27, 2019 11:39:18 GMT -8
August 8, 2019
As soon as Callie sends her last text to Naamah, she screeches down the hall, "Anise! We need to go!" She scrambles for her sandals, sliding her feet inside and buckling them. No response from Anise. "Ani! It's an emergency!" she calls as she trots down the stairs.
As she reaches the bottom, she finds Anise, bopping to her music with her headphones on. Callie groans and pulls them off. "Ani, did you hear me? We gotta go over to Naamah's. Now." Callie shoves Anise's nearby flip flops at her. "Her sister-in-law just had her baby and her life could be in trouble. She's in a coma, Ani!"
"Okay, okay, calm down, Cal," Anise says, voice calm and soothing as she slips into the flip flops. "You meeting Naamah--"
"At her house, yes," Callie interrupts, heading to the door. "We gotta go. I told her we'd be there asap." At the front door, she turns and waits for Anise to join her before heading out. "They're not too far. It's definitely close enough to walk."
A few minutes later, the girls arrive at Naamah's house. Callie runs up to the frobt door and knocks vigorously before sending Naamah another text.
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Post by Joelle on Aug 27, 2019 12:09:00 GMT -8
Naamah has been trying to keep the tears back, for the most part anyway, but as soon as she lets Anise and Callie in, she dissolves into tears again. She's trying not to let her other siblings see, because she has to be clearheaded for them. But she's trembling, as if she could go into medical shock herself.
"I can't do this. I can't possibly... we can't possibly lose someone else right now."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 27, 2019 12:15:40 GMT -8
Callie pulls Naamah into a tight hug, squeezing her. "It's okay," she whispers. "It's okay. We're here."
Anise gives Naamah's back a quick rub. "And even if you do lose someone else, you've gained another family of sorts in us. I know that's maybe not the most helpful, but it's a thought."
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Post by Joelle on Aug 27, 2019 12:27:10 GMT -8
"I almost feel like I should physically be in a hospital myself." Naamah admits. She is sure Callie can feel her trembling. "El Shaddai, help us!" There aren't any other words than that.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 27, 2019 12:43:41 GMT -8
"Well, the good news is we're heading there, so if you need one, it'll be an easy, quick trip," Anise comments.
"Ani!" Callie hisses.
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Post by Joelle on Aug 27, 2019 12:52:45 GMT -8
"I can't. I have to be strong for my family and the stupid news with their stupid cameras intruding on our lives." She sighs. Right now, it's a stress she doesn't need. "It'll make the news- even if it's just a sentence- if I get sick, too."
But then she has a thought.
"Wanna keep them away for me?" she asks Anise. "If anyone can do it, it's probably you- well, and Callie, but I need her with me right now. I know Jesse would appreciate some privacy, especially when the rabbi does the religious ceremony for the sick."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 27, 2019 13:15:22 GMT -8
Anise grins. "I can definitely keep them busy. Anything specific you want me to say-- or avoid saying even?"
Callie squeezes Naamah's hand. "We're herd for you, Naamah," she whispers.
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Post by Joelle on Aug 27, 2019 13:23:28 GMT -8
"Just maybe say that we'd sppreciate as much privacy as possible over the next little while until Tarah recovers. I'm aware that even if she does wake up, she may not be the same afterward. What do you think your dad would say to that? Is it always true?"
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 27, 2019 13:41:29 GMT -8
"Geez, I have no idea," Anise responds. "Nursing and medicine isn't exactly my area of interest. But I betcha he can answer any questions. As could the doctors they have working with your sister. I bet they're doing everything they can to help her."
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Post by Joelle on Aug 27, 2019 16:25:57 GMT -8
"I mean, I would hope she'll be okay, but I have no experience with people in comas, ever. I-I got Caleb and his parents to help us because today, I feel much younger than fifteen. Jesse and Boaz are already there. And the twins are in no mental condition to be driving."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 27, 2019 16:36:40 GMT -8
"You said they should be coming any time now, right?" Callie asks, giving her another squeeze.
Even as she asks, Caleb's text comes through.
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Post by Joelle on Aug 27, 2019 16:45:15 GMT -8
Naamah looks at her phone, then replies:
Obviously, the news people should know something, just maybe not any more than the family wants them to.
She turns back to Callie and Anise.
"I don't know what to expect, really. I don't even know if she can hear anybody. Do unconscious people look peaceful? Do they look dead? Have you seen someone who's unconscious before?"
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 27, 2019 16:52:24 GMT -8
"Dad says there's plenty of research that suggests comatose patients can hear everything that's said to or around them, if that's any comfort at all," Anise comments.
"I dunno what she's gonna look like... Hopefully she doesn't look too much like she's dead! That would be... scary," Callir adds.
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Post by Joelle on Aug 27, 2019 17:36:58 GMT -8
"That's good, Anise. Maybe it won't be so bad then. At least. I hope not," Naamah says. The rest of her family are silent and still. Naamah is getting worried, but she knows that's what shock does. Maybe when Caleb and his parents get here, they will come out of it. She almost wishes someone would knock on the door, or a sonic boom would occur to make them jump, or something. Anything but this eerie silence.Sheva had been crying earlier, but Menashe and Chava have done little except look dazed.
When Menashe finally speaks, it makes Naamah jump. She had been so used to the silence.
"Do you think she'll live?" he asks quietly.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 27, 2019 18:13:58 GMT -8
"Well, I don't personally know any of the stats on that or anything, but she's in really good hands. Dad talks about how good the hospital is all the time," Callie assures both Naamah and Menashe.
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Post by Joelle on Aug 28, 2019 16:28:08 GMT -8
"That's good to know," Menashe says, releasing a breath. "This is a little... surreal, you know?"
"A year and two months between our parents and this," adds Chava, numbly. "Yeah. Surreal is the word, all right."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 28, 2019 16:52:34 GMT -8
"Totally understandable," Anise assures them. "This isn't exactly your everyday kinda situation. Not everyone's gonna understand."
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Post by Joelle on Aug 28, 2019 18:53:57 GMT -8
"You've got that right. I can't imagine what the people on the news are gonna say." Chava sighs. "Like we need the fact that we're technically orphans to be put out there one more time."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 28, 2019 19:58:27 GMT -8
"I gotchu," Anise chuckles. "Naamah and I already agreed that I'm gonna play distraction for the news outlets. No need to worry. I'm just gonna tell them that this is a private moment and that you guys need some space until things settle down a little bit. No mentions of the complications. No mentions of what's actually happening."
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Post by Joelle on Aug 29, 2019 8:00:58 GMT -8
"You're welcome to tell them she had some childbirth complications- that's the stuff they need- just not any more than that," adds Naamah. "Poor little girl- she doesn't even have a name on her birth certificate yet." For some reason, this affects her more deeply than anything else, though she's not crying so hard anymore.
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Post by starletinwaiting on Aug 29, 2019 8:41:18 GMT -8
Callie kisses Naamah's cheek. "I should've grabbed some tissues," she whispers. "I'm sorry. I just knew I needed to get over here as fast as I could and I didn't think to bring anything like that."
"Don't worry, Naamah. Things are going to be okay," Anise assures her.
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Post by Joelle on Sept 4, 2019 12:50:18 GMT -8
"I hope so. I feel a little bit of deja vu. And that time, it wasn't okay."
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Post by starletinwaiting on Sept 17, 2019 10:34:25 GMT -8
"Well, it'll work itself out one way or another," Anise replies. "It might not work out the way you want it to, but it'll get better."
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