At the hospital

Julie rushed through the JVC hospital door and entered the lobby. The ubiquitous aroma of antiseptic fills the air hole in her nostrils as she inhales to catch her breath and the smell reminded her of the nurse room when she was in high school.

"Madam, can you please move from in our way."

Julie heard a deep man's voice behind her, and she turned her head to see who was speaking.

"Oh, I am so sorry," Julie said.

She then stepped out of their path, and the nurses were able to carry the elderly lady on the stretcher past her. Julie's heart felt sorry for the lady, seeing the pitiful state she was in.

Julie gazed around, trying to figure out what to do next. She could have dialed Steven up, but since she first spoke to him on the phone, he had not been answering any of her calls afterward.

Her sight rested on the receptionist, and Julie rushed over to the desk.

"Excuse me, miss." She said, resting her hands nervously on the counter.

"Yes, how may I assist you today?" The lady replied in a calm and sweet tone.

'Wow, she is so graceful, and this hospital is polished. No wonder they rate it as the top hospital in the country. Even their workers are elegant and polite.' Julie thought before placing her focus on the matter at hand.

"I am here to see a patient."

"Can I know his or her name?"

"Yes, Jackson David."

The lady took a few seconds to search through her computer before facing Julie.

"He was taken to the operating room. But his two friends are waiting in the West Wing lobby. You can follow the signs on the walls to get there." The lady stated with a gentle smile.

"Thank you so much," Julie replied before walking away.

Minutes later, as she walked into the West Wing, Julie was presented with a shocking scene. She pauses and stares at her boyfriend, who looked like a mess and seemed to be in torment.

Steven was seated on the bare ground with his shirt stained with blood, hair rumpled, and he was missing his shoes.

"Babe," Julie whispers with tears pouring from her eyes.

Steven turns his wet eyes to gaze at her, then weakly smiles as the salty liquid draws down his cheek.

Julie slowly took a few steps forward toward him. As she drew closer and saw the hurt in his eyes, Julie started to walk at a fast pace. When she reached Steven, Julie dropped to her knees and pulled him into her embrace.

"Ahhhhhh!" Steven screams with his hands wrapped around Julie and his face against her chest.

"I can't lose him, Julie. I just can't. I should not have sent that voicemail. I should have known something was wrong. The signal was there. I could have tried hard to be a better brother and friend." Steven cried.

Julie patted him on the back and squeezed him tight. "It wasn't your fault, babe. You did your best to be there as a true friend." She mumbles in pain.

It took five minutes to calm Steven down and get him seated on a bench. Julie sits next to her boyfriend, and he rests his head against her shoulder, then shuts his eyes.

When he finally fell asleep, there were no more tears left in Steven's eye to share.

"Hey, I am Chris."

A tall and elegant guy walked up to Julie and introduced himself. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Oh, right. You are the one investing in Jackson's project. Hi, I am Julie."

"Can I sit?" Chris asked her, pointing to the space next to her.

"Sure, you can." She replied before staring at Steven's sleeping face.

"Oh, before I forget. Here's your boyfriend's shoes." Chris stated with a slim smile as he handed her a pair of black shoes.

"What happened to him?" She asked Chris after accepting the footwear.

"Well, the bar was not far from the hospital, and we were at the bar when Steven got the disturbing news. I guess he was the first number on Jackson's phone call log. We got here in time before the ambulance could arrive. When it finally did, and Steven saw his friend covered in blood, getting carried into the hospital, he lost his senses." Chris explained before taking a deep breath.

The loud cry of an elderly lady drew their attention toward the lobby door. Julie gazes at the agony expression Rose wore and felt full of depressed emotions.

"My poor baby. Oh my God, this can't be true. Someone, please tell me this isn't true." Rose cried.

Steven's eyes suddenly opened after hearing all the commotion. He lifted his head and stared at Rose.

"I am sorry, and I should have been there for him." Steven mumbles.

"Come here, son!" Rose said.

Steven got up from his seat and approached her. When they were close enough, Rose grabbed Steven and hugged him tightly.

"Shh, son. Never blame yourself for all of this because none of this is your fault, and secondly, your brother would never want you to feel sorry. Okay?" Rose whispers in his ears.

Julie turned her head and caught a glance of her parents standing at the lobby door.

"Mom, Dad." She cried as she stood up and ran to them.

Harriett and Louis embraced their daughter when she reached them. Their hug felt so comfortable to Julie as their hands enclosed around her.

"You guys are here." She mumbles.

"Of course, honey. We want to be here for you and Steven. But especially Rose." Louis said.

Mr. and Mrs. Harper let go of Julie after a few seconds had passed, then they went to meet Steven and Rose.

"I am so sorry. I can only imagine the pain you are feeling right now." Harriett calmly said as she hugged Rose.

"Thank you both for being here," Rose replied with a smile.

"Of course. We are all family now, and Jackson is a man that deserves our present in such a time." Louis stated.

"Oh guys, this is Chris. He's an investor who wants to invest in Jackson's project." Steven announces as he points his hand in Chris' direction.

Except for Julie and Steven, everyone else greeted Chris and shook hands with him.

"I am so sorry for what you guys are undergoing right now," he said in an honest tone.

A few minutes had passed and everyone had calmed down, a doctor came out of the operating room and approached them.

"Are you people, Jackson David's family?" He asked.

"Yes!" They all spoke in unison.

"I am here to let you guys know that the patient is getting ready for surgery, and there are some papers needed for signing. So is his wife or mother here?"

After the doctor's statement, everyone gazed at Steven, and he understood what their stare meant.

"I will go call Jennie," Steven said before getting up from his seat and leaving the lobby.

"He's going to inform his wife to get here. In the meantime, I can sign the papers since I am his mother." Rose declares.

Steven made sure he was outside the hospital and a short distance away from the entrance before he dialed Jennie up.

"Hey, Steven."

"Jennie, where the hell are you?"

"I am in England. Why do you sound mad?"

"Get yourself down here now."

"Steven, what happened?"

"Your husband has been involved in an accident. As I speak, the doctors are preparing him for surgery. Everyone is already at the hospital. Jennie, you need to be here too."

Jennie did not respond, but Steven was able to hear her aching sob as he waited for her reply.

"I will be there soon."

Steven heard Jennie say before she off the call.