Chapter 48

I looked out the window watching dark clouds build up.

"Are you sure practicing now is a good idea? It's supposed to rain."

"It's supposed to just sprinkle for a couple of hours. I'll be fine."

I turned around and watched Justin finish tying his shoes. He grunted as he rose up and sighed when he looked at me.

"You look like a concerned mom."

"Shut up! I'm only being worried because you're my older brother!"

Justin got up and walked over to me putting a hand on my head.

"Relax. I've practiced in the rain before. Hell, I've played in the rain during a game and we still one. It's fine. Soccer isn't as dangerous as you think."

"But what if something bad happens? It's your last year of high school and if you were to loose your scholarship you'd never make it to your dream school."

"Don't jinx it then."

He laughed as he messed up my hair. I pushed off his hand and folded my arms while pouting.

He sighed and went over to grab his soccer ball before looking back at me.

"I'll be back by dinner. Don't get too bored without me."

"Whatever. Just be careful. If it starts raining just come home. Even if you think you can play out there in it you can still get sick staying in the rain."

"God, you're worse than mom."

He smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back.

He opened the door and looked back at me before walking out. I moved to the window and watched him walked down the sidewalk. As I did my eyes drifted to the dark clouds flowing ahead.

"Why do I have such a bad feeling?"

***

It was pouring outside like there was no tomorrow. As I watched it I couldn't help but worry as Justin still wasn't home. I brought out my phone and checked the time.

It's been raining for an hour like this.

I groaned and got up and went striaght to the closet and grabbed a rain coat and umbrella. Thunder roared as I zipped my jacket up.

"Mom, I'm going to go get Justin," I yelled out not knowing where she was exactly.

I quickly put on some tennis shoes wanting to get out there soon.

At this rate he'd be soaked.

"Idiot. I told him to come home if it started to rain like this."

I ran out the front forgetting the umbrella. I didn't care. I just had to get to him. Make sure he's safe.

Almost as soon as I ran out I was soaked. Thunder roared as I got an image of him hurt from this rain. I felt tears fall just a bit but I could be wrong. With the rain it was impossible to know.

Lightning flashed and I jumped at the view of it as thunder roared after it.

I could barely see where I was going but I knew where he would be to practice and I knew where to go by heart.

I slipped nearly falling to the ground but quickly got ahold of my balance staying up right. I stopped after getting to a point catching my breath when I saw a figure below me down the hill.

I wiped the rain off of my face and held a hand over my eyes as I squinted to get a better view of what it was.

And lucky me it was Justin.

He was soaked, for sure, and looked as if he were panting.

Not wanting to waste a second I yelled put his name only to get it sounded out by thunder.

As the thunder growled as if getting ready for a climax. Lightning flashed to give me a full view of the aweful thing happening.

I watched my brother try to kick the ball only to slip and fall in an odd position.

The next thing I heard was thunder again defining the sound of his screams.

I stood there frozen not able to move not knowing what to do.

I watched him scream in agony as he hugged his knee.

"Jusin..."

My voice was barely above a whisper and I couldn't stand watching it anymore.

I ran and slid down the hill and got to him quickly. I didn't know what to say or do.

I pulled out my phone and starred at it trying to think who to call.

911? Mom? Dad?

Lightning flashed and I noticed that Justin had stopped scresming.

"Justin?"

I placed my hand on his shoulder and shook him a little.

"Justin? Justin!"

I dropped my phone and shook him harder trying to wake him up.

"This isn't funny Justin!"

I removed my hands and waited to see him move only for thunder to answer me.

I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed 911.

"I told you not to practice in the rain idiot," I whispered out to him as I lifted him up a bit and rested him on me.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"My brothers hurt... please... help..."

The words hurt to say and it hurt to say everything else for them to get to us.

"Idiot..."

***

I sat in a chair next to Justin as he slept soundly in the hospital bed. What the doctors said echoed in my head.

"Terrible knee injury... may never play soccer again... possible concussion..."

I felt a tear fall, probably the first of many more to come as I watched his heart monitor show that he was steadily breathing and living. But despite that I'm pretty sure he'd feel like life was over for him. Soccer was his thing. It was his gate to college and many other opportunities.

Now what?

It was still pouring outside.

The doctors said I could stay here until morning. And they said my parents could come tomorrow. They didn't want to risk an accident and more injuries.

I wouldn't blame them. This was bad enough. Even if they didn't know the deepness of him never playing soccer again.

I grabbed Justin's hand and felt more tears fall.

"You just had to practice in the rain. Now what will you do?"

Thunder growled as if trying to anger me more.

"I was right to worry."

Tears clouded my vision and no longer being able to speak I lowered down to rest my head on him and cry.