The rain pounded relentlessly against the windshield as we sped toward the hospital. My heart felt like it was lodged in my throat, beating so hard I thought it might burst. The wipers worked overtime, barely keeping up with the downpour, but it didn't matter. All I could think about was Dad and Arwen.
Kai's hand was still wrapped around mine, but I barely felt it. My mind raced, imagining the worst—broken bones, blood, twisted metal. I tried to push those thoughts away, but they clawed at me, refusing to leave.
"Are you okay?" Kai asked quietly, glancing at me as she drove. Her voice was calm, but I could hear the worry underneath.
I shook my head, unable to speak. How could I be okay? My little brother—fragile, sweet Arwen—and my dad, always so strong, were out there somewhere, hurt. Possibly worse.
We pulled into the hospital parking lot, and Kai barely turned the car off before I yanked open the door and bolted toward the entrance. The cold rain soaked through my clothes as I ran, but I didn't care.
Inside, the sterile smell of disinfectant hit me as the automatic doors whooshed shut behind us. The bright lights made everything seem too real, too harsh. I was drenched, my hair sticking to my face, but all I could think about was finding them.
"Iris, wait," Kai called, catching up to me. She grabbed my arm gently, guiding me toward the front desk.
A nurse looked up from her station, her expression a mix of sympathy and professionalism. "Can I help you?"
"My dad and my brother," I stammered, my voice shaking. "They were in a car accident. Shane Galloway and Arwen Galloway. Where are they?"
She nodded, typing something into her computer. "They were just brought in a little while ago," she said after a moment. "Your father is in surgery right now."
My heart sank. Surgery. What had happened to him? "And Arwen?" I asked, barely able to get the words out.
"They've taken him to Pediatrics, He is in room 5002," she replied. "Since he is a regular with his treatments he's being evaluated." She reached across the counter, I recognized her as Lisa who was normally in when Arwen got his hemoglobin treatments. "Iris, he's stable, you can see him while we wait for more updates on your father."
I nodded, my whole body numb. Surgery. Stable. The words swirled in my mind, but I couldn't make sense of them. All I knew was I needed to see Arwen. I needed to see that he was okay.
Kai and I hurried down the long hallways, past people who seemed oblivious to the world that had just shattered around me. Every step felt heavier than the last. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, and the smell of antiseptic was sharp in my nose.
Finally, we reached the Pediatrics wing. A nurse led us to Arwen's room, and as soon as I saw him lying there, my heart broke. He looked so small in the oversized hospital bed, his pale skin almost blending into the white sheets. His leg was in a cast, his arm in a sling. But his eyes—those bright, wide eyes—opened when we walked in, and I felt a small wave of relief wash over me.
"Iris," he whispered, his voice weak but steady.
I rushed to his side, grabbing his hand gently. "Hey, buddy," I said, forcing a smile. "How are you feeling?"
He winced slightly as he shifted. "I'm okay, I think. But owie everywhere."
I brushed his hair back, swallowing the lump in my throat. "You're gonna be okay. I promise." I didn't know if it was true, but I needed to say it—for him, and for me.
Kai stood by the door, watching quietly. I knew she was giving us space, but the weight of what she hadn't said about Dad hung between us.
"How's Dad?" Arwen asked, his eyes searching mine. I tried to keep my expression calm, but he knew me too well.
"He's in surgery," I said softly. "But they're taking good care of him, okay? He's strong, Arwen. He'll pull through."
He nodded, biting his lip. "It wasn't his fault. The other car... they came out of nowhere, and we tried to swerve, but the rain was so bad, and then... we flipped."
The image of their car flipping, rolling in the rain, flashed through my mind, and I had to close my eyes to push it away. "It's okay, Arwen. It wasn't your fault either. You did everything you could."
He squeezed my hand tighter, and I could see the fear in his eyes—the same fear I was feeling.
The door opened, and a doctor walked in, her face serious but not grim. "Are you Iris?" she asked, glancing between us.
"Yes," I replied, standing up. My heart pounded in my chest, my hands trembling. "How's my dad?"
"He's out of surgery," she said, and I felt a glimmer of hope. "He had some internal bleeding, and his leg was badly injured in the crash. We've stabilized him, but he's going to need time to recover. He's in the ICU for now."
The relief hit me like a tidal wave, my knees almost buckling. "He's going to be okay?"
"With time, yes," she assured me. "He's a fighter. He'll need to stay here for a while," Checking her tablet, she listed off several medical words that made little sense to me, but my ears perked up when she mentioned how long he would be housed at the hospital,".....he is going to be here at least two weeks, it could be less, but it ultimately depends on his healing, I will let you know which room he is in when he is out of recovery from surgery."
I nodded, tears stinging my eyes. "Thank you," I whispered, barely able to speak.
Kai came up beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "See? He's strong, Iris. They both are."
I sat back down beside Arwen, holding his hand as the doctor left the room. The worst of it was over, but I knew we had a long road ahead of us. Still, they were alive, and that was all that mattered.
"I told you, buddy," I whispered to Arwen, brushing his hair back again. "We're gonna be okay. All of us."
But inside, the fear lingered, gnawing at the edges of my relief. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.