A soft beeping noise echoed faintly in my ears, pulling me out of the suffocating darkness. My eyelids fluttered, heavy and stubborn, but I forced them open, blinking against the bright overhead light. The sterile smell hit me first, sharp and overwhelming, and then the faint vibrations beneath me told me I was moving.
"She's waking up," a calm voice said.
I turned my head sluggishly, the effort monumental, and saw a paramedic leaning over me, her face kind but focused. Another paramedic sat at the foot of the stretcher, adjusting something on a monitor. Panic surged through me as the events before I blacked out rushed back in vivid flashes.
"Where…" My voice cracked, barely audible, my throat dry. "Where am I?"
"You're in an ambulance," the first paramedic said soothingly. "You fainted. We're taking you to the hospital to make sure you're okay."
"No!" The word burst out of me, weak but frantic. I tried to sit up, but my limbs felt like lead. "No hospital! Stop the ambulance!"
"Ma'am, please lie back," the second paramedic interjected, his tone calm but firm. "You need medical attention. Your blood pressure is low, and you could-"
"I said stop!" I cut him off, my voice trembling but resolute. "I can't… I have to go somewhere. Right now."
"Ma'am, I understand you're upset," the first paramedic tried again, her voice gentler now. "But we need to get you checked out first. You're not in a condition to-"
"I don't care!" I snapped, tears burning the corners of my eyes. "Please, just stop the ambulance!"
The paramedics exchanged a glance, their hesitation evident. The first one spoke again, softer this time. "Are you sure? Leaving without being seen by a doctor could be dangerous."
"I'm sure," I insisted, the desperation in my voice leaving no room for argument. "Please, just let me out. I have to…" My voice broke, but I pressed on. "I have to go to the station. I need to see my dad."
After a moment of tense silence, the ambulance began to slow, the driver clearly relenting. The paramedic nearest to me sighed and nodded.
"Alright," she said, though her voice carried a hint of reluctance. "We'll let you go, but you need to take it easy, and if anything feels wrong, promise you'll seek help immediately."
I nodded, my hands already fumbling to remove the oxygen mask. Relief and dread warred within me as the ambulance came to a halt, and the back doors opened.
The ambulance slowed to a stop, its sirens silencing as the paramedics reluctantly pulled over at my adamant cries.
The door swung open, and I stumbled out before they could try to stop me again, my legs trembling beneath me as though the ground itself was shifting.
"Miss, you need to rest! You're not well!" one of the paramedics called after me, but I ignored them, clutching my pounding head and stumbling onto the shoulder of the highway.
The harsh wind whipped at my face, carrying the sounds of distant cars speeding by. My vision blurred, my chest tightening with every step I took, but I refused to stop.
"Dad… Dad… I need to see dad." I muttered staggering to the side. It was the only that occupied my mind, my desperation clawing at my chest.
I shot my arm out to incoming vehicles, my eyes darting around. Eventually a taxi stopped and I immediately rushed to it, my breathing haggard and vision tilting dangerously.
"Where to Miss? The driver asked, lowering the transparent glass.
"Take me…" I gasped, gripping the side of the cab to steady myself. "Take me to Westbridge police station. Now!"
"Uh, sure, but—"
"Please!" I cut him off, my voice breaking as I fought back tears. "I need to go now!"
The driver hesitated only briefly before nodding and helping me into the backseat. I collapsed against the seat, clutching my chest as the cab sped off, leaving the ambulance behind, its red and white lights fading into the distance.
My mind spun as chaotic thoughts raced through me. How had my once-perfect life crumbled into this nightmare? My father, the kindest man I had ever known, was now accused of being a criminal mastermind, and Ethan… Ethan had never loved me.
The familiar ache In my chest grew unbearable, each second worse than the last. I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears burning at the edges of my vision. Everything was a lie. The man I had married despised me, and now my father was locked away.
The cab screeched to a halt outside the police station. My heart pounded as I stumbled out, my legs shaky but driven. Blood roared in my ears as I stared at the building where my father was being detained.
"Hey, miss!" the cab driver called out, breaking my daze. "You haven't paid!"
The realization struck like a slap—I had nothing with me. No wallet, no phone. I had fled the ambulance with nothing but the clothes on my back. Panic prickled at the edges of my mind as I frantically patted down my body, hoping for something, anything.
Then my fingers brushed against the small diamonds on my earlobes. My favorite earrings—the ones Ethan had given me on our third date.
A hollow ache settled deep in my chest as my lungs constricted painfully. The earrings had meant so much to me, but now they felt like a cruel reminder of the lies I had built my life around.
With trembling hands, I unclasped them, the tiny metal hooks biting into my fingers. I clenched them tightly for a moment, a final goodbye to something I had once treasured, before slamming them into the cab driver's palm.
"Here," I muttered, my voice breaking.
I didn't wait to see his reaction. I turned and stormed toward the heavy glass doors of the station, shoving them open with all the strength I could muster.
I pushed open heavy doors of the police station, my steps unsteady as I entered.
The fluorescent lights above cast a harsh glow on the sterile gray walls, amplifying my sense of dread.
The faint hum of conversations, phones ringing, and the occasional clink of handcuffs filled the air, but to me, it was muffled, like I was underwater.
I hesitated, my legs trembling as I approached the front desk. My pulse hammered in my ears, drowning out the sounds around me.
I pressed my palm flat against the cold counter for support, my other hand clutching the edge tightly.
The officer looked up, his neutral expression flickered into something of a surprise like he knew who I was which was a little expected. "Can I help you?"
"My…" My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard. "My father. I need to see my father, Richard Montgomery."
The officer's brows furrowed slightly, his gaze flicking to the computer screen as he began typing. "Richard Montgomery?" he repeated, his tone professional but detached.
"Yes, please," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I shifted on my feet, my vision blurring for a moment as the weight of exhaustion and panic pressed down on her.
The officer paused, his expression tightening as he looked back up at her. "I'm sorry, but visitation is restricted. You're not permitted to see him."