I end the call, looking at her. "Stay awake."
She's breathing, but her eyes are closed. I don't know who she is, I've never seen this woman before in my life. She has no bags next to her, only a purse around her shoulders. She's definitely not wearing hiking clothes. She's in a small sundress, sandals on her feet. Lost one of them. The strap on her dress is broken. She has the beginnings of a bruise on her wrist.
I can't stop staring at her, terrified something terrible is going to happen. That she won't wake up. I cup her cheeks with my hands, scared. I've seen too much already. I can't see more.
"It's all right," I say, "I'm here. The ambulance is on its way. You're going to be all right."
It's not until I hear the sirens that I can exhale. A stretcher comes down the mountain. There's nothing I can say. I don't know who she is or where she comes from, but you can bet like hell I climb in the back of that ambulance.
I know one of the EMTs, Grant – we went to school together. Hell, I swear I know everyone who works in this town. And right now I've never been more grateful.
"Jake! You're home."
"Just got home a few days ago," I tell him.
"Damn," he says, "it's been a long time. Are you and her together?"
"No," I say. "I've never seen her before. I was out hiking, and she was calling for help."
"Damn." He shakes his head. "Thank God you were there."
The ambulance whirls down the mountain toward the urgent care – Home Sick, the only clinic in the heart of town. When she's carried in through the doors, I'm on her heels. A nurse stops me. It's a girl, Tori, that I know from grade school.
"Hey, Jake,” she says. "I'm sorry, but you really can't go back there."
"All right," I say, nodding, running a hand over my jaw. "I understand. But will you... I'll just, I'll just be waiting, all right? I need to know she's all right. I need to know she's okay." I realize I'm shaking, tears are in my eyes.
Tori looks at me, worried. "Okay, Jake, of course. I'll let you know right as soon as I know anything, all right? It's going to be okay."
"Yeah, well," I say, "I'm not so sure."
She walks away with a worried look in her eye, and I call my mom not knowing what else to do.
"Jake?" she asks. "Is everything all right?"
"No," I say. I relay what's happened in the woods. She gasps.
"Do you want to come out to the parade? I know it's an awkward thing, but you're probably all shook up. Do you want me to come there? What do you need, honey? Just let me know."
"I'm fine, I think. I mean, I'm glad she's here at the hospital."
"The girl you found?"
"Yeah," I say. "She only had a purse with her. She lost one of her sandals. She looks like she's been in trouble."
"Jake," Mom says, "it's not your job to save her. If you got her to the hospital, that's what matters."
"No," I say, "I'm not leaving her. Not until she wakes up. Not until I know something."
"I'm worried about you, Jake," Mom says. "You've just been through so much the last few months. I don't want you to..."
"No," I say. "Mom, I was there for a reason today. I found this girl for a reason. And I'm not leaving until I see this through."
4
FAIT
After the doctor examines me head to toe and bandages my head, he lets me know that I don't have a concussion. "It's just a gnarly cut, but you'll be okay," he says, offering me a smile.
He's an older man with pepper-gray hair and a warm smile. And I feel my shoulders relax in his presence. Is it crazy to say that I feel safer here in a hospital room than I ever did at my father's house? I blink back the tears.
"Do you want to talk to me about what led you to being on the side of the road like that?" he asks. He pulls up a chair and sits down, a clipboard in hand. "I can call the social worker in if you'd rather."
"It's okay," I say. I shake my head, pressing a hand to the bandage that circles my hair. "I am really glad I didn't break any bones." I smile wryly. "I honestly don't know what I would do if I couldn't walk out of here on my own."
"And why is that?" the doctor asks.
"Mostly because I don't have anybody to help me, so," I swallow. "I kind of need to be able to stand on my own two feet."
"Is that how you ended up in the woods?" he asks.
I bite my bottom lip. My fingers run over the crisp white bedsheet. I sink deeper into the pillow, grateful for the comfort, even if it's a small one. "My dad isn't a very good guy. He owed this guy, Jesse, a bunch of money, so in exchange for his debt, he gave him me."