Mellisa's Loss

"What are you cops doing here? Are my parents in trouble?" Melissa Chavez asked.

The skinny young officer answered stoically. "Your parents were on I-25 just south of Isleta Pueblo. They were in a collision. Your father is in surgery. We'll take you to Presbyterian the doctors can tell you the rest."

There was something that these cops weren't telling her. "What about mom? Is she okay?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you that. She's in critical condition you can ask the doctors when we get up there," said the older plumper one.

The entire way up she prayed to St. Joseph that her mom and step dad would be okay. Sure Kim, wasn't blood but he'd treated her better than her sexually abusive bio-dad. If mom and Kim died...

No! She shouldn't put that out there. God wouldn't make her an orphan. The padre always banged on about how God is good. Surely St. Joseph would tell Him to save her parents.

Mellisa sat wordlessly in the Hospital waiting room. Finally, a doctor with still wearing a scrub cap came out of the double doors.

The two officers flanking her stood up in unison and approached the man. She had to walk at a brisk pace to keep up. "Whats happening to my mom and dad?!" She yelled as she walked up.

The doctor blinked at her a few times, refocusing. "You must be, the Chavez's daughter," he said. "I have some good news and some bad. Your dad is stable he should be home in a day or two. Your mother—"

"Is she alive?!"

"I'm so sorry, we really really tried hard; there was just too much damage. She's on life support but there's not any brain waves."

"But she'll get better right?"

"Honestly we're just buying time for your family to say goodbye. Again, I'm sorry."

Boiling tears gushed down Melissa's cheeks. If the cops hadn't grabbed her by the arms, she would've bolted right out of that hospital.

"Melissa," the older officer said. "Hey, hey! Take some deep breaths for me."

She had no idea what would happen if she didn't cooperate so she swallowed a few times and let the air rush in and out of her nose. Her heartbeat slowed and the cops relaxed their grip.

"You gonna be okay?"

"I guess."

"You have our condolences too. Want us to wait here with you until your dad comes out?"

"No"

"Well I'm sorry miss. Since you're a minor I'm going to have Officer Ortega