As Tina walked in the house things were quiet and dark as the sun set. Bette didn’t seem to be home. “Finally she’s listening to me”, Tina said to no one but when she entered the bedroom she could see a silhouette of a person lying on the bed. “Jesus, Bette I asked you for one thing! Where’s the car?” Tina was almost shouting when she turned on the light. Bette had not moved or said a word. When Tina was able to get a better look she noticed the pallor of Bette’s skin. She looked ill. Tina’s heart sank as she took tentative steps toward the bed. When she got close enough she could see a bruise and cut on Bette’s forehead. It looked like Bette barely made it to the bed before passing out. She had blood on her collar and in her hair. “***** Bette what happened?” Tina asked to an unresponsive Bette.

“Bette?” Tina asked loudly. Tina could fell fear rising in her chest like a monster breaking through the surface of a still lake. It battle rational though. Tina reached out to Bette’s face and was alarmed to find her skin cool to the touch. “God, what’s going on?” she said out loud now panicking. She stood up looking for the phone then she realized she was still clutching her cell. With shaky hands she dialed 911.

“911. What your emergency”, asked the woman at the other end of the line.

“Hello, I need help. It’s my” Tina hesitated, “it’s Bette she doesn’t look good. I found her unconcious in the bedroom.”

“Ma’am, is there sign of a struggle?” asked the dispatcher.

“I don’t know. She has a bruise and a cut on her forehead but I don’t know how she got them. There’s blood but not a lot. Her skin is cool and looks pale. She hasn’t responded to me.”

“Ma’am, is your friend breathing?”

“Breathing?” Oh, God, she never thought. Tina looked at Bette’s chest but could see no movement, “GOD! I can’t see…her chest isn’t moving!” Tina was almost out of her mind.

“Ma’am, don’t panicked police and an EMT unit have already been dispatched to your location using the GPS on your cell phone. Now I want you to tell me if you can feel you friends breathe. Place you cheek close to her mouth and listen.”

Tina did as she was told, “I can feel her breathing but it’s shallow.” She told the woman with great relief. Just then she heard someone banging on the front. “BACK HERE! PLEASE HURRY!” she yelled at the front door. Two uniformed officers came into the house scanning their surroundings quickly. Once sure the area was clear they made way for the EMTs with Tina calling them to the bedroom.

When the filed into the room. Tina stepped back and watched the EMTs work. One of the officers guided her out of the way and asked what had happened. In the back ground she could here the EMTs working. “There are signs of head trauma, shallow breathing, steady heart beat” 

With great difficulty she tried to concentrate on what she was saying the questioning officer, “I came in and thought the house was empty but when I came in here I saw her like that. I was actually angry at first because she wasn’t supposed to be here,” Tina sobbed trying to stay calm for Bette’s sake. “Her skin was cold and pale. When she didn’t answer me I called 911. I noticed the bruise on her forehead but I don’t know how she got it.”

At the moment one of the EMTs spoke but continued to work, “I know where she got it. I was called to a scene of an accident this morning. Apparently Ms. Porter lost control of her car and slammed into a SUV at a red light. From the looks of it she hit her head on the window. I tried to get her to go to the hospital but she told us she was fine and refused.”

“She was in accident this morning”, Tina said out loud. Then Tina realized Bette didn’t loose control at all. After that meeting she shouldn’t have been allowed to drive. She was in no condition to be driving. “This is my fault”, Tina said crying. “I should have listened to her”, there was no more control as Tina’s shoulders began to shake.

“***** we have a fixed pupil. We gotta get her outta her now.”