transitioning | ch. 58

Instructions

emerson pov content warning for mentions of minor injuries + blood and fainting text below I get off the bus on Friday after school, absolutely exhausted. This week had been rough. But finally making up with Tristan was definitely a highlight. I really did miss him so much. What’s going on with him and Kaden, though… I notice Mom’s car in the driveway as I head down the sidewalk, which catches my attention because she’d usually still be at work right now. Maybe she got out of her shift early and came home to rest– and to see me!! I open the front door to complete silence. Mom’s probably asleep in her room– that would make sense. I set my things down by the front door, then head towards the kitchen to get a snack. The shattered coffee mug on the ground is the thing I see first. And then I see my mom on the floor, unmoving and arm twisted unnaturally. I nearly scream, dropping to my knees at her side. I barely notice the shards on the ground cutting into my skin as my hands frantically search to find her heartbeat– my own heartbeat is pounding in my ears so loudly that it feels hard to breathe. Good news: she’s breathing just fine. The bad news? She’s completely unresponsive. My hands are shaking terribly as I reach into my pocket for my phone. I can’t think. I’m panicking. Why is my mom passed out on the floor when she’s supposed to be at work?? What do I do?? Who do I call?? I scroll hopelessly through my contacts, hastily clicking on Quinn’s name and hitting ‘call.’ The line rings for several, agonizing moments before I hear Quinn’s voice. “Oh, hey, Em!” They greet. “What’s-” “M-my mom,” I gasp into the phone, struggling to get air in properly. “She– she’s on the floor– I-i don’t–” “She what? Emerson, is she breathing?” “Yes–” I choke out, huddling against the cabinet behind me. “But she won’t move– she’s not.. She’s not moving!!” I cry, tears blurring my vision. I hear a series of noises on Quinn’s end, then silence. A few moments later, Quinn says, “Don’t worry, we’re coming to get you, okay? Just hang in there. Remember to breathe.” The next few passing minutes feel like excruciatingly long hours. I just sit there on the floor aimlessly, holding my mom’s hand and trying not to hyperventilate. Thankfully, I hear the door code being punched in and Quinn and their mom hurry inside. Stacie goes to Mom first– Quinn comes to me. “Are you okay?” Xe asks. “What happened to your knees?” I look down. That’s a lot more blood than I remember being there. I feel dizzy. Quinn grabs paper towels from the counter and gently dabs at the wounds. It should hurt more than it does, but the pain barely registers to me as I look at Mom. “She- she needs help…” I beg, tugging on Quinn’s sleeve. Stacie gently places her hands on my shoulders. “Just breathe, Emerson. We will get her help. Let’s get her to the hospital, okay?”