My Enemy and I

Chapter 18 part 1

I woke up the next day to my phone ringing frantically. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I saw it was Jenni. "Hello?" I mumbled, still half-asleep. All I heard was desperate sobbing.

"Ali, you need to come home right now!" Jenni choked out.

"What? Why?" my heart pounding.

"It's Tj... he got hit by a truck this morning!" My breath hitched in my throat, and hot tears sprang to my eyes.

"Okay," I said, my voice trembling. "I'm gonna tell my mom and be there in two hours or less."

"Okay, but hurry. The doctor said that he has a slight chance of making it, so please, Ali, please!"

"Okay, bye," I whispered, barely able to speak.

"Bye," Jenni's voice was raw with despair.

I hung up and ran into my mom's room. She was still asleep, a peaceful expression on her face. I shook her vigorously, and she jolted awake, looking at me, confused and alarmed. "Ali, babe, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft as she wiped a tear that had already slid down my cheek.

"We have to go home right now!" I blurted out, my words tumbling over each other.

"Why?" she asked, confusion etched across her face.

"Tj's in the hospital. He was hit by a truck!" I felt my throat burn, a wave of unshed tears threatening to overwhelm me.

"Oh my god, let's go!" She sprang out of bed and rushed downstairs. She was already halfway to the car when I remembered Ebonie and the guys. I quickly ran back and woke Ebonie, telling her what had happened. She looked distraught but insisted she'd be fine staying here. I nodded, my mind already elsewhere, and raced out to the car. My mom was driving like a maniac, breaking every speed limit. Once we got to the airport, we didn't even bother with luggage; we just boarded the next available flight.

We got back home in an hour and a half, the journey a blur of anxiety. My mom sped directly to the hospital. When we got there, Jenni, Nikki, and the boys were in the waiting room, their faces pale and strained. I walked over and engulfed Jenni and Nikki in a huge hug, holding them tight.

"What room is he in?" I asked, pulling back, my voice hoarse.

"146," Jenni whispered, her eyes red. I nodded. My mom sank into a chair next to Nikki, who immediately started consoling her. "Mom, are you coming?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "You go first, Ali. I need to just breathe for a moment."

I turned, my heart aching, and walked towards the room. When I got there, I pushed open the door. Tj was lying in the bed, looking utterly lifeless, surrounded by beeping machines. The sight made my stomach lurch, a cold dread washing over me. I walked over to him, sat down next to the bed, and gently took his hand. I looked at his still face and started talking to him, my voice barely a whisper. "Tj, please wake up. You're my brother, and I love you. You can't leave me, not yet. You haven't seen me in my prom dress, or got to see me walk down the aisle, or watch me give birth to your niece or nephew. Please, you still have thirty, maybe even forty years ahead of you. And you were right, like you always are, I might finally get my chance to be a famous singer." I rested my head on the bed, still clutching his hand, and felt a slight tug.

I looked up, my eyes wide, and saw Tj's eyes slowly opening. "I wouldn't wanna miss any of that stuff either," he said, his voice weak but clear. "And I love you too."

I smiled through my tears. "So, you heard what I said?"

He nodded slowly. "I always knew somewhere in there you would chase your dreams." Just then, my mom rushed in, her face streaked with tears.