December 26th,1992
St. Keller, Maine
5216 Violet Avenue
It's the day after Christmas. Presents have been exchanged, carols have been sung, and my Aunt Adele and cousin Alyssa have come to visit. We're sitting at the breakfast table when my mom says, "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom." She looks tired,and very pale. She's probably tired from the lack of alone time, and I dig into my breakfast of jelly biscuits. Moments later, I hear a cry from the bathroom, "Mother!" I wonder why Mom could possibly need Nana Edith, and I start to worry. "Aunt Adele, what's happening?" I ask. Then Nana screams, "Someone call 911!" Aunt Adele rushes to the phone, Lori goes to help Nana, the boys and Alyssa are crying, and I have to calm them down. "Alyssa,Nathaniel,Collin, you're okay. You need to stop crying so Adele can talk to the helpers."
As quick as you can say the word "help" an ambulance is here. But it's too small for anyone to ride in besides Mom and the paramedics. We don't own a car, and Aunt Adele's BMW only has seats for four. So I make a plan.
"Lori,Aunt Adele,Alyssa,and Nana Edith ride to the hospital in Aunt Adele's car. The rest of us will go with my friend,if his parents can take us." Nana Edith wants to disapprove, but this is her daughter's life on the line. She nods, and the four girls get in the car and drive off. I run to Toby's house. Amy opens the door and I say frantically, "My mom's in the hospital. I need to get there somehow. Can you take me and Collin and Nathaniel?" Amy nods, and calls for Cory to get ready as well. Toby has heard the yelling and panicking, and he comes downstairs. "Guys what's happeni-Athena are you okay? What are you doing here?" Amy explains the situation. "Well I'm coming with you." "Honey you should stay with your siblings." Amy says. "No Mom, she's my best friend and I'm coming with her."
We pile up into Amy's minivan: Cory and Amy in the front, Nathaniel and Collin in the middle, me and Toby in the back.
"Are you okay? You look really nervous." He says.
"I am nervous. She's my mom,Toby, my only mom."
"I know." He says, and grabs my hand. Thank God it's dark, or else he would see me blushing. I just close my eyes, wishing away the world.