Almost Enough

“Shayne, stop! Do you hear that?” Amanda dropped her hands from cupping her mouth, eyes wide as her ears picked up a voice all too familiar to her. Everyone stopped shouting, and looked around for where the sound came from. Each building loomed over them, the street eventually swallowed by darkness. The sound stopped, for a moment, before starting up again.

Far into the distance, a shrill screaming could be heard, before fading off and stopping. The friends froze, stunned as the raw panic of Angela’s scream rattled their bodies, and adrenaline spiked them instantly. Courtney was the first to speak, a loud gasp, but Amanda was the first to react. Amanda choked out the words that seemed to catch in her throat before straining out of her.

Her expression was tortured, her body was numb. “That’s Angela.” She gasped as the name left her lips, searching for Angela frantically, her eyes darting around, scanning every rooftop in sight. Chanse’s heart pounded as he followed Amanda’s gaze, closing them slightly, preparing himself for the sight.

Barely visible, was Angela. Her arms moved frantically in the air, her mouth open as she kept yelling for her friends, her family. They were not close enough to see the damage that had been done, but from their spot, her friends ran.

No one spoke, but the silent agreement between them hung heavy in the air. Do not stop until you reach Angela.

Shayne ignored the shooting pain radiating from his hands, Courtney felt Angela’s purse banging against her body as she ran, Amanda held Spork tight against her chest, but Chanse sprinted without stopping. He had nothing holding him back, he ran faster than everyone, his muscles aching as he put everything he had into reaching Angela. His calves burned the farther he went, his lungs begging for air.

“Chanse!” Amanda called out to him, wanting more than anything to be able to keep up with him, but her body was weak with grief, and she also didn’t want Spork to slam his little body over and over against her.

“She’s hurt!” Chanse called back. Angela was more visible now, hanging over the edge of the rooftop, clutching the side of her face, using her elbow to support her weight on the ledge. Even from where he stood he could tell something was very wrong.
~
“Chanse..” Angela mumbled, she was so happy to see him.

She swayed as the pain from her ankle and head was starting to get overwhelming, the rain washing the blood from the side of her face, blood from the split skin that she didn’t even notice was there. Bruised from where her head made contact on the concrete when she landed.

She felt herself stumbling forward, and she felt so dizzy all of a sudden. Maybe it was the lack of adrenaline, the alcohol, or the relief of just seeing a familiar face. She had been in and out of consciousness for a good thirty minutes, and right now she was fighting harder than ever to stay awake. She lifted both her hands up in the air, one last ounce of strength, she saw him lift his hands back up to her. She smiled, knowing she was safe, and her heart slowed down.

Fear crept up into her body, and she moved backwards. Angela knew she was going to black out again, and made sure to step away from the ledge. She tasted copper against her lips, her tongue reaching out to see where the metallic taste came from. She lifted her left hand up to her skin, feeling for the source, and looked down at her hand, now covered in blood, the sight too much for her to handle.

Angela blacked out once again.

~

“Hurry!” Chanse begged his friends, his eyes watering as he replayed Angela falling backwards over and over in his head. “We have to get up there now!” His voice was urgent and pleading, the muscles in his face and neck making a prominent appearance.

Chanse reached the front of the building, and anxiously waited for his friends to catch up, and after the longest three minutes of his life, they made it.

“The doors are locked.” Chanse grumbled, worry set deep in his face.

“It’s an old building, there has to be a fire escape somewhere!” Shayne yelled, the rain pouring heavier now, the sound thundering around them. They all locked eyes with the hole between the buildings and made their way towards the empty alley. Amanda was the first to enter, her eyes searching the building for a ladder they could use, before her eyes met the remains of it on the ground.

The rusted ladder shattered into pieces lay before her, and she picked up some of the pieces. She collapsed to her knees holding the metal in her hands, wondering how they were going to reach her now. Every second felt like Angela’s last, and she prayed that they weren’t too late.

“Shit. Is that the ladder?” Shayne walked up beside her, picking up a few bolts before tossing them back down to the ground.

“This was our only way up…” Amanda’s voice cracked, panic setting deep.

Chanse was irritated, and he paced around, his jaw flexing as he thought. “We don’t have time for this! She fell! She was bleeding! She needs us…”

“We’ll figure it out. We have to.” Courtney looked around, and picked up one of the metal rungs. Their fingers curled around the jagged piece, it was freezing, but her grip tightened. Everyone watched as Courtney left the alley, the piece dangling by her side. Courtney’s mind was going a mile a minute, their heart pounding in their chest.

To no one in particular, Courtney whispered, “We could always break it.” Her knuckles flexed, before she looked back. “We need to get inside, there has to be a staircase, and this..” she lifted up the rung, waving it, “...this is how we get to her.”

Amanda looked at her, immediately trusting Courtney. “Do it.”

They walked over to the front of the building, Shayne stepped forward, testing the handles on the door one more time, pulling with all of his might. He exhaled sharply, turning back to them. He looked deeply at Courtney, “We definitely don't have time for another idea, Courtney, are you sure about this?”

Amanda’s eyes snapped up to the top of the building. Angela was still up there, barely holding on to her life. Amanda was desperate. “She’s going to die up there.”

They all moved back behind Courtney, and Chanse took this moment to take the carrier off of Amanda’s shoulders, putting Spork around him. Amanda sighed as the pressure was allievited from her body. She placed a hand on her chest, and locked her eyes on the roof.

Courtney had sheer determination on their face, she swung the metal bar and the glass shattered. She dragged it across the door, pieces scattered below her, a few scraping her pale skin. Little pockets of blood started to form, the rain stinging the scratches.

As soon as the glass exploded and there was an opening big enough for them all to cross through, they went in. Shards rained onto the sidewalk, glittering in the light.

“Go! Go!” Courtney shouted, already stepping into the old building.

Amanda’s heart pounded, she swept her eyes around, it was dark, silent, abandoned.

The metal bar was tossed aside, and Courtney wiped a fresh trickle of blood from their arm.

Inside they were forced to steel themselves, walking over wreckage, leaping over broken concrete. The air was stale, and the pungent smell of mold assaulted their noses.

“Stairs,” Amanda panted as she scanned the room, “where the hell are the stairs in here?”

“There!” Shayne pointed down the long hallway that stretched in front of them, a rusted “EXIT” sign nailed above it.

They all raced down the hallway, their footsteps echoed as they burst through the doors that led to the stairwell, the metal slammed against the wall at the force of which Chanse opened it. Amanda grabbed the railing, “Come on!”

Every second dragged as they made their way up. Courtney, Amanda and Shayne followed, but Chanse stepped back to let Amanda take the lead. “How many flights does this damn building have?” She gasped, eyes looking up at the endless staircase.

So many flights, so little time.

The race against the clock was overwhelming, their breathing ragged as they pushed themselves harder.

Their legs ached as they made it to the top, Amanda reached for the metal door, her shoulder slammed so hard against it that it almost came off its rusted hinges. The door groaned as it swung wide open, spilling the four of them onto the rooftop. For a split second, everything seemed to stop.

Amanda’s eyes were wide, her body shook violently, “..Angela.”

Angela was on the ground, collapsed near the edge of the building, her body was half curled in a crescent moon, blood smeared on the concrete, her face was pale, but Amanda observed how her side moved up and down in shallow, uneven breaths. She rushed forward and she dropped down to her knees beside Angela.

Her hands hovered over Angela’s small body, unsure of where to touch. Scared she was going to hurt her, hesitant to see where to help. Chanse skidded next to her, his stomach twisted at the sight of Angela’s motionless frame.
Shayne and Courtney crouched down, and Courtney pressed two fingers against her neck. “She has a pulse but it’s faint.”

Amanda slid Angela up on her lap, and cradled her in her arms. The same position they were in hours ago. “Please, Ang, wake up.” She begged, but no response.

Amanda lifted Angela’s face, turning her head to the side, examining the wound that started to scab over. She swallowed hard, “This is bad. She must have fallen, or she hit something. Whatever it was, it was hard.”

Chanse stood up next to her, his hand placed on Amanda’s shoulder. “We have to get her out of here.”

Shayne and Courtney were silent but they nodded, they were not going to hesitate. They found her, now they have to save her.

~
Courtney helped Amanda up, they struggled as she clutched Angela close to her, but made it upright. Shayne was already on the phone with emergency services, his hand running through his hair, staining his blonde hair red.

Amanda cradled Angela, her weight unnervingly light as she carried her down the dimly lit stairwell. Her arms trembled as every step was conscious and sure, terrified of stumbling down with Angela in her grasp. “Stay with us honey.” Her head was lolling against Amanda’s shoulder, but she could feel the faint, uneven rise of her chest. But it wasn’t enough.

Courtney was at her side, her hands hovering anxiously around Amanda, ready to help if help was needed.

Shayne notified them that an ambulance was on the way, and they heard sirens going off in the distance. Chanse was leading the way, practically flying down the stairs, yanking the doors open, checking to make sure their path was clear. His hands were shaking.

Angela let out the most pitiful sound in the world, a small pained whimper escaped her lips.

Amanda swallowed the hope rising in her chest, “I know, baby, I know. I know it hurts, just hold on a little longer honey.”

The stairs felt endless, their frantic footsteps pounded as they fought to catch up with Chanse. Finally, the ground floor was in sight. Shayne picked up the pace, taking the door from Chanse’s hand, while Chanse ran outside to greet the ambulance. He held it open as Amanda passed through, Courtney right on her heels.

Flashing red and blue lights reflected throughout the hallway, and the sound of the ambulance screeched to a stop. Paramedics rushed into the building, voices surrounded them as Amanda met up with them. Gently, one of the paramedics lifted Angela out of her arms, and she hated to see her go.

For the first time all night, the four friends let themselves breathe.

~
One of the paramedics led Amanda out the door and towards the ambulance where Angela was being lifted into it by stretcher. Shayne and Courtney were led to the other ambulance, waiting to be stitched up. Chanse stood off to the side, waiting for answers.

“Are you guys together?” The paramedic asked, before ushering her into the vehicle.

“Yes, she’s my girlfriend.”

The man smiled softly, and took her hand. “We are going to take good care of her, ride with us to the hospital where she will receive help.”

Amanda shuddered before agreeing. Sitting down on the bench she watched as the two medics danced around each other, examining Angela. She watched as the female paramedic moved to Angela’s legs, lifting up Angela’s ankle. Amanda tried hard not to gasp at the sight of the broken bone, and she wished more than anything that this happened to her, wanting to take the pain away.

Angela groaned into her mask as the paramedic laid her ankle down. Amanda wished she could be there right by her head, whispering affirmations, wanting her to know that she will be okay.

The ride to the hospital felt so long, and her shoulder ached from slamming it into an old metal door. One of the medics noticed. “Is your shoulder bothering you?”

She nodded slightly, and he moved over and worked his fingers around her shoulder, she clenched her teeth, sucking in the air around her.

“It doesn’t feel broken, can you lift it?”

She did so, but it hurt.

“We’ll make sure to have someone check you out when we get there. Your other friends are going to need some stitches as well.”

“Did anyone see where Chanse went?”

“Who?”

“The man with a dog around his chest?”

“Oh yes, that was a cute dog. He’s following us, a police officer offered him a ride to the hospital.”

“Thank you.”

They made it to the hospital, the doors pulled open and they were greeted by a few nurses. The ambulance with Shayne and Courtney pulled up behind them. They lifted Angela out of the ambulance, and as she passed by she reached down and gave Angela one last kiss on the forehead.

“I love you.”

~
She watched as Angela was whisked away towards the O.R., and sat down in the waiting room. A nurse came by to check her shoulder, it wasn’t broken but it was sprained, and she was given a sling and some tylenol to alleviate the pain. Shayne and Courtney were receiving stitches, Shayne having to have the split skin around his knuckles sewn back together. Courtney only needed a couple of stitches above her elbow, and one slightly above her right eyebrow. The rest of the wounds were wiped away with a cloth.

Chanse arrived not long after, and he sat down next to Amanda. They didn’t know what to say to each other, so no one spoke. They waited to hear back about any news involving Angela. Courtney and Shayne joined them not long after, Shayne had his hands wrapped, and Courtney traced her fingers up and down his arms.

Courtney tried to attempt light conversation, but eventually quieted back down. An hour passed, and finally a doctor walked through the doors.

“Family of Angela Giarratana?”

“Here!” The four of them lifted out of their seats, anxious to hear what the doctor had to say. The doctor nodded towards them, and gently reassured them with a smile, “She’s doing great, but she’s going to be in a lot of pain for a while. We have her on some medication but the mental and emotional pain is something that I’ll need your help with. We had to stitch up the side of her head, and she is most definitely concussed. Her ankle was fractured and we set it in place, she’ll have to be in a cast for about six to eight weeks.”

The doctor stopped for a moment before finally saying what they were dying to hear, “Would you like me to take you to go see her?”

“Yes!” They all said at the same time, following the Doctor as she led them to Angela’s room.

The Doctor let them in, before exiting so they could have time with her.

The room was quiet except for the “beep..beep..beep..” of the monitors. The sterile smell of the hospital filled Amanda’s lungs, a dim light casted a glow over Angela, where she lay still, but alive.

They all sat in plastic chairs around her bed, exhaustion and grief etched the lines of their faces. They exchanged worried glances as they watched her, waiting.

Amanda was at the head of the bed, her fingers brushing through Angela’s hair, and she tried her best to ignore the uncomfortable sensation of sitting in damp, cold clothes. “She looks so small,” she murmured.

“Yeah,” Chanse agreed, his voice hoarse. “Is it bad for me to be relieved that it was only a concussion and a broken ankle?”

“No,” Shayne said, looking down at his bandaged hands. “I’d take a broken ankle and a hurt head more than a dead friend.” Courtney nodded next to him, her head on his shoulder. “When will she wake up?”

“I’m not sure.” Amanda responded, her heart twisted in doubt.

A silence settled over them, and fifteen minutes went by. A small tiny movement caught Amanda’s eye.

“Did you see that?” Her chair scraped against the floor as she stood up.

She leaned forward, hovering above Angela’s face. “Angela?”

Another twitch, a flicker of her eyelids. With a shaky breath Angela’s eyes fluttered open.

All the hearts in the room nearly stopped.

Angela let out the softest groan, her head shifting slightly on her pillow. Her brows were knitted together, as if moving pulled her through a thick fog of unconsciousness.

Courtney’s hand flew to their mouth, gasping. Shayne and Chanse let out breathy half-laughs.

“You scared the hell out of us!” Chanse moved up to the other side of the bed, his hands gripping the handles of the bed.

Angela opened her mouth slightly, closing and opening it a few times before she finally managed to say a few words. “..thank you..for finding..me.”

“Amanda bent down and pressed her head to Angela’s, careful to not brush her stitches. “I’ll always find you Angel.”

Chanse was unimpressed, but all in good fun. “Next time you fail an audition, don’t go out and get yourself killed, okay bitch?”

Everyone let out a small laugh.

“...fuck…off..”

Amanda enfolded Angela’s hands with her own, her thumb tracing small circles on the back of Angela’s hand. A beat passed, filled with unspoken promises, the weight of everything they almost lost.

“..i’m so sorry…Amanda. I..was such an…idiot..I don’t want..you to leave…me. And I don’t… want to leave..you..”

Amanda closed her eyes, “I’m not leaving. I’m sorry for walking out and not taking the time to talk everything out. I will never leave. Not now. Not ever.”

Angela tried her best to smile and looked over at the other friends. A nurse had come by not long before Angela woke up to turn the lights down, only leaving a small lamp lit up in the corner. Her eyes strained to see them, but she was grateful for the lack of big lights.

“You guys…mean so much..to me..I love..you..all..”

“We love you too.”

Amanda slowly climbed into bed with Angela, exhaustion winning. Chanse gave Angela a hug, before volunteering to run home and get everyone warm, dry clothes.

Amanda held Angela close to her, Shayne and Courtney close by, Courtney starting to drift off beside him. He remained still, contently watching the environment around him.

Amanda planted a small kiss on Angela’s hair. “I love you so much Angela.”

“I love you..too. I can’t wait..to go home.”

Amanda pulled Angela in tighter, holding her face. “As long as I’m with you, I’m home.”

Angela’s fingers curled around hers, anchoring them into the moment.

Home.

Not a place for them to stay,

But them, together.