Prodigal Catharsis

Chapter Four

***Rachel***

I spun around and saw Peter and Cody still sitting there in fear like their lives were in danger.

I couldn't get the words out, I wanted to cuss at them, but I also wanted to comfort them. Instead, I turned and walked to the principal's office, where I would give my testimony as to what happened. I hoped like hell that they would send Tommy to jail for aggravated assault. He is eighteen and of legal age to be tried as an adult.

In the principal's office, I saw Tommy handcuffed to the chair, and that was the first time I ever smiled at the sight of my brother. Not because I wanted to see him, because I knew Karma was finally about to bite him in the ass.

I was instructed to take a seat in the guidance counselor's office, where I was inverviewed by a couple of police officers. I told them everything from when I sat down with Jeff and his friends until Tommy struck me just before security tackled him down. However, I did not tell them about my promise to Jeff, and I was free to go.

As I began to make my way to third period, Advanced Art, I passed up Tommy, who was still handcuffed to the chair. His maniacal grin told me that he would be coming for me once he gained an opportunity. That made me swallow the lump that had formed in my throat.

All through the third and fourth periods, all I ould think about was if Jeff was okay. He never left my mind, and after school, I called my Dad to inform him that I was on my way to the hospital to visit my friend.

"Okay, be careful," he said.

This was the first time he ever didn't scold me for doing something on my own, which made me feel a sense of comfort.

Mom had let me borrow her car this morning since she had a day off from work.

When I arrived at Saint Memorial Emergency Room, I approached the front desk.

"Which room is Jeffrey McHale in?" I started, "I'm here to visit him."

"Are you a relative?"

"Yes, I'm his girlfriend," I lied.

She gave me a rather slightly astonished look that I could ever be his girlfriend. I knew I appeared to be above his "league," but that didn't matter to me. In my mind, Jeff is an amazing person, full of love and compassion, at least toward me. Those characteristics put him above any hot guy in the entire world.

"Trauma center, room 137," she answered.

"Thank you, ma'am," I responded while making my way down the brightly lit corridor.

Next to the doors, the rooms were numbered odd on the left and even on the right. In my head, I counted 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, and then I was standing outside of the closed door of room 137. I swallowed hard against the lump that had once again formed in my throat, fought back the tears that wanted to fall, and then turned the door handle down to enter the room.

When I turned to close the door, " heard a voice say, "Who are you?"

Off my guard, I turned quickly to an older woman standing not more than a couple of feet away from me.

"Hello, my name is Rachel Richards," I started, "I'm here to check on Jeff, if i may."

There was an older man in them room with her, and my mind put it together that these must be his adopted parents that I had heard about from before.

"How did you know that Jeff was here at the emergency room?" he asked.

"The paramedic that took him on the stretcher told me," and the story began.

When I finished telling them what happened, they looked at each other in disbelief as if they never expected Jeff to do the right thing.

"Well," the man started, "allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gregory Harden, and this is my wife, Jessica. We are Jeff's adopted parents."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir, and ma'am," I respectfully responded with an extended hand. They both shook my hand in mutual respect.

"May I ask for a moment alone with Jeff, please?"

They hesitated at first but then agreed to leave the room for a couple of minutes.

"Thank you, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable," I assured them.

"It's alright, take your time," Mr. Harden responded as he closed the door behind him.

I sat down in the chair next to Jeff's bed. Even though he was still unconscious, I spoke to him, hoping he would wake up.

"Hey, slugger," I joked, "I don't know if you can hear me, but I want to thank you for what you did for me. Yoou have no idea how long I've waited for someone to put Tommy in his place. My Dad has never done it, but I think that's because my Mom wont let him. I'm going to try to be here when you wake up because I want to see you smile at me. You have the most heart-warming smile I've ever seen." Then I lean over and gently kiss his lips.