Their Real Daughter Paralyzed Me. They Let Me Die.

Chapter 4

Kelly turned and ran.

I called the front desk. "Someone is threatening to jump from the old boardwalk. Alert the rescue team now."

Neil came from the room next door moments later.

"I'm going to bring her back."

"The rescue team is already on its way."

"They won't get there in time."

He grabbed a raincoat.

I wheeled myself into the doorway.

"Neil, if you walk out that door today, we're through."

His hand tightened on the doorknob. He looked back at me, finally frightened.

"Alma, don't make me choose now."

"I'm not making you do anything."

I raised my chin. My voice trembled, but I made each word clear.

"Last night, you said you'd always stay with me."

He was silent for a moment, then looked away.

"We'll talk when I get back."

The door shut in my face.

Mom and Dad hurried after him. On their way out, they told me, "Be good and stay put."

They hadn't noticed the other guests evacuating the entire floor.

The downpour had caused a flash flood. The hotel announcement sent everyone to higher ground east of the building.

Staff went room to room. When they found me alone in my wheelchair, they called for help to carry me downstairs.

"Where's your family?"

"At the old boardwalk."

The stairwell was crowded with guests.

Water was already flooding into the lobby, and my wheelchair couldn't get through. I asked the staff to take the elderly guests and children first.

As we reached the third floor, a dull boom came from the outer wall. Muddy water burst through the glass, throwing the connecting walkway into chaos.

One of the people carrying my wheelchair lost his footing. The chair tipped backward.

I clung to the armrests as my back slammed into the wall.

"Take the east walkway!" someone shouted.

My wheelchair jammed in a twisted doorframe. They couldn't pull it free.

My phone rang. It was Neil.

"Where are you?"

"On the hotel's third floor. We're evacuating."

"Aren't you in your room?"

I heard Rita crying in the background.

His voice softened at once. "It's okay. I've got you."

Only after several seconds did he speak to me again.

"Alma, stay with the staff. I'll get her somewhere safe and come find you soon."

The moment he said "soon", I stopped feeling the pain.

Something snapped beneath the walkway.

Staff urged the crowd onward. I looked at the woman ahead of us holding a child and let go of my wheelchair.

"Leave me here. Go on."

"We can't!"

"The chair won't fit. If you stay with me, none of you will get out."

I pulled out the application to reopen the crash investigation from my bag and pressed it into a staff member's hand.

"If I don't make it, give this to the police."

Once the staff had no choice but to leave, I used the wall to lower myself to the floor and dragged my numb legs toward the exit.

Rainwater poured into the corridor. My phone rang again.

This time it was Mom.

"Alma, have you seen the spare medication in your bag? Rita can barely breathe."

I stopped in the rain. A laugh escaped me, followed by tears.

"Mom, do you remember which medications I'm allergic to?"

"This isn't the time for that!"

"Then do you remember the day we buried my child?"

Silence fell on the other end.

"Alma, stop this. Just tell me where the medication is!"

The walkway shook again. The call cut off.

I crawled toward the exit and saw my family on the higher ground across from me.

Dad held an umbrella. Kelly carried a blanket. Mom had Rita in her arms.

Neil knelt beside Rita, giving her first aid.

He looked up and saw me. His face drained of color.

"Alma!"

He started toward me.

But Rita cried out behind him and collapsed.

Neil stopped.

He hesitated for only a few seconds before turning back to catch her.

The walkway beneath me gave way with a roar. Muddy water swept my wheelchair and me down the slope.

By the time Neil turned around, there was no one at the exit.

He rushed to the broken edge and called my phone again and again.

On the 57th call, someone answered.

"Thank God, Alma. You're okay!" His voice shook. "Where are you? I'll come get you."