Chapter 4: The Shock

Walking through the front door of my house there was no sign of anyone being home. No noise, no coat, no handbag, no one was there. Or at least that’s what it seemed like. I then walked up the stairs and into my bedroom. Dumped my bag in the usual place at the foot of my bed and headed towards my oak wood wardrobe. Looking through the sea of clothes hanging from the rail, I was looking for a pair of blue wash jeans and a baggy t shirt. When I found the clothes I was looking for, I pulled my school uniform off and put myself into the jeans and top. I then hung my uniform away and headed out of my bedroom door, down the stairs and towards the kitchen to get a snack.

As I was walking down the corridor, which led to the kitchen, living room and bathroom, I was surprised that Mum wasn’t home yet. She said that she would be home by four and now its five thirty. This was odd. Just as I walked past the living room door I took a quick glance into the room. I then stopped myself in my steps and took a step backwards to take another look. I thought I was just imagining it at first but then I walked into the room and looked over the sofa. I was completely frozen on the spot by what I saw. It was Mum. She was on the floor, not moving. A sharp chill of fright was sent down my spine making me run round the sofa to meet her on the floor.

“Mum, Mum!” I yelled, trying to stay calm but bursting into tears instead, “Mum, please wake up, Mum, Mum, please.” I shook her and shook her but she didn’t move so I ran to get the phone. Picked it up and dialled 999. It was ringing. Then someone answered.

“Emergency services, what’s your emergency?” said the woman on the other end of the line, sounding very calm unlike me.

“My, my Mum, she, she’s on the floor and she’s not moving,” I stuttered, trying not to panic, “please help me, what do I do? Please.” I could hear buttons being pressed on the other end of the line.

“Give me your address,” said the woman.

“Forty nine Penchurch Street,” I replied, pacing backwards and forwards, “please, what do I do?”

“The ambulance is on its way,” she responded, still sounding calm, “check if she’s breathing”

“Um… breathing,” I said, putting the phone down while I place my ear near to her nose to see if she was breathing, I then picked up the phone again, “just, she’s just breathing but it’s really weak.”

“Just make sure the paramedics can get to her OK,” said the woman, trying to keep me calm. Then the door knocked. I threw the phone and rushed to the door. Opened it to find the paramedics with all they’re equipment ready to use on my Mum. I showed them where she was and the two men gathered round her and got out all of this equipment, none of which I recognised. Oh my god, please say she’s going to be OK. Is she going to die? What’s wrong? Please, please be OK. These thoughts were the only thing I could think about. Seeing the paramedics on the floor resuscitating my Mum was making my state even worse.

“OK, let’s take her,” said one paramedic to the other, gesturing for him to help move her.

“Take her!” I yelled in complete shock, thinking that she was dead.

“Hey, stay calm OK, we’re taking her to the hospital,” said the paramedic, trying to keep me calm, “c’mon you can come in the ambulance.” So I watched as the paramedics lifted her onto a fold up medical table and followed them out of the house. They lifted the table into the ambulance and I worryingly climbed into the ambulance after them. Then one paramedic closed the doors while the other was tending to Mum. I heard the driver’s door close and then the engine started up. We were on our way to the hospital.