Song^ I Won't Let Go by Rascal Flatts

Carol's P.O.V

I was so exhausted. I just wanted to go home and take a bath then go to bed. I felt tired and not just physically, but mentally. My mind was exhausted, including my body. It seems as though I never can get this exhaustion away from me.

On the way home, I thought about Terry. I thought about how she was lying to me. I knew she was lying, because I could tell. Ever since I was her teacher, I knew she was lying, even when nobody else knew, I did.

I wish she would just tell me the truth. Tell me what's on her mind, and stop this shit that she's doing. She was never like this until last week, and I don't understand what is going on.

I'm her wife, and we're supposed to tell each other what is bothering us. But, just like I am, if she doesn't want me interfering with her privacy, then I won't.

I sighed as I pulled into the driveway. I didn't see her car and I started wondering where she was. I got out and unlocked the door then walked inside. I went into the kitchen and laid everything down on the counter and that's when I noticed a piece of paper stuck to the fridge.

I pulled it off and read it; I went out. Be back later. Love you.

I sighed and threw the paper away then grabbed some food from the fridge. I've been craving just about everything and it's driving me insane. This baby wants to eat everything and anything, but sometimes my body won't allow it.

I sat down at the table and started eating. I didn't eat much, but at least I ate a little. Sometimes I can eat a lot, then other times I only eat a little.

I placed my plate in the sink and walked out of the kitchen and walked to the living room. I decided to watch TV to ease my mind from all this hectic shit that's been going on, but even though my mind is occupied with television, my heart aches from the absence of Terry.

I try not to get my emotions fired up, even though I hate these damn mood swings, but I can't help but think about all the fights she and I have had in the past week. It hurts, and I hate it more than anything.

I love that she has another friend, and I love seeing her happy and hanging out with her, but Terry is hiding something from me and I don't like it one bit. I don't think Terry would cheat, because I know her too well. My gut doesn't exactly believe it, but something else seems to be off and I don't know what.

As my mind wanders, I hear my phone ring in the kitchen and I get up to go answer it. I see a number that I do not recognize, but I answer it anyway.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Aird?" it was a male voice.

"Yes?" I didn't know who it was.

"It's Billy Young. From your art class in seventeen,"

"Oh, hi Billy. How did you get my number?" I asked.

"That's not important. You need to come to the hospital right now," he sounded out of breath.

"What for?" I questioned.

"Terry has been shot,"

Those very words sent my mind swirling and my heart aching. I couldn't breathe and I stumbled backwards and caught onto the counter. I felt my heart race but I didn't give it much time as I grabbed my keys and ran out the door.

I was a fucking mess as I was driving to the hospital. I couldn't think straight, and I couldn't hardly see from the tears in my eyes blurring my vision. I wiped my eyes and tried to concentrate on the road, but nothing helped.

The only thing my mind was concentrating on was Terry.

I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to wreck. I tried to hold it in, but I couldn't. I let the tears fall and my heart ached even more. As my vision was blurry, I prayed.

"Please Lord, please let Terry be ok, please!" I cried out. I was gasping for air as I was driving and trying to see.

I finally made it to the hospital and I rushed inside. I asked the lady at the desk where Therese Aird was, and she told me that she wasn't allowed any visitors, but the waiting room was down the hall and to the left.

I followed her orders and came to a waiting room where I saw Billy. He looked up as I entered and he quickly got to his feet and pulled me into a hug. "Mrs. Aird," he said once we pulled back.

I shook my head, "Call me Carol,"

He nodded and we both sat down. I looked at him as he seemed to be shaking and I rubbed his back as he looked at me. He took a deep breath and I heard his voice shake, "I don't know w-what happened," he hung his head down.

"Just tell me what you know," my heart was still pounding from the answers that I needed so badly.

He took a deep breath again, "I was visiting my brother here, and he lives in an area where there are a lot of neighbours and of course I've been there before, and I know, not personally, but almost every neighbour around," he paused and took another breath. "I was leaving my brother's house when I heard a gunshot. I froze and looked around but didn't see anything. I walked through some yards to look around more and I saw this vehicle leaving a house, so I figured I should go to investigate. Mind you, I was scared so damn bad, but I was alerted as I approached the house. I didn't knock as I slowly walked inside and that's when I saw a body laying on the floor covered in blood," he tightened his fist as he paused. "I rushed over and saw that it was Terry, and I completely froze, like nothing was working in my body. I checked her pulse and it was slow but she was breathing so I called my brother and told him to call the police and to bring his car over," he shook his head. "I wouldn't call the ambulance because they're slow as hell and my brother drives like bat shit crazy anyways, so I figured he would be the best," he wiped his eyes. "I held onto the spot where she got shot at but the blood wouldn't stop. As soon as my brother arrived, I got in the backseat with her in my lap and I was trying to keep her conscience by talking to her, but the blood would not stop," his voice cracked. "She wasn't responding to me and I was panicking and telling my brother to drive faster," he looked up at me with tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Aird. If she dies, I'm so sorry,"

I felt tears stroll down my face as I pulled him into a hug. He broke down crying and I heard my own voice break, "She's not going to die. She's going to make it,"

I believed that Terry was going to be alright.

After we pulled back, I asked Billy if he contacted anybody else. When he shook his head, I knew that we would have to get ahold of Richard and Stephanie, Phyllis and Gregory. The thought of calling them and telling them is what is going to break me down.

I asked Billy if he would call them for me from my phone. He didn't question why as he agreed. I watched him walk out of the room as I sat there with every possible thought running through my head.

*

Billy and I waited for around an hour for them to show up. After he came back, he said that they were on their way and when I asked how they acted, he said that he would rather not talk about it.

Sure enough, they were freaking out.

As the time keeps ticking away, I'm growing more and more impatient. But not because nobody has come yet, but the fact that not one doctor or nurse came in to tell us anything that was going on. It was like, nobody cared and I was getting beyond pissed.

I want to know how my damn wife is doing.

They don't want to see a pregnant woman cause a scene, because sure enough, I can cause a damn scene.

I heard the door shut and I looked up to see Richard, Stephanie, Phyllis and Gregory all walk in at the same time. Phyllis rushed to me as I stood up and brought her into a hug. She started crying on my shoulder and I rubbed her back to calm her down. When we pulled back, she stared at me, "How is she?"

I sighed, "I don't know. Nobody has come in and told us anything," she nodded and I shook Gregory's hand as he came to me.

I looked over at Richard as he came towards me and hugged me. We pulled back and I saw tears in his eyes, "It doesn't seem real," he shook his head and wiped his eyes. "God, I hope she's ok,"

I nodded, "Me too," I wiped my own eyes as tears started falling. Stephanie came to me and I hugged her as well.

After we pulled back Richard looked at me, "Did you call Genevieve?" he stared at me as I forgot about her.

I shook my head, "Do you have her number?" I surely didn't.

"I can go look it up," he excused himself and walked out.

We all started talking as we sat there patiently waiting on something, anything to let us know what the hell was going on.

It felt like hours passed when Richard came back in and told us that he contacted her and she was on her way. He sat down and I could tell he was a mess. I looked him over and noticed that his face was a little bruised.

"Richard?" he looked over at me. "What happened to you?" I questioned as I stared at him.

He sighed, "It's a long story, but I'll tell you later, ok?" I nodded and didn't push any further.

After a while, the door opened and Genevieve and another girl walked in. She looked directly at me and I stood up as she approached me. "I got here as fast as I can," I nodded. "How is she?"

I shook my head, "We don't know yet. Still waiting," she nodded and introduced me to her girlfriend. We all sat back down and talked for a while, feeling the same anticipation.

The door swung open and a man in a white coat walked in. He looked down at his clipboard, "Aird?" We all stood up and he looked at us. "Who is the closest relationship towards Mrs. Aird?"

Phyllis and I exchanged looks and she motioned for me to go. I walked to him and he stared at me, "I'm her wife," he nodded and looked down at his clipboard.

He looked back up, "Do you mind walking in the hall with me?" I nodded and followed him out the door. I leaned against the wall as he was standing in front of me. "Mrs. Aird came in with about an inch of a hole through the left side of her chest. The man who brought her in said she was shot. We took her into surgery to search for any damage and.." he paused and looked at me.

"What?" I could feel my heart pounding in my ears.

"The bullet that went through her chest, came about an inch away from her heart. Due to the broken tissue and blood vessels, she has lost a lot of blood," he stared at me. He paused for a moment and looked down, "Unfortunately," he looked back up.

"We couldn't save her,"

It was like someone had knocked the air right out of my lungs and I couldn't breathe. I felt like my body was crumbling right from under my feet and I was slowly starting to fall backwards as I heard nothing but a ringing in my ears.

I grabbed a hold of the wall for support and the doctor grabbed ahold of my arm and was saying something to me. I saw his mouth moving, but I couldn't hear what he was saying.

The ringing in my ear was deafening and all I heard was silence after a while. My heart was pounding but I couldn't hear it. I couldn't hear anything.

Silence.

I finally pushed the doctor out of my way and I walked back into the room filled with people who yet to know what was happening. They all looked at me but I couldn't hear what they were saying.

I fell to my knees and cried.

All the pain and emotions were running out of me like a waterfall. It felt like I was gasping for air. I couldn't breathe. I felt someone try to pick me up but I pushed them off as I sat there on my knees, crying my damn heart out.

Please let it be a dream. Please!

I finally started hearing voices and they were all talking at once. I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't think right. Everyone needed to shut up.

I took a deep breath of air, "She didn't make it," I cried out. I broke down crying once again as I buried my face in my hands. I sat there for the longest time, crying my eyes out.

Is this real? Am I dreaming?

I felt a pull on my arm and I was instantly pulled into arms as I heard them cry also. I held on tight and cried. I didn't know that pain could feel like this but surely it was breaking me into a million pieces.

When I looked at everyone, it broke my heart to see this and to feel this much pain that I have never felt before. I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't know anything.

All I knew was that Terry was gone.

She's gone.