The Accident

"Daphne!" Hana screamed into the phone immediately Daphne answered the call.

"Yoo! What's up?" Daphne gave a lazy laugh.

"Mom had an accident, she's in the ICU," Hana said quite calmly though she didn't feel calm at all.

At this point she no longer had a sister.

"What do you mean?" A crash was heard on Daphne's end of the call.

Hana shook her head, tears streaming down her eyes.

"You had just one job, to watch Mom knowing her condition and yet you chose to go get drunk," Hana's voice broke on the last word as she choked on a sob.

"What happened? I am not drunk," Daphne stuttered.

"She's at the hospital and I called you because Uncle Joshua asked me to but you're probably too busy with your friends to make time for your sick Mother," Hana said.

Uncle Joshua?

"Why would he–" Daphne started but the tone signalling the end of the call stopped her words as Hana hung up.

Immediately she grabbed her backpack and dashed out of the building ignoring the call of her friends.

She ran to the bus stop as the last of the buses for the night left the bus terminal.

"This is bad," Daphne exclaimed, struggling with tears.

She walked out of the terminal to the highway hoping to flag down a taxi that'd take her to the hospital.

She dialed Hana's number but it didn't go through.

Daphne began to pant heavily as cars zoomed by her, even taxis without stopping.

How will I get to the hospital in time?

She thought as fresh tears fell from her eyes.

I shouldn't have left Mom alone

Just then a taxi slowed to a stop in front of her.

"Are you going?" The taxi driver asked her.

Daphne nodded rapidly and got in.

She couldn't stay still so she tapped her feet repeatedly to the floor of the car as it sped down the highway.

It was only for a few hours, how could she have gotten in an accident?

None of it made sense to Daphne.

"Where's your stop?" The driver asked calmly.

"Malcolm Hospital," Daphne said through clenched teeth. Her words seemed forced to the driver because it earned her a worried glance from him but it was the only way she could talk without her teeth chattering.

As soon as she saw the billboard that bore the logo of the hospital, she fished out crumpled bills from her back pocket and handed it to him immediately he pulled up in front of the massive building.

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IN THE HOSPITAL...

"Hana, where is Daphne?" Doctor Joshua asked.

"I already called her, she must be on her way by now," Hana's displeasure with her sister clearly showed on her face because the doctor's expression softened.

"You really should take it easy on her, you know she wouldn't have left your mother unattended on purpose," Doctor Joshua advised softly.

"Hana!" Daphne called as she ran towards them, her sneakers making squeaky noises on the tiled floor.

"Where's Mom?" Daphne struggled to catch her breath.

"Like you care," Hana retorted.

"What do you mean?"

"You caused all this Daphne!" Hana lifted her hands and let them fall in frustration.

"I didn't! I didn't know she'd have an accident when she told me I could go see my friends. I didn't think she'd actually drive!" Daphne argued.

"Ladies, ladies," Doctor Joshua interrupted.

"Let's all calm down because it seems like there's been some misunderstanding here,"

"She left Mom to fend for herself in her weakest moment Uncle, there's nothing to misunderstand," Hana huffed and folded her arms over her bosom in defiance.

He nodded and faced Daphne who was wiping her eyes with a bandana.

"Daphne?"

"Hmm?"

"Your mother didn't have a motor accident, she fell down the stairs," He said calmly.

"Is she okay? I didn't abandon her I swear," Daphne sobbed.

Doctor Joshua's heart broke a little.

"Tell us what happened then," He urged.

"Mom asked me about my friends and I said I couldn't meet with them because I had to look after her and she told me to go meet them, she said not to worry about her that she'll be fine." Daphne narrated.

"I wasn't going to be gone for too long until Hana called me and told me about the accident."

Hana heaved a sigh and sat on one of the waiting chairs.

Doctor Joshua gave her a knowing look before addressing Daphne.

"Luckily for both of you, she fell down a small flight of stairs and sustained minor injuries, she's fine on the inside and out. Only that there'll be a few changes to her medications," He looked at both his nieces, the apple of his sister's eyes. She wouldn't like to see them fight each other because of her.

"That's a huge relief and I thought it was worse," Daphne hugged him happily.

"It would have been if your sister hadn't come home early from work,"

Daphne walked to where Hana was seated and took her hands in hers.

"I didn't leave Mom alone on purpose and I won't do it again even if she permits it. I promise,"

Hana smiled and pulled her in for a hug.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Hana apologized in her ear.

"Doctor?" A nurse walked up to Doctor Joshua.

"Yes?"

"The patient has been moved to a regular ward and she's awake too,"

"That's great news. Thank you."

"Yes sir,"

"Girls, let's go see your mother," He announced and led the way.