104

VIVIAN

Another emergency.

But this one couldn't be a prank because Nate had delivered the news and we weren't exactly friendly enough to pull that type of joke on each other.

Also, it involved my mother. Nate was a premium jerk but he wouldn't stoop so low. Right? I wished he would.

I would swear at him and maybe even hit him but my mother would be fine and I would have worried in vain.

"Oh God, oh God... Oh God."

Night was falling fast but I didn't care. I rushed out of the house and flagged down the first taxi I saw. If anything happened to my mother, how would I cope with the pain, the guilt. If anything happened...

Thoughts consumed me and filled my head with scenarios that were probably too far fetched but seemed feasible at that moment. Panic had taken over me and my hands shook terribly as I contemplated calling Nate. What would I say? What was I trying to find out?

"No, no..."

"Is there a problem?" The taxi driver was looking at me through the rearview mirror and I ave