Is she dead?
Kamal sat on the ground. Blood coated his shirt, pants, and hands.
Other medics attended to Ganesha, pushing me out of the way.
My bottom lip quivered.
Kamal rose from the floor, getting blood on the cabinets under the sink. “Amber. No.”
Everyone packed Zora’s small kitchen, taking care of Amber and Ganesha. A couple of neighbors stood in the hallways, peeking their heads in the doorway and whispering to each other.
Is she dead?
A shudder of terror pushed through me. Everything had happened so fast. I’d just been sitting in front of the television, minding my business. And now. . .
Someone rushed over to Kamal and made him wipe his hands and arms. Another person asked me something. I didn’t hear them. I still wanted to know. . .
Is she dead?
I couldn’t see Amber or Ganesha. Medics blocked my view. And then more police packed Zora’s place.
“Jade.” Kamal came to my side, tenderly grabbed my hand, and pulled me to him. “Are you okay?”
Tears left my eyes. I didn’t know why I was crying, just that I was overtaken with so much sadness.
“Jade,” he whispered, “Can you hear me? Are you okay?”
Swallowing, I rested against his chest. “Yes.”
He hugged me tighter. “Good.”
I leaned away from him. Now some of Amber’s blood decorated my shirt. “How are you?”
“Excuse me.” A police officer came over. “We need to know everything that happened.”
Kamal nodded and began describing the moments before they arrived. After he finished, the officer asked me the same questions. I did my best to answer everyone to the best of my knowledge. It all had happened in a blur of hysteria. I barely knew what was real and what details came from shock.
By then, medics lifted Amber onto the stretcher and carried her out. A bandage wrapped around her wrist. She didn’t move. I couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not.
I looked down at Ganesha. “Is he going to be alright?”
The medic bobbed his head. “Yes. The bullet went through his leg. He won’t be running and jumping around for a while, but he’ll be okay.”
I wiped my tears away. “Thank God.”
“We’re going to take him to the nearest animal clinic. Who’s coming with us?”
I nodded. “I’m coming. I’ll get his toy, Bebe. He’ll want it.”
The medic slowly picked Ganesha up and carried him in his arms. “Will your husband be coming too?”
“What?”
The medic gestured to Kamal.
Two police scribbled notes as they continued to talk to him.
“Oh, no. He’s not my husband, but um. . .let me check. I’ll be right back.” I hurried over to Kamal. “I’m riding with the ambulance to take Ganesha to the animal hospital.”
His voice was hoarse. “Is he okay?”
“Yes. They said he’ll be fine, just won’t be able to run for a while.”
“Okay. Call me when you get there. I’ll come by and pick you both up.” He signaled to the cops. “I’m still finishing the report and giving them Amber’s father’s information.”
“Is she. . .” I swallowed down my fear. “Is she all right?”
Worried creased around his eyes. “They don’t know yet.”
“Okay.” I hurried to the bedroom, grabbed Bebe, and headed to the front door.
“Jade,” Kamal called out to me.
I stopped and looked at him. “Yes?”
“Put your mask and gloves on.”
“Oh.” I hurried to grab them, put everything on, and left with the medic.
Dear God. What the hell just happened.
The rest of the hours blurred. I rode in the ambulance with Ganesha. He continued to whimper in pain. Once I pulled out Bebe, he took his toy and held it in his mouth. When we made it to the animal hospital, the vet rushed him into an operating room and told him that he’d been a brave hero. As they gave Ganesha stitches, I stood by him and rubbed his head.
The only thing that kept me sane was focusing on him. Every few minutes, I checked my phone to see if Kamal called.
The next hour, Kamal appeared with a change of clothes for me and food. The whole time with Ganesha in the animal clinic, I hadn’t realized that Amber’s blood still decorated my shirt. I thanked Kamal, cleaned up and changed in the vet’s bathroom.
As the clinic staff finished with Ganesha, Kamal called Zora to let her know what had happened. Surprisingly, she took the news well but wished death on Amber for shooting Ganesha.
In the fourth hour, we left the animal clinic. Kamal carried Ganesha in one arm. The doggy now wore a small cast on his leg.
With Kamal’s free hand, he tenderly gripped mine. “You didn’t eat the food I brought you.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Make sure you eat when we get home.”
I gave him a sad smile. “Did you eat?”
He frowned. “No. I’m not hungry either.”
“Then, it looks like we’ll both be eating when we get home.”
“So. . .about home,” Letting go of my hand, he walked us to his car and opened the door. “We’re not going back to Zora’s place.”