Free Beautifully Destroyed by Sandra Love Page B

but they’re obviously hurting, too,” he soothed as he pulled Mitch out of the waiting room.
    Toria’s mother started to cry as Mr. Jacobs held her in his arms. We all sat there in silence.
    The doctor walked in with some paperwork, breaking the tension in the room. “Mr. Turner.”  I stood up, along with Vanessa and Toria’s parents.
    The doctor had a puzzled look on her face, so I made the introductions. “These are Toria’s parents.”
    They shook hands and she asked us to follow her to an office. We all took our seats and waited for the news. “We got her blood results back. She has a high level of crack, cocaine, and methamphetamine. She also has been taking Oxycodone . Does she have an issue with taking these types of drugs?”
    I looked toward her parents, in total shock. “Yes, she has. That is why she is homeless. I couldn’t have her in my house while she was on all those drugs. I couldn’t watch her destroy her life like that.”
    Everything started to sound muffled around me, and I walked over to take a seat. I put my head in my hands. I couldn’t believe that she was into the hard stuff. I suspected the lesser drugs, but crack and cocaine? I couldn’t do this. I got up and walked out of the hospital. I couldn’t be here. I didn’t want to watch that girl die over shit like that. I started to walk toward my car. When I got there, Barb and my mother were standing right there.
    “What are you doing here?”
    Barb walked toward me. “Baby, I forgive you. Let’s work this out. Forget about that druggie whore. You belong with me.”
    I turned to look at my mother. “Thanks, Mother, for keeping this to yourself,” I said sarcastically. “Now if you could move, I want to leave.” Barb tried to stop me again. “Barb, get it through your head, I. Don’t. Love. You. Please go and never speak to me again. And Mother, I am so upset with you right now. I thought I could trust you.”
    I unlocked my car and got in. I started it and pulled out of the parking spot. Without a clue as to where I was destined to end up, I just drove.
    As I was driving, my mind kept going back to Toria, and how I needed to save her. I did a U-turn and headed back toward the hospital. I needed to be there when she woke up. I couldn’t just leave her alone and scared. Once I got back to the hospital, I walked right past everyone and went up to her room. Once I got in there, I took her hand.
    “Toria, I love you. Please, just listen to me. I will not leave you ever. I will get you the help you need. But I will not abandon you like your family did. Toria, please, I beg of you. Wake up. I will be here for you. Always.” I leaned down and I kissed her on her forehead.
    “You know I always looked up to her.”
    I turned to see Bri was standing in the doorway.
    “Did you want to talk to her?” She started to walk toward her sister, but she stopped. “Go ahead, it could help her.” She walked to the other side of the bed. “Do you want me to leave?”
    A stray tear fell from her eye. “No, please stay.” I nodded as I watched her take her sister’s hand. “Toria, I am sorry I said those horrid things to you. I was just mad and being a stupid teenager. Please come back to us. I will help you get better. I just want my sister back. I want that happy cheerleader back. You are my role-model, and not having you around is killing me. I try to be mad at you, but the truth is, I am dying without you. Please wake up. I promise I will help you. And this guy that is here with you is hot. I think he might love you. So you have something to come back to. I love you, big sister. I always loved you.” I watched her wipe the tears away from her eyes.
    “Thank you. I know you are mad at her, but she needed to hear that.”
    “I just want her back.”
    “Listen Brianna, I will pay for her treatment. I will pay for her to get help.”
    “Do you think she will live?”
    I looked down at her frail body. “We will have hope. I will have