Free Lonely Heart by MJ Kane Page A

my arm.
    “Yeah, but I’m not his son.” I walked around the bay, shutting off the unnecessary lights. Antonio went ahead of me to the office.
    I checked to be sure all locks on the bay doors were engaged.
    “Antonio!”
    Fernando’s yell stopped me in my tracks. I doubled back for the office.
    Tio Alejandro was slumped over in his chair, one hand on his chest, his eyes closed. Fernando was bent over him, checking his pulse.
    “He’s breathing, but barely,” His eyes were full of fear. “Papi!”
    Oh God, this can’t be happening again…
    My phone was out of my pocket and 911 dialed in seconds. “I need an ambulance at…,” I gave them the address. “I think my uncle is having a heart attack.” I listened to the explicit instructions given by the 911 operator. “They’ll be here in a few minutes. Don’t try and move him, just keep talking.”
    I stood by, helpless, and watched Fernando stroke his father’s hand, all the while talking to him in English and Spanish.
    Tio Alejandro’s eyelids fluttered once, then became still.
    I ran my hand through my hair, powerless to do anything other than stay out of the way. The moment sirens could be heard in the distance, I ran outside to flag the ambulance down and lead the paramedics inside.
    Fernando was glued to his father’s side. It took me pulling him out of the way for the paramedics to do their job. They checked his vitals while talking to him, but it didn’t matter, he was non-responsive.
    The next thing we knew, the paramedics were moving Tio Alejandro from his chair onto a gurney. “His pulse is weak and blood pressure low. It appears he’s suffered a heart attack,” we were told.
    “Madre, Javier…Ramon…” Fernando stuttered, his eyes wild, movements disoriented. “…they need to know…”
    “I’ll handle it. Ride with your father to the hospital. I’ll follow the ambulance.” I grabbed him in a bear hug and watched the EMTs load my uncle into the ambulance.
    After confirming which hospital he would be taken to, I climbed into my truck, slipped in my earpiece, and started voice dialing.
     
    ****
     
    I hated hospitals and avoided them like the plague. Though my last visit here was fourteen years ago, it seemed like yesterday. Everything remained the same. The walls were the same colors, the seating…the floor…
    The only difference; I was no longer fifteen.
    Yet, the events of that night were crystal clear in my memory.
    I forced the memory back in its vault and focused on the present.
    After calling a few relatives, news of what happened spread like wildfire. Our family took up every available space in the waiting room and spilled out into the hallway. There was barely room to sit. With Tio Alejandro being a much loved and respected member of the community, friends of the family were sprinkled in among the group.
    Nearly two hours had passed since dialing 911 and we barely received any news other than he came in and out of consciousness. We were told the doctor was doing his best. It was now a waiting game.
    Fernando was a mess. He sat next to his mother who fiddled with a ball of tissue in her hands, tears continuing to fall. Javier and Fernando stood on the other side of her, looking just as bad. The rest of the extended family sat around the waiting room, some talking in quiet whispers, others mouthed prayers.
    Adrianna sat with our grandmother holding her hand while Julio slept in her lap.
    My mind ran over the events of the day trying to figure out what in my uncle’s behavior I missed, some warning that could have gotten him medical attention sooner. I came up with nothing. Just like my mother, I’d been too busy working to notice anything out of the ordinary.
    History repeating itself?
    Unable to sit still, I went for a walk.

Chapter 13
     
    “Whatever you do, do not drop it, Tiffy!” I dug in my purse for my keys while my sister balanced the large ceramic piggy bank bought at the baby outlet.
    “Why don’t you use a