His Countdown Ended, but I Died
He looked at Mom and choked out, "You have to come check him out, Linda. I-Is it possible that Ash just blacked out?"
Mom, as if jolted awake by Dad's remarks, quickly got up and crawled over to my side. She then grabbed my hand and rubbed it hard, trying to wrap her warm palms around my cold fingers. "You have to wake up right now, Ash… I'm right here, Ash…"
She rambled incoherently, her voice growing shriller by the second, "You have to open your eyes and look at me, Ash. I'll make you your favorite braised short ribs, buy you those new sneakers, and even take you to the basketball game.