32 2.4. Paparazzi

"Grandma", Cole's voice barks from beside me jostling me into action.

"Oh my God", a faint plea from Justine is like a noise in the background as I reach mom in time.

The moment I reach her, I'm shouting again.

"What the fuck happened?", I exclaim, despite the presence of a child in the room.

I look at the blood mixing with the pool of water along with the shards of glass from probably a broken glass bottle around mom and dread fills my lungs.

My eyes take in the edge of the counter that's covered in mom's blood and my own blood runs cold.

Shit.

"We don't know. She came in to get water and we were all in the living room when we heard the crash", replies Liza, frantically.

Her hands are shaking as she looks at mom.

"Jason, we need to take her to the hospital right away", Ben's voice breaks through my head's frantic reverie.

But it doesn't stop my pacing heart.

"Camille, can you please take Cole away from here?", Justine's faint voice echoes through my ears.