Never Too Late

from a portfolio and leafed through them. Coming to a page containing information aboutBrooke, she jotted her address and home phone number on a post-it, which she handed to me.Smiling Jamie winked saying, "I have no idea where you got that.""I understand. Thanks Jamie. Nice seeing you again.""You too Cooper."~~~~~~~~~~It turned out that Brooke's house was fifteen miles from the hotel. Driving faster than the speedlimits posted, I pulled into the driveway of her two-story home in half the time that I shouldhave. In such a rush to get to the front door, I almost forgot to switch the ignition off. As Iknocked on the door I took notice that though the curtains had been drawn there was a lightburning. When no one answered within two minutes I grew impatient.There was a rock about the size of my fists combined lying on the ground below the window, butI wasn't thinking properly. Instead of using it, I balled my fist up and rammed it into the windowonly cracking it. Though that hurt like a son of a bitch (I've never quite understood thatexpression, but I've used it often over the years) I repeated, this time using as much strength as Icould muster.Thankfully, the window broke because I didn't think that my hand could handle round three. Itwas throbbing and blood seeped from various cuts. Removing sharp pieces of glass still hangingon, I jumped up and climbed through the window. I grimaced when a piece of glass pierced mythigh, but I kept moving until I ungracefully landed on the carpet. I had already called outBrooke's name twice before I stood. Since it didn't seem that she was in her living room, I ran upthe stairs, choosing one of the closed doors on the second level at random.It was the master bedroom and there laid the woman I had been searching for on the bed. Shelooked as though she was just asleep, but the empty vial with a prescription label for sleepingpills affixed to it alarmed me. Next to it was a half filled bottle of Christian Brothers brandy.My hands on Brooke's shoulders, I attempted to awaken her with gentle shaking. The onlymovement from her body was what I caused. Anxiously, I pressed two fingers to her throat tofeel for a pulse. It took me moment, but I finally located a pulse. It was thready, but at least shehad one. Her breathing was labored and her fingertips and lips had taken on a faint bluish hue.Although I tried calling her name, I knew that it wouldn't do any good.Having retrieved my cell when I went to Julie's and my hotel room for the car keys, I pulled itfrom my pocket dialing 911. I kept my eyes on Brooke as the phone rang once before theoperator answered inquiring about the nature of my emergency."My friend overdosed on sleeping pills and we need an ambulance." I watched as Brooke's chestslowly rose and fall. It seemed to get slower with every breath. "Please hurry."