**”Daddy, please come home!! Mom is screaming…”**
My son called me 10 times while I was in a meeting. I called him back ASAP and was freaked out.
“Son, what’s wrong? Why are you calling me so much?” I asked, anxiety tightening my chest.
“Daddy, I don’t know what to do. I just came home and can hear Mom screaming in her room,” he replied, his voice trembling.
“Why didn’t you walk into her room?” I demanded, already grabbing my car keys.
“I’m too scared to go inside. I hear male voices inside,” he admitted.
My heart pounded in my chest. I immediately called my wife, but there was no answer. I called 911 in case they could get there faster. The drive home felt like an eternity, my mind racing with every possible scenario. When I finally reached home, I saw the flashing lights of the police car already in our driveway.
I rushed into the house and ran up the stairs, the sound of my wife’s screams still echoing. The police officers were right behind me as I broke into our bedroom. My mind raced with horrific images of what I might find, but nothing could have prepared me for what I actually saw.
It wasn’t my wife but MY brother, lying on the floor, his face contorted in pain. My wife was kneeling beside him, trying to help. She looked up at me, her face pale and stricken.
“What happened?!” I shouted, rushing to their side.
“He… he just collapsed,” my wife stammered. “We were talking, and then he started screaming and fell to the floor.”
The paramedics arrived and took over, quickly assessing my brother’s condition. I stepped back, my head spinning. Why was my brother here? Why was he in our bedroom?
As the paramedics worked, my wife pulled me aside, tears streaming down her face. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “Your brother came over to talk about some family matters. He didn’t want to disturb you at work, so we waited for you to come home.”
I looked at her, trying to piece everything together. My brother had been acting strange lately, distant and troubled. Now, seeing him in such a state, I realized how serious it was.
After a tense few minutes, the paramedics managed to stabilize my brother and prepared to take him to the hospital. As they wheeled him out, he grabbed my hand weakly.
“Jake, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he gasped.
“It’s okay,” I reassured him, even though I was still bewildered and scared. “We’ll figure this out.”
The police officers took our statements, and after ensuring everything was under control, they left. My son came out of his hiding place, his face pale and scared. I hugged him tightly, trying to soothe his fears.
Later, at the hospital, we learned that my brother had a severe panic attack, exacerbated by a previously undiagnosed heart condition. The doctors assured us he would be okay with proper treatment and care.
As I sat by his bedside, I thought about how fragile life is and how quickly things can change. My brother’s unexpected visit, the terrifying moments of not knowing what was happening, and the relief of seeing him alive and getting help—it all reminded me of what truly matters.
When my brother finally woke up, he looked at me with tears in his eyes. “Jake, I’ve been going through a tough time. I didn’t know how to tell you,” he confessed.
“We’re family,” I said, gripping his hand. “We’ll get through this together.”
From that day forward, our bond grew stronger. My wife and I made sure to support my brother through his recovery, and our family came together in ways we hadn’t before. The scary incident taught us all a valuable lesson about love, support, and the importance of being there for each other, no matter what.