AUTUMN LEAVES

“Hello, this is your KDKA-TV News Brief. I’m Amy Stewart and here are your local news headlines for this afternoon.”

Catherine muted the TV and threw the remote on the coffee table. “Alex, for the last time, you are not getting more chocolate. Mami gave you more than enough this past week,” she said trying to reason with her 5-year old. “Kris, would you say something please,” she said to her husband who now had his eyes glued to the television.

“Why is Sid on the afternoon news?” Kris asked upon seeing his friend’s photo on TV. He couldn’t hear what Amy Stewart was saying, but it couldn’t have been good. The normally cheerful broadcaster looked distraught that Kris found himself jumping to grab the remote and turn up the volume.

“Unfortunately, it was not a rumour. A trusted source at the UPMC has just confirmed to us that Sidney Crosby has indeed been transferred to the hospital about an hour ago. We do not have information on the reason, but our source said that he arrived in an ambulance accompanied by a few police cars. It appears that the Penguins Captain has been um… attacked. Um… excuse me, it’s just um… we just received this news now, and …um I’m sorry.”

The once articulate broadcaster stopped mid-sentence as her emotions got the best of her. “Um… our source declined to provide information on his health state, but we have been told to keep Sidney in our prayers. All of us here at KDKA are praying for you captain,” she added. “We will keep you updated once we have more details on the situation. Stay strong Sid, Pittsburgh is praying for you.”

“What’s wrong with uncle Sid,” Alex asked his parents who were now standing an inch away from the screen. “Get your coats! I will make some calls, see if I can find out what is going on,” Kris said running around in his living room, stumbling into his couch as he looked for his phone.

He tried calling some of his connections at the hospital with no luck. “Tiffany is not picking up either!” Catherine said as she entered the room with her phone as her son trailed anxiously behind her.

“Did you try Autumn?” Kris asked, and Catherine nodded. “Let’s go now. I’ll call Mario on the way,” Kris said hurriedly. “Isn’t he away on business?” Catherine asked as she secured Alex in his car seat.

“Yeah, but perhaps he knows something!” Kris said with panic in his voice.

“And if he doesn’t? It’s Sidney, Kris, you’re gonna freak him out!” Catherine said.

“We should calm down, maybe it’s nothing. Let’s just get to the hospital first,” Kris said as he frantically navigated Pittsburgh downtown streets at the busy hour of lunch.

*****

“Do we know what happened?” a breathless Phil Kessel asked upon arriving at the private waiting room. Kris shook his head, “police said he was shot at Mario’s house, they don’t know who did it yet, but they’re investigating the scene. I understood Autumn was with him when it happened, but she’s in shock and not talking,” Kris said, his eyes glued to his shoes.

“Who would do that to Sid?” Geno asked as he paced around the room, “he is a good person. Doesn’t deserve this.”

“Did someone call his parents?” Connor Sheary asked. Sidney’s friends exchanged looks. “Someone should call them, they can’t hear about …. this on the news,” Phil said.

“What about Mario? Does he know?” a teary Jake Guentzel asked.

“They must have all heard it by now, it’s all over the news,” Kris said.

“I just spoke with Mario,” Patric Hornqvist announced entering the room. “Autumn’s nurse had already called him. He is on his way here now.”

“I have Taylor’s number, I will call her,” Kris said with a hoarse voice. He shook his head, “what the hell do I say?” he asked swallowing hard as Catherine rubbed his side. “Your big brother may die long before you and your parents even arrive,” Kris said as he covered his face, the panic of losing his best friend started to set in.

“Hey man, don’t. Don’t say that again,” Phil told Kris, the once happy-go-lucky forward said with a strained voice, deep creases appearing between his eyebrows.

“Mario already called Sid’s dad,” Patric interjected as he bounced his legs neurotically.

“I just spoke with one of the doctors.”

Everyone turned to see Mario standing at the door, a hand resting on the wall, looking all lost. He dragged himself to a nearby chair and slumped in it.

“Said the surgery should be done within the next 2 hours. But he’s still unstable and won’t be in the clear until the first 48 hours passed. The first 48 hours are critical,” He added without making an effort to look at his team, at how their faces fell at his words.

“So, he may… he may not make it?” Jake asked with horror, but he was the only one daring to voice the question that weighed on everyone in the room.

Mario took a deep, shaky breath. “Apparently, my home has turned into a crime scene. Just gave the police the password to the security cameras. We’re gonna catch the son of the bitch who did this,” Mario said, his features hardening. He looked up and scanned the spacious room, “where is Autumn?”

Catherine Letang stood up and gestured for Mario to go with her. As they navigated the hospital corridors to the nearby room where Autumn was, Catherine told Mario, “Autumn is still in shock and not saying much.”

“She’s in there with Tiff and Linda.” Catherine pointed to the room as she excused herself to get back to her husband’s side.

“Hey dear, she’s much calmer now. Go talk to her,” Linda said to Mario as she patted his drooping shoulders. “We’ll give you two a minute,” Linda gave him a sympathetic smile and took Tiffany out of the room with her.

Mario stood at a considerable distance from his wife who had just opened her eyes and straightened her head that was resting on the hospital recliner. When their eyes met, Autumn left her seat and trotted over to Mario as he instinctively gathered her in his arms without a second thought. They both let out tears of frustration and worry for the man they both loved.

As Mario broke their embrace, Autumn did not let go of his shirt that was balled in her hands. Mario looked her in the eye, “tell me what happened,” he demanded, not caring if Autumn was seeing him cry for the very first time.

“He…Sidney stood…in front of me,” Autumn said between hiccups. “He saved my life. It was supposed to be me. Me! I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Sid is in here because of me,” Autumn managed to say between sobs as she held on to Mario’s arms for support. Mario furrowed his brows and took a couple of steps away from her, but kept his gaze locked with hers.

“He risked his life… for you?” Mario asked stupefied as he collapsed in the recliner near hers. As Autumn sat next to Mario, she saw emotion after emotion cross his face.

The realization. That atheist’s Aha moment. That Archimedes’ Eureka.

“Sidney?”

The shock.

The disbelief.

The loss.

Notes