No… I can’t hear them breathing.” Her voice wavered, almost swallowing the words. The fear in her voice was palpable, and Vanessa could feel it. She wished she could reach through the phone and hold Lily, reassure her.
“Stay calm, Lily. You’re being so brave. Help is really close now, I promise.” Vanessa’s fingers flew over the keyboard, updating the incoming emergency team. Her years of training kept her voice steady even as her heart raced.
There was another long pause. Vanessa could hear distant sirens through the phone. “Lily, do you have any pets or anyone else there with you?” Vanessa asked, hoping to distract Lily from the fear with something familiar.
“We have a cat—Whiskers. She’s hiding. She got scared when the ladder fell.” Lily’s voice was soft, almost a whisper.
“That’s okay, sweetie. Whiskers will come out soon. Animals can sense when things are happening, but she’s just waiting for everything to be okay.” Vanessa encouraged, hearing the sirens grow louder in the background.
“Vanessa?” Lily’s voice came again, tiny and scared. “Is my dad gonna be okay?”
Vanessa swallowed, struggling to keep her voice from breaking. “The paramedics are going to do everything they can, Lily. They’re really good at helping people.”
