in the blink of an eye

I had just thrown the towel down on the floor to cover up the blood splatters when I heard her. "What is this? What's happening?" I looked up and saw a woman who looked very confused, standing on the other side of the bed. The bed where a patient lied motionless. Where not more than 2 minutes ago was surrounded by a sea of frenzied doctors and nurses and myself, pumping oxygen, atropine, epinephrine, blood, fluids, and anything else to get his 22 year old heart beating again and his blood pressure above zero.

She was followed by 4 other people, all screaming and crying.
"This isn't happening"
"Bobby, we're here. Bobby wake up!"
"O my god this isn't real. Why didn't you let us see him before he died - what's wrong with you people"

I had a difficult time concentrating on getting the cords wrapped around the back of the ventilator... just wanted to get out of there. I could come back and get the vent later.

As I quietly slipped through the curtain, I noticed that someone had closed the main door to that side of the ICU, so the screaming and wailing wouldn't disturb the rest of the unit. More people with shocked faces were approaching. More crying. I couldn't see... 22 years old and dead in less than 12 hrs after running his crotch rocket into the back of a trailer. So much blood.

I just keep seeing her face. The mom's face. Genuinely confused as she looked at her son, then up at us. "What is this? What's happening?" and I can't get it out of my head.