Irreplaceable Canary

It was a Saturday afternoon at Oakland Community College, and Ruby Rivers was seated in her regular spot at the back of the classroom. 

A teacher was present and teaching, but Ruby's mind was elsewhere. She was sketching a new jewelry design which was a hobby of hers. She was subconsciously doing this when her attention was brought back  by her.

She looked  at the phone screen, expecting a notification or rather job offer from a company she had just applied to be a designer for. Instead, it was a number she didn't recognize. 

She was uncertain about picking up this call as she was in class but excused herself and stepped out into the hallway to answer it.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice soft, almost whispering.

"Is this Miss Ruby Rivers? I'm calling from Northeast Memorial Hospital. There's been an accident. Your brother and mother were involved." the voice said frantically.

"What?...wait.. what?!!!" Ruby stuttered, sounding miserable. " Please,I am on my way. Do whatever you can to make sure that they survive." She was already crying profusely and at this point and running towards the exit of her school hall.

The voice replied "Your brother... I'm sorry, he didn't make it."

Ruby felt stiff. The phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor.  She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe, struggling to process this information. Her brother was gone. 

Her thoughts and grief was interrupted with someone still calling her name through the phone she had dropped a while ago.

She picked up her  phone and the voice continued " Ruby Rivers, Your mother is in a critical state and needs immediate surgery. Can you come to the hospital immediately and sign the form so we can begin the surgery?" 

"I am on my way, pleas..... save her" Ruby said sobbing profusely.

Racing out of the college, Ruby ignored the glances she received from other students, her mind solely focused on reaching the hospital. 

As she reached the intersection, her mind everywhere else but not with her present self, she ran into the road without looking. 

A car honking continuously snapped her out of her thoughts, but it was too late. A sleek black car had overturned sharply and smashed into a nearby wall to avoid hitting her.

Ruby stood still and struggled for air for a second. "Please, not now." she murmured to herself, already exhausted and thinking if the day could get any worse.

The car was a luxurious car -a 2024 Range Rover Velar, if she wasn't mistaken. The driver, an unfriendly looking  man in a dark suit, jumped out and began inspecting the damage hitting his leg into the damaged wall. 

Ruby could see the furious expression on his face even from afar.

"I'm so sorry!" she shouted, her voice trembling.