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QUICKLY, I RUN THROUGH THEhospital door and head straight for the reception desk.
I want answers.
I want to know where my wife is.
As I stride past the few people lined up, they give me filthy glares. The desk is empty as the nurse finishes some paperwork before calling the next person. I get to the white-haired lady, slapping my hands on the desk. “Where are my wife and daughter, Anna-Beth and Rylee King? They were in a car accident. My wife is p-pregnant.” My voice cracks on the last word.
One of my closest friends, Reuben, comes up beside me, his eyes full of panic. I’m sure they match mine.
“I’m sorry, sir. You’ll need to take a seat while I find out what I can for you. Please give me a moment, and I’ll be right back.” She turns to a younger nurse standing close by and says something I don’t hear. They swap places, and the white-haired lady walks out of the area. How am I supposed to sit and wait for news?
“It’ll be all right, Seb. Come on.” Reuben grips my arm and pulls me away toward some empty chairs in the waiting area. I let him lead me, but my eyes stay trained on the white-haired lady as she walks through a set of doors.
The fight Anna-Beth and I had this morning replays in my head. Oh heck! I grab Reuben’s shoulder to steady myself. “Reuben, we got into a stupid argument this morning, and I left before we settled it. What if I don’t get the chance t-to fix things with her?” Tears fill my eyes, threatening to fall.
Reuben pulls me in for a hug. He’s the brother I never got, and I don’t know what I would do without him right now.
“Don’t think like that,” he says.
“I need to know what’s going on, Reuben. I need to see Anna-Beth.”
“I know. I’m sure they won’t keep you waiting. Let’s take a seat.” He sits in the chair behind him, and I follow suit. The world is spinning around me. I want it to stop, and I want to be with my wife and Rylee. Ineedthem both to be okay. I can’t do life without either of them.
“They need to be okay, Reuben.” I drop my face into my hands. My heart is pounding, and I’m unable to settle its fast rate.
The last thing I should have done was walk out. But my job took priority, and I left. The desire to become a Formula One world champion overrides my family’s needs yet again.
She stood in our bedroom doorway, her hand resting on her swollen belly. The light pink flowing dress she was wearing made her glow.
“I don’t have time for this right now. I have to go,” I snapped at Anna-Beth. My tone was harsh even to my own ears, and her eyes went wide as though I’d physically slapped her.
We never argued like that. Of course, married couples have disagreements, but this was different.
That look in her eyes…
The hurt was evident in the tears that pooled.
She turned her back on me without another word and walked away.
“Gee, she looks like she needs to be back in a hospital bed,” Reuben says, pulling me back into my present nightmare.
I glance up and look around to see what’s caught his attention. A young woman who’s clutching at her stomach. The frail blonde-haired woman takes tiny steps, stumbling slightly, her face set and she bites her lip as she makes her way through the emergency waiting area.
“She looks to be in pain, but she’s not stopping,” Reuben says, our focus now on the woman in front of us.
With my attention on her, I wait to see what she’s doing. “Yeah, she doesn’t look good.”
Should I help?
If it were Anna-Beth, I’d want someone to help her. I rise from my seat and take a step toward her, but as I do, her legs crumble beneath her. Rushing to her side, I scoop her up in my arms, dropping to my knees before her head hits the floor.
“Are you okay?” Her head rolls and rests against my chest. Turning to the desk, I call, “Help, she’s collapsed.”
“I’m fine,” she grinds out breathlessly. “I need to get to my baby. I want to see her.” She sobs. I assist her into a sitting position, and she hisses with the movement.
Her blonde, matted hair covers her face, and she reaches up, pushing it aside. Her piercing blue eyes meet mine, and tears stream down her rose-pink cheeks.
“You’re in the wrong place. This is the emergency room. Your baby would be upstairs in the maternity or pediatric ward. I can help you get to her, but it looks like you need some medical attention first. The nurses will bring your baby to you… just ask them,” I say softly, trying to reassure her as her body trembles under my touch.
