Chapter 2: The Hospital
Ethan drove to the hospital with one hand on the wheel and the other holding Clara’s. He kept glancing at her, his face tight with worry.
“Talk to me,” he said again and again. “Tell me if the pain gets worse.”
At the emergency room, the staff moved quickly. They examined Clara, monitored the baby’s heartbeat, and ran tests. When the doctor finally confirmed that both mother and baby were stable, Ethan let out a shaky breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Clara was given strict instructions to rest for the next 48 hours and to return immediately if the pain returned or if she noticed any bleeding.
On the drive home, Ethan was quiet for a long time.
Then he said, voice low, “I should have protected you better. I should have seen how she was treating you.”
May you like
Clara reached over and placed her hand on his.
“You’re here now. That’s what matters.”
