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I nodded, though it was hard to accept this reality. “Thank you, Doc.”
“I want to see her,” I finally said.
“Right now, she’s not conscious. You can wait outside the ICU.”
I nodded slowly, feeling my body grow weaker. With heavy steps, I approached the closed ICU door. Behind that door, Sabrina was fighting for her life.
Anxiety gnawed at my heart. The monotonous sound of machines added tension to the air. I stood outside, feeling how silent the world around me was. Every heartbeat was focused on one hope: to see her rise again.
Trying to calm myself, I sat on the provided bench. The moming sun streaming through the window lent a bit of warmth, but it couldn’t dispel the cold creeping into my soul. All the memories with her spun in my mind, and I prayed that she knew how many people loved her, including me.
burdens
I walked out of the ICU with mixed thoughts. The air in the hospital corridor felt suffocating, too full and anxieties pressing against my chest. I needed fresh air. With quick steps, I headed to the smoking area, outside, even though I wasn’t a smoker. That place had always been a small space for me to calm down.
Once there, I rummaged through my pockets, only to realize I had brought nothing but my wallet and phone. But that didn’t matter. I stood in the corner of that area, closed my eyes, and tried to regulate my breathing. Sabrina, lying critically in the ICU, haunted my thoughts.
However, when I opened my eyes, something in the distance caught my attention. A woman carrying a small child walked slowly through the garden near the parking lot. That figure… wait, is that Hazel? I blinked a few times, making sure my vision wasn’t deceiving me. But I recognized her walking style, the way she carried the child, and more astonishingly, the
child she was carrying was Charlie.
I froze. What were they doing here? My heart raced, caught between shock and confusion. There was no time to think long. I immediately moved, quickly walking toward them while calling out, “Hazel!”
Hazel’s steps halted. She slowly turned around, and indeed, it was her. Her face showed a look of shock and tension. But what struck me more was Charlie. As soon as lie saw me, his eyes lit up as if he had found someone he had long missed.
“Daddy!” Charlie shouted loudly. Before Hazel could say anything, Charlie squirmed, asking to be let down from
Hazel’s arms.
“Charlie, wait!” Hazel tried to stop him, but Charlie had already jumped down. His small legs moved quickly, running towards me with outstretched hands.
I instinctively crouched down, opening my arms to welcome him. As soon as he reached me, I hugged him tightly. His small body felt warm in my embrace, and for a moment I forgot everything that was happening.
“Daddy,” Charlie murmured in my arms, his voice soft yet full of longing. “I miss Daddy.”
I stroked his back, holding back the emotions that were about to spill over. “Daddy misses you too, kiddo.”
His warm hug provided a little comfort amidst the chaos I felt. Charlie, with his innocent gaze, me of all the good things in my life. As I looked at his face, I felt inspired to stay strong.
“seemed to remind
In these difficult times, I knew I had to take care of Charlie and provide him with the security he needed. Perhaps, even though the situation in the hospital was so tense, we could still find togetherness and strength in each other.
With one hand stroking his hair, I tried to calm myself and think about the next steps. Charlie needed his dad, and I was determined not to let him feel alone.
However, that moment did not last long. Hazel approached us with a look of anger that she could hardly hide. ” Nicholas, what are you doing here?” she asked sharply.
I stood up slowly, still holding Charlie. “I should be the one asking, Hazel. What are you doing here with Charlie?”
Hazel’s face flushed, clearly not expecting to see me here. “That’s none of your business,” she replied quickly.
The tension in the air was palpable. I tried to hold back the frustration rising within me. Charlie in my arms looked confused, not understanding why the atmosphere had turned so tense. I was determined to protect his feelings from this conflict.
“Don’t say this isn’t my business, Hazel,” I said, trying to keep my voice from exploding in front of Charlie.” Sabrina is in this hospital. She’s fighting for her life, and you brought Charlie here? What are you planning?”
Hazel huffed, trying to appear calm. “I don’t owe you any explanations, Nicholas. I’m just taking my son
walk.”
for a
Her words stirred a mix of frustration and worry within me. Charlie was still in my arms, not grasping how serions this situation was. I tried to keep the atmosphere calm, but my heart was in turmoil.
“Look, Hazel, I just want to make sure Charlie is okay,” I said, trying not to worsen the situation. “This isn’t the time for egos. We’re all in a tough spot.”
Hazel stared at me sharply, as if looking for a way to retort. But I knew that arguing between us wouldn’t solve anything. My focus remained on Sabrina and how to keep our child safe amid this chaos.
I took a step closer, still holding Charlie, who was now starting to pay attention to us with confusion. “Your child? Hazel, don’t forget, I’m his father too. And Sabrina, she
“She is nothing to Charlie!” Hazel cut in sharply, causing a few people around us to turn their heads. “She’s just a woman trying to steal my child from me.”
Hearing that made my blood boil. I glared at Hazel, my gaze sharp enough to pierce. “She’s not trying to steal anything, Hazel. Sabrina raised Charlie. She cared for him with love when you were not around. And now she’s lying in the ICU, fighting a pain you can’t even imagine.”
