Look East | A Hozier Fanfiction |

36

"Doctor West to Pulmonology. Doctor West to Pulmonology," the page sounded across the intercom, breaking the silence in the room.

Andrew looked over at Molly. She was staring straight ahead, her face completely blank as she laid in the bed. An IV was attached to the back of her hand and he was careful not to knock it as he picked her hand up. She didn't react to his touch.

"How are we doing in here?" a nurse asked, coming into the room and checking the IV bag hanging over Molly's head.

Andrew stood and ran his fingers through his hair, pushing his glasses up at the same time. "Ehm...alright I guess. She's just sort of...laying there."

The nurse nodded. "Has the doctor been in to see you yet?" He shook his head. "I'll be sure he comes in and speaks with you."

"Thanks," he replied, sinking back into his chair.

He knew what had happened. There'd been too much blood for it to be anything else. Still, a small part of him had hope that maybe, just maybe, things might go differently. He closed his eyes and rested his elbows on the bed next to Molly's arms, replaying the last four hours in his mind.

They'd gone out for dinner in Bray and had a walk along the promenade as the sun set. Then they'd taken the long route home listening to The Staples Singers, just because. By the time they'd gotten home, the stars were out above on a rare cloudless night. Molly went to get cleaned up and that's when he heard her scream his name.

He'd dropped his book to the floor and taken the steps as fast as he could. She screamed for him again and again until he rounded the corner to the bathroom. The sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks.

Molly was in the shower, water streaming over her naked body, one hand steadying herself against the tile wall. The blood running down her legs and to the drain was a stark contrast to her white surroundings. Her eyes met his and all he saw was total and absolute fear.

"Andrew," she whispered, eyes wide.

He jumped into action. "Turn off the water," he ordered, grabbing a towel from the rack. "Come here." Molly turned off the water and moved toward him. He wrapped her in a towel and had her step out of the shower. "What happened?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I felt this sharp pain, but then nothing. Then I felt this gush and looked down. Then I saw blood." Her voice was tight with fear. She winced. "Fuck, there's that cramp again. Andrew, what's happening?" she asked.

"I - I don't know," he replied.

It took his brain a second to catch up, but when it did, he knew. All of the books said it was a possibility. But he hoped that since Molly was in such good shape and so healthy that it wouldn't happen.

She stared at him as he dried off her hair. "Yes you do. You know what's happening."

He sighed and avoided her gaze as he rushed into the closet to get her clothes. He took a deep breath and steeled himself in the moment of solitude.

There's nothing you can do, he told himself. Just stay calm. Keep her calm. Go to the hospital.

He returned with a pair of pajama bottoms and one of his jumpers. "We're gonna go to A&E and they'll help us, okay?" He kept his voice level and calm.

"Its a miscarriage, isn't it?" she winced.

He didn't respond, instead he produced a pair of underwear and knelt on the floor in front of her. "Do you have anything to catch the blood?" he asked softly.

She inhaled slowly and blinked. "Under the sink," she replied quietly.

Andrew opened the drawer she pointed to and rifled through the contents until he found a sanitary napkin, unwrapping it quickly. He'd seen her use them in the past and made his best guess as to how to put it into her underwear before pulling them up slightly. He tapped her leg to encourage her to finish the job.