Golden Gooses

22

     Evan looked around at the sterile, cold white walls of the ward as Timothy gave his hand a light, reassuring squeeze. Evan stepped closer to his dad as they walked, still daunted by the hollow echoing of the monitors in the halls. Their steps clicked along the tile, the sound of squeaky wheels from Miranda's stretcher accompanying them. The nurses eventually stopped, turning the corner and entering an open section, closed off by curtains. They lifted her out of the gurney and onto the bed. One of the nurses turned to Timothy, prepared to suggest he take Evan out of the room. He nodded before they could speak, already knowing the procedure of getting her out of her clothes and into a hospital gown. Timothy quickly shielded Evan's eyes and turned him around, leading him out of the curtains. "What's happening, daddy?" He asked, his eyes still obscured by Timothy's hand. "They're gonna help Mommy take the baby out of the oven more easily. But it'll be..." He paused for a moment, thinking about how to say it. "A little graphic." Evan panicked, pulling his dad's hand off of him. "Graphic?! What're they doing to Mommy?!" He scrambled onto the floor, trying to get back through the curtain by crawling under. "Mommy!" He exclaimed, calling out for Miranda. His emotions began to flare as bursts of electricity seethed from his hands. The machinery behind the curtain began to ping warning alarms rapidly as Evan's sparks interfered with them. Timothy quickly picked Evan up, stroking the back of his head. "Calm down, Mommy'll be just fine. Those people aren't hurting her." He assured. Evan's breathing would slow as he regained his composure. "Okay..." He relented as Timothy placed him back on the floor. A moment of reluctant silence passed between the two as they stared at the curtains. "Evan!" Miranda called out, her voice straining. "Mommy?!" He asked, quickly darting underneath the curtains. She glanced at him with warm familiarity before wincing again. "I'll be fine," she began. "Stay with Daddy, don't worry about me." She comforted before one of the nurses closed the curtains once more. He breathed a sigh of relief, standing beside Timothy as they waited.

     A tense three hours had already passed as they approached four. Just then, one of the nurses opened the curtains for Timothy and Evan to step inside. Miranda was already half-asleep, mumbling while gesturing to Timothy. "Grab the baby and the baby so I can go to sleep." She managed to murmur before shutting her eyes. Timothy stifled his laugh as he turned to hold the baby from the nurses' hands. "Here's your beautiful baby girl." One added enthusiastically. He gazed at it lovingly, grazing her peony wisps of hair with his thumb. She looked back up at him with curious forest green eyes. He turned to the sleeping Miranda, looking adoringly. He walked over and kissed her forehead. Evan clung closely to Timothy, staring at his new sister. He felt of slew of unexplainable and incomprehensible emotions. He couldn't tell if it was curiosity or confusion, love or jealousy. All he knew was that his life was a volatile storm, but he would make sure that his sister sees the silver linings.