The Walks of Life

Chapter Twenty-Six

Delilah opened her eyes slowly. Where was she? Oh, right. The hospital. Where was Haden?

Delilah went to move but found she was strapped to the hospital bed. She began to panic and pulled at the restraints. She began to hyperventilate but stopped herself. She was better than this. She knew how to stay calm. Her feelings for Haden had really rattled her ability to stay apathetic and keep her cool.

"You can't get those off," a male nurse looking person said from the doorway.

Delilah froze in horror at the sound of the male nurses voice. She knew that voice. She turned her head slowly and felt her heart begin to pound as she looked into the hard eyes of Robert. Delilah willed her breathing to slow and her heart to stop pounding. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she was the picture of calm.

"This is your last chance, isn't it?" Delilah told him more than truly asked.

"I'm afraid so," Robert nodded. "As much as I once cared about you, I care about me more."

"At least your honest about it," Delilah swallowed but found her mouth suddenly dry. "Just make it quick."

Delilah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Oh, Haden. And dear sweet, Aiden. How she hated to leave them.

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Aiden looked up from his picture book snd yawned. Whatever this place was, it was boring. He hadn't been able to run and play for an eternity in his little toddler mind. Where on earth was Daddy? He was never usually gone this long. And where was the lady who is always with us?

Aiden threw his book away from him and stood up. He looked over at his Grandma and Grandpa to check if they were awake. They were sleeping precariously in their chairs. His Aunts and Uncles had either gone home or gone to find food in the cafeteria promising to return with a treat for him. Aiden walked quietly towards the curtain door and fought to keep from giggling. He made it to the door and pushed the curtain open slowly. He poked his head out of the doorway. He looked both ways and saw white, long hallways in both directions. This place was weird. It also smelled funny.

Aiden took one look back at his grandparents and then took off down the hallway giggling. He began peeking in doors and saw lots of different people laying in beds. Some were awake, some were sleeping, and some were yelling. He left the yelling ones as fast as he could. Aiden made it about twenty doors down the hallway when he saw a tall male nurse walk out of a room. The nurse looked at him shrewdly. Aiden froze. He had been discovered. Instead of picking Aiden up and taking him back; however, the man turned and walked the other direction without so much as a word.

Curious, Aiden peeked into the room that he had just come out of. He saw a woman with jet black hair laying in the hospital bed. It was the lady Daddy saw all the time! Aiden squealed in delight and rushed in. He climbed onto the chair next to the bed and looked at her. Was she sleeping? Aiden climbed into her lap and babbled at her. Nothing happened. Aiden looked at her face and realized her eyes were open. He squealed in fright. She is as just staring without blinking. Aiden began to feel scared and began to cry. Why wasn't she moving?

"Aiden! What are you-?" Lloyd burst into the room but stopped short. "Delilah? Delilah? Are you okay? Delilah?! Somebody get in here!"

Aiden began to wail at the fear in his grandfather's voice. Lloyd grabbed him and held him close, attempting to shield Aiden from Delilah's unresponsive form.

Three nurses burst in with a cart full of what Lloyd could only guess was anything necessary to save someone who coded. Lloyd's eyes widened. Why hadn't Delilah's monitors gone off?