The machine beeped insecently as the tiny figure on the guerny tossed and turned
"Mom..."
"I'm here my darling"
"It hurts mommy"
"Just try to stay still Taylor, the doctors know what they are doing, they will take good care of you both"
"Where's Travis? He should be here by now"
"He'll be here"
"Mom I'm so scared"
"I know my darling, I know"
**********
The traffic was at a standstill, as Travis slammed on his brakes and then lowered the window to shout out some obscenity to a stranger.
He needed to get to the hospital but his college dorm was an hour away from town.
The phone call that Taylor needed him had come an hour and a half ago and here he was, still sat in traffic, still beating the shit out the steering wheel, still knowing he should have been with her but instead he had been playing football with his friends and that thought burned red in this brain
"Travis it's Taylor..." his heart had stuttered to a stop in his chest "She collapsed at school today, there's been some bleeding" Taylor's moms voice was tense and he thought he could hear Taylor crying in the background. Her voice was tiny and wet when she finally took the phone
"Baby..."
"Travis I'm so sorry"
"It's going to be okay, you and the baby, you are both going to be okay"
"Why am I bleeding? I shouldn't be bleeding!" her voice rose, causing Travis' fear to skyrocket.
"Just stay calm, I'm getting in my car now. Just try not to panic"
"Panic? Of course I'm panicking. Travis please get here, we need you"
"I'm coming, just hold on okay? I will be there"
********
And yet he wasn't there, he was a prisoner to the traffic that was queued all around him.
His girl and his baby were miles away going through God knows what without him.
Dropping his gaze to his phone his guts clenched, 5 missed calls from Taylor's mom.
"No..." he prayed out loud "Please God no"
