Sedona

Something's Off

(Y/N)'s POV

The little chime above the daycare's door sounded out in the area, but it was almost drowned by the happy laughter and screams from the children in the play area. The door to Esme's new office is left wide open, but she couldn't be found inside.

"Annie! Thomas! It's time to come home!" I looked into the playroom for the two little kids.

Annie's eyes landed on me quickly, freezing with the toys she had in her hands. "Hey!" Annie ran to me first, her arms wrapped around my leg.

Thomas seemed to be too sucked into the little game he was playing with a group of other boys.

"Hi to you too, Annie." I slowly shuffled like a penguin to the new shelf that Esme implemented to get their things. Annie hadn't let go of me the whole way to the short, colorful shelf.

"Annie, can you go get your brother for me, please?" I whispered as gently as a feather to my little girl holding onto me.

"Okay, I will." She sounded slightly pouty about it. She didn't seem to want to leave my side, but she slowly walked back into the playroom as I asked. Her feet shuffled on the ground as she went.

"I wonder what that was. Maybe she's just a bit tired." I mumbled to myself, opening the small plastic door to their shelf space.

As I went on to the next drawer, the craft slipped from my hand. "Shit!" I kept my voice low so that the kids wouldn't hear me cuss. When I turned to them, they all seemed to be too distracted or didn't care. The coast is clear.

"Here, you go, (Y/N)." I heard Esme's voice right next to me.

"Ah!" I yelped and flipped around, falling back in my crouched position. She had the fallen craft in her hand while crouched in front of me. "Don't scare me like that, Esme!" My heart felt like it escaped my chest and went to the stratosphere.

I didn't recall seeing her around me at all. The rest of the crafts I had in my hands ended up on the floor when I fell back. They lay strewn on the floor like confetti.

"Where were you? When did you come out here?" I fumbled to grab all of the drawings and other crafts that spilled on the floor.

"I was just in my office, coming out to greet you." She started to help me, too.

Those words didn't sit right with me. For the last month, I had been looking at the door twice a day since Mr. Charles' accident. I didn't see her in there. She must have just lied to me.

Our hands brushed against each other, reaching for the same craft. I felt it. Her skin was as cold as ice. It's like she had never been warm in years.

"Sorry," she gave me a soft, airy chuckle, handing me what she collected.

I couldn't be in more shock than at that moment. Her skin is so cold, and she came out of nowhere. She even lied to me, and for what?

"Parent? I don't feel so good." Her voice was as soft as a whisper. Annie stood next to the play area's door. Her hand held onto the frame with one hand, and the other held her abdomen.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Annie. Do you feel like you're going to throw up?" I got to my feet and quickly came up to her.

She only nodded her head, taking two shaky steps forward.

"Oh, okay, uh." My eyes darted around the room for a trash can to get for her.

"Here, you can use this." Esme came behind with a trash can like it's magic. She gave me a caring smile to me.

"Oh, um, thanks." I turned to Annie to focus on her instead. "Here you go, Annie." I held the trash can for her.

"Thomas! You need to stop playing with your friends now!" I called into the room urgently and rubbed Annie's back as she got sick.

"Okay!" he stood up and rushed over to me. "Woah, she looks really sick!" Thomas scrunched his nose at Annie.

"Yes, she doesn't feel good. Let's not make her feel worse about now; we need to go. Collect your crafts." I pointed to the crafts on the ground.

I ushered the two out the door into the car. "Sorry about being in the car when I know you are sick. It'll be okay. I'll take you to a doctor, and we'll see what's going on, okay?" I helped Annie into the car with the trash can.

My heart raced nervously as I got into the driver's seat. I could hardly keep up with everything, but I took a deep breath and focused on the road. Annie groaned and got sick into the trash can every now and then during the ride.

I felt bad for my poor girl in the back seat of the car. She wasn't doing so hot back there, from what I hear and Thomas reports.

I pulled into the parking lot and rushed to her side like it was a race. "Alright, we're here, Annie. Let's get you inside." I slowly helped her onto her feet. "Come on, Thomas." I guided the two into the hospital.

We sat in the waiting room for what felt like an eternity. My eyes watched the clock that ticked down the seconds. I kept my hand rubbing on her back as she sat with me. Thomas played in the little area set aside for children to play in.

"Mx. (L/N)?" Carlisle opened the door that I saw many other people go through. His eyes scanned the room before landing on me. He smiled once his eyes landed on me.

"Yes," I stood up and helped Annie. "Come on, Thomas. I can't leave you out here." I grabbed his hand and guided the two with me.

"Right through here," he held the door for us to go through.
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1015 Words