Divine Affinity

58

Eddie burst through the hospital doors, his breath coming in short, frantic gasps. Panic twisted his features, his eyes wide with desperation and his brow slick with sweat. The harsh glare of the fluorescent lights illuminated his anguish, casting sharp shadows on his face. He glanced around wildly, taking in the sterile white walls, the rows of plastic chairs, and the blank faces of strangers who seemed oblivious to his turmoil. His hand trembled as he yanked out his cell phone, quickly dialing Rae's number only to hear the disheartening sound of her voicemail. Swearing under his breath, he scanned the room for anyone who might help, his heart thundering against his ribcage. Fear gnawed at his insides as the thought of something happening to Eiry consumed him.

"Fuck..." He cursed again. "Could this place be more chaotic?" He looked at Stone.

"Ed, you're nervous." Stone said, but Eddie was just looking around for any hint of help he could get.

"Eiry must be in panic, Stone." Eddie breathed. "I need to be with her. Can't you see?" He looked at Stone again. "I wasn't with her the other time. I need to be here now. I need to be by her side."

"And you'll be. Just calm the fuck down." Stone rested his hands on his shoulders to give him some rationality. "She must be stressed and you're not gonna help her if you show her stress too."

"It's easy to say..." Eddie said under his breath. His eyes scanning the room again. "There..." He pointed out.

Spotting a desk with a nurse, his heart gave a hopeful leap. He sprinted across the waiting area, his sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. Breathless and frantic, he reached the desk, his voice trembling as he addressed the nurse.

"Please, I need to find my wife." His eyebrow curled. "I mean... my girlfriend. She was brought in earlier. Can you help me?" His eyes pleaded with her, every muscle in his body taut with urgency.

The nurse looked up, her expression shifting from routine professionalism to concern as she took in his distraught state. Eddie's pulse pounded in his ears, the fear of the unknown making every second feel like an eternity.

"What's her full name?" The nurse looked up at him.

"Eiry Hanson. She's American... she's pregnant..." He said it all in a row and out of breath due to his nervousness. Stone grabbed his arm in an attempt to steady him.

"Ed, you need to calm down." He told him. But Eddie couldn't be pacified.

"You don't understand..." He shrugged off Stone's grip, his eyes wild with fear. "I wasn't there with her the first time..." His blue eyes fixed on Stone's. "I need to be here now."

"You're here." Stone tried again.

Eddie looked around him once more. The hallways seemed endless. A maze designed to keep him from the person he needed to find.

"We want this baby so much..." He whispered with tears flooding his eyes.

"It's gonna be alright. You'll see."

Eddie's fingers tapped a restless rhythm on the counter as the nurse searched for Eiry's name, each tap a sharp testament to his mounting anxiety. Stone, sensing his need for silence, stopped talking and stepped back, giving him the space he so desperately needed. Eddie clenched his jaw, trying to hold back the tears that welled up in his eyes, but the fear and helplessness were too overwhelming. A tear escaped, followed by another, tracing a path down his cheeks. Just then, the nurse looked up from her computer, meeting his gaze. He hastily wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, sniffling as he did. The nurse offered a gentle smile, her eyes softening with empathy.

"She's in obstetrics. Third floor. " She said softly. "She's gonna be alright, you'll see." Her reassuring tone a small balm to his frayed nerves.

"Thanks." Eddie turned around and looked at Stone. "She's on the third floor." He then looked at all the hallways and elevators. A security guard that overheard everything stepped forward to help him.