Hana winced as she put weight on her ankle, the lingering ache a constant reminder of the previous night's mishap. Three days had passed since the eventful evening with Dr. Jenkins.
As she sat behind the desk, her fingers flying across the keyboard, a part of her was grateful for being relegated to data entry. However, a nagging sense of guilt crept in as she realized; less work for her, and more work for everyone else.
As she typed, her mind wandered back to that night. The memory of his gentle touch...
"What am I thinking?" She caught herself before she could fall deeper into her delusions.
A sigh escaped her lips as she tried to focus on the task at hand. The computer screen, with its blinking cursor, seemed to mock her with its relentless demand for attention. She needed to concentrate, the follow-up notes weren't going to write themselves.
Hana was startled from her thoughts by a small voice.
"Excuse me, Miss," a little girl said, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Hana looked around to find the source of the voice and found a small, vibrant girl standing in front of the reception desk.
"Yes, how can... do you need anything? Are you lost?" Hana responded, her voice gentle.
The girl's face lit up with a smile. "We're going to the doctor for Mommy," she announced proudly, pointing towards a woman seated in the waiting area. "Daddy has a new job, so we're in a new house," she added as if sharing an exciting piece of news.
Hana followed the girl's gaze to the woman, whose pale complexion and beads of sweat on her forehead caught her attention. Something about the woman's appearance seemed off as if she was enduring more than just the usual pre-natal discomfort.
"I see," Hana replied, her voice gentle. "I'll show you the way to the doctor's office."
As she turned to lead the little girl, the child tugged on the sides of her pants, startling her a bit.
"Can I tell you a secret?" the little girl asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Hana nodded, crouching down to the girl's level. "Of course," she replied, her voice soft.
The little girl leaned in closer, her voice barely audible. "Mommy's tummy hurts a lot," she whispered, her eyes filled with concern. "And she's scared."
Hana's eyes widened in surprise as the child's words registered, but she immediately masked her look. She nodded, giving the child a reassuring smile. "Let's take mommy to the doctor," she promised.
She quickly made her way to the woman, her concern growing. Something wasn't right.
Hana knelt in front of the woman, her concern growing with every passing second. "Ma'am, can you tell me what your name is, where you are, and how you're feeling?" Her voice was gentle and reassuring, but her mind was racing, trying to assess the situation.
The woman nodded slowly, her face pale and drawn. "Tia. I think I'm at the hospital," she replied, her voice weak. "My belly...it hurts. My baby"
As Hana continued to assess the woman's condition, her eyes fell upon the woman's dark long dress. There, spreading like a crimson stain, was a growing wet spot.
She touched it. Her worst fears were confirmed.
The vivid red color stood out starkly against the white of Hana's gloves, a stark and chilling contrast.
Hana's heart sank.
She turned to the little girl, who was watching her mother with wide, frightened eyes.
YOU ARE READING
Eternally Yours
Roman d'amour"...Even if our love takes a century to reignite, this wanting heart will wait two..." Haunted by a childhood trauma, Hana, a gifted but introverted intern, walks the halls of the hospital with a secret burden. Kidnapped on her fifth birthday, the e...
