𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑

𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄
JULY 2ND, 1985

As they rushed through the sliding glass doors of the hospital, the sterile scent of antiseptic hit them like a wave. The bright fluorescent lights overhead felt blinding, casting harsh shadows that danced across the floor. Henry held Scarlette tightly in his arms, her body limp against him, and he could feel the warmth of her skin contrasting against the cool air of the waiting room.

"Help! We need a doctor!" Lucas shouted, his voice echoing off the tiled walls as they barreled toward the reception desk. Nurses and doctors looked up from their duties, their expressions shifting from routine indifference to alarm as they saw the urgency in the group's eyes.

Henry felt his heart race, pounding in his chest like a drum. He was acutely aware of the curious gazes of strangers around them, but he barely registered anything except Scarlette. Her face was pale, her eyes closed, and he could feel the rapid, shallow rise and fall of her chest beneath his hand.

A nurse hurried over, her demeanor shifting into professional focus. "What happened?" she asked, taking in the sight of Scarlette.

"We... we were at the community pool, and—" Henry stumbled over his words, panic threading through his voice. "She overheated in the sauna. She passed out. Please, she needs help!"

"Lay her down here," the nurse instructed, quickly gesturing toward a gurney nearby. With trembling hands, Henry carefully placed Scarlette onto the stretcher, feeling as if he were relinquishing a part of himself as she slipped away from his grasp.

"Stay with us, Scarlette," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from her forehead as the nurse began checking her vitals. The sounds of machines beeping and the shuffling of medical personnel swirled around him, forming a chaotic symphony that drowned out the rest of the world.

"Get a doctor in here, stat!" the nurse barked, her voice firm and commanding. Within moments, a doctor appeared, his white coat billowing behind him as he approached the gurney. Henry's heart raced as he watched them begin to work on her, attaching monitors and checking her temperature.

"Is she going to be okay?" Max asked, her voice a mix of fear and hope as she stood beside Henry, clutching his arm tightly. He could feel the tension radiating off her, the uncertainty hanging in the air like a thick fog.

The doctor glanced at Henry, then back at Scarlette, his expression serious but focused. "We're doing everything we can. Just give us a moment."

Henry nodded, his throat tight with emotion. He felt a rush of gratitude toward the medical team, but it did little to ease the gnawing worry in his gut. He stepped back, allowing them space to work, but his eyes remained locked on Scarlette. He couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that clawed at him, as if the world around him had fallen away, leaving only the two of them in an endless void.