Stay With Me

Chapter 21

I lay silently in the hospital bed. I'm not sure what time it is. Or how long I've been asleep. Or even how long I've been here. I look over towards the corner and see my mom. She's leaning her head against the wall. Looking straight ahead. Not at anything in particular. I notice Ian next. He's sitting on the other side of the window. Staring out.

"Ian.." I say quietly and push myself up to sit up straighter.

"Nina, no sit still." He comes to my side. He sits down on the edge and grabs my hand.

"You need to stay still. Please." He says and I nod. My mom comes to stand in front of him.

I look down at the blankets covering my stomach. I reach to pull them back but Ian stops me.

"Don't." I look at him.

"Nina, we need to talk about this.." He looks at me.

I ignore him and pull them off me. I stare down. At the emptiness feeling my body. I run my hands over my stomach. Slowly.

"It's gone." I say. I don't look up.

"I..what happened.." I meet Ian's eyes and he swallows hard. He looks at my mom and back at me. My mom covers her mouth and looks away as I notice the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"The baby..they tried everything Nina. They tried." Ian starts crying. I shake my head and bite in my lip holding back the tears. The anger.

"I'm so sorry baby. I'm so sorry." He cries and leans forward pulling me into his arms. I burry my face into his neck and start crying. He holds me tight and I cry harder.

This can't be happening. This is just a really bad, messed up dream. Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

I wake up and feel Ian laying next to me. Still in the hospital bed. Still feeling the emptiness through out me. A nurse walks in and sees that I'm awake.

"Can I get you anything?" She says quietly. I shake my head.

"The doctor is going to be up here soon to speak with you." She says. I nod my head and look back at Ian who opens his eyes. He sits up and pulls me closer to his side.

The doctor comes in a few minutes later and pulls a chair up beside the bed.

"Nina, I'm Dr. Pierce." He introduces himself and I hold my hand out to greet him.

"I'm sure you have a million questions. And I'm ready to give them to you." He says. I nod and look at Ian.

"Just, how did everything happen.." I look up at him and he looks down at the clip board in his hands.

"Well, the impact of the wreck put a lot of pressure on you and the baby. It broke three of your ribs. And the baby..Nina. We tried. God did we try everything we could." He shakes his head and turns his face. This Doctor is crying. And it's not even his baby.

Ian squeezes my hand and I feel the tears coming down my cheeks.

"Dr. Pierce..can we know the sex..was it a girl or a boy?" I ask him.

"It was a girl, Nina." He looks back at the clipboard. My heart shatters. Ian had a daughter. He knew it was going to be a girl. And now..we have nothing.

"I'm so sorry." Dr. Pierce says.

"Can we have a minute? Please." Ian asks and Dr. Pierce nods his head and leaves the room.

"Nina.." Ian turns to face me.

"We were going to have a little girl.." I say.