You and Me, Always.

Early

"Janette? JANETTE, SWEETIE STAY WITH US!" Karen yelled, holding the phone to her ear. It had been ringing and ringing but nobody picked up. "Call Lara, she'll pick up!" Kevin suggested, eyes glued to the road as he pulled in to the lane marked 'Exit for The Royal London Hospital.' Forcing his foot onto the accelerator, he muttered something which sounded like "Right now, we could really do with sirens and flashing lights."
Janette lay in the back, skin an unhealthy pale shade, fading fast. "Babe, I need you to stay with us. Come on. Stay with us swe..." That was all she heard Karen saying before she sank into a strange lull of tiredness, pain and angst.

"Hello? Hi, yep, it's him speaking." Aljaz relayed calmly down the phone. He was sitting in a bank in Slovenia, coffee on the table beside him, waiting to sort some business. "Oh, Karen! Hi! Everything okay?" He perked up upon hearing a familiar voice. Karen, however, didn't share the same demeanour. "Aljaz, Janette has collapsed. We're on our way to hospital, she's currently unconscious. We need you RIGHT NOW. The Royal London, Whitechapel Road. HURRY!" She shouted, before hanging up abruptly. Aljaz gripped his phone tightly in his palm, a tear rolling down his face. Throwing the paper coffee cup in the bin, he stormed out of the bank, one thought on his mind. Get to Janette.

Janette lay in bed, surrounded by a team of specialist doctors and nurses; plugged into a hundred wires once again. Karen and Kevin perched on the hard plastic waiting room chairs outside, this situation all too familiar for them. All they could do is wait.

Two hours passed and Karen was now pacing about the room while her husband was lying across 4 chairs, his hoodie over his face so as to block out the stark white lights above. A doctor suddenly burst through the door, clipboard poised as he scribbled notes. His name badge read 'Dr. Smith', and he cleared his throat before he began, "Anyone here a close relative of Ms. Manrara? Husband, brother, sister, fiance?" He asked. Silence resonated around the room. "We are close friends. Her fiance is on a plane on the way here currently. We hope." Kevin replied, ruffled hair obscuring his eyes as he sat up. "Okay. She is in a stable condition now, but we really need her fiance here. There's been a few... Developments." He said. "You shall be allowed to see her tomorrow. For now, I suggest staying in that hotel across the road. It's on us, if you say you have a relative in Intensive Care." He smiled reassuringly. "It will be okay. She is in the best hands." He added, upon seeing their panicked faces. He then held open the door while Karen and Kevin collected their belongings and began to make their way to said hotel.

Aljaz stepped off his flight, shoes on the wrong feet and his backpack half open. Sprinting down the travelator, he was determined to get through security before the rush of couples and families with screaming babies in tow.

After a very impatient twenty five minutes, he stepped out into the night, exiting the airport and hailing the nearest taxi. "Royal London Hospital, please." Aljaz ordered breathlessly as he climbed into the back seat. "Emergency?" The driver questioned as he navigated the unusually busy streets. It was as though they were trying to do all in their power to slow him down. "Yes. My fiancee is in Intensive Care." He said, looking out at the crowded roads beside him, tears causing his eyes to go glassy. "My fiancee and our unborn baby." He added, voice crackling as tears came. "I'm so sorry." The driver said, before flicking a switch which made a loud siren noise start up. "You're in for a little stroke of luck. You see, my Taxi is also used by the paramedics. It's fitted with all the usual ambulance gizmos, crowds, here we go." He smiled back at Aljaz, giving him a tiny flicker of hope as they hurtled through the city.