Until The End

Apologies

I didn't realize how late I had stayed out.

I came back and it was dark, nearly pitch black.

I went into the tent to see her laying down, crying.

I turn on the lantern and she stops.

"Daryl."

She turns towards me.

I had picked a few flowers for her and gave them to her.

"Daryl I.."

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

I wipe a tear from her face and kiss her forehead.

"I love your tattoo, babe."

"Really?"

"Yes." She smiles.

She lays back down and I lay with her.

I spoon her from behind and kiss her neck.

"Goodnight, love."

She turns off the lantern and we drift off to sleep.

I wake up and she's still sleeping.

I get up and leave the tent. I breathe in the fresh air. I hear the birds and the soft sound of the lake, the water splashing the rocks.

I go back to the tent to wake her up.

"Wake up, sweetie."

She turns towards me and looks pale.

"Babe, are you feeling okay?"

"I feel nauseous." She gets up and rushes outside to throw up.

"Babe?"

"I think it's morning sickness."

"Is that good or bad?"

"I think it's because of the pregnancy."

She throws up again but this time there's a small amount of blood.

"I don't think that's normal."

"No I don't..."

She falls to the ground.

I immediately rush to her side, softly tapping her cheek.

"Babe, babe, can you hear me?"

She moans slightly.

"I'm taking you to the hospital."

I pick her up and carry her to the truck and put her in the front seat. I then rush around picking up our things and throwing them in the back. I extinguish the smoke from the fire and get in the truck and drive quickly to the hospital.

We pull into the emergency lane and I get out and run inside.

"Somebody please help me!"

A nurse with a wheelchair pulls up to the truck and we put her in.

I get back into the truck to go park and run back to the emergency room.

"Where's my wife?"

"This way, sir."

A nurse leads me to a room with a doctor and my wife.

She's sitting up and talking.

"Daryl!" I run up to hug her.

"Can I speak with you alone for a minute?" "Sure, doc."

We step out and he closes the door.

"What's wrong with her?"

"From the preliminary blood test we did, she had an abnormal white cell count."

"Which means?"

"She might have cancer."

"What?"

"We're going to run a few tests to make sure but that's what her blood is showing us."

"What?" I'm in utter shock.

"I'm sorry, sir."