The Succession: Sequel To The Passage (h.s.)

Chapter One

Flashback Two Days Prior

"Babies, as in I'm pregnant? We're going to have a baby? You said babies...do you mean twins?"

She looks up into my eyes and her face lights up like a Christmas tree. I wish I could offer her the same joy in return, but I know I can't. I don't want to give her false hope.

"Harry, why aren't you smiling? I know we didn't plan this, but isn't this good news?"

Her eye contact shifts back to the doctor.

"I need to get you to the hospital to run some more tests. At this point I don't know if your body is rejecting the pregnancy, or if this is a one-time thing where you need to build your nutrients up. I just don't know yet."

"And what happens if my body rejects it?"

"Then we have to terminate the pregnancy."

"NO!"

She's shouts and her body is uncontrollably shaking.

"Sweetheart the doctor is right; we can't risk your life. I get it, I'm scared too, but I'm not going to lose you, I can't. I can't live without you, and the girls can't either. I almost lost you once, and I'm not doing it again."

She's now in hysterics and physically fighting against me while I'm trying to hold her on the bed.

"Please just let go, let me go. I can't stay in this fucking bed forever. I need to breathe."

She rips herself away from me and tries to run away. Her body collapses, but I catch her before she hits the floor. I carry her back to the bed, and she's passed out again.

"Harry, we need to get her to the hospital now. It can't wait any longer."

"Please help her Dr. Bianchi, if she dies my heart dies."

***

Harry's POV Present Time

I've been sitting in the same typical hospital chair by her side for almost two days. However, it feels like it's been an eternity. Although this hospital room looks nothing like the last, the smells and mood are the same; sterile and somber. Struggling while not knowing what the future holds in the midst of difficult situations is one of the hardest parts of life. And right now, I don't know a damn thing and it's agonizing. I'd give anything to make her well again.

All sense of logic seems to have flown out the window. Willow's well-being is dangling on the edge of being far too gone and it has me crippled with fear. In the real world my anxieties carry more weight than one man should have to bear. But for her I'll carry it all, repeatedly, just to keep her alive.

In the deepest part of my heart, I prayed I'd never have to watch Willow lay in a hospital bed again. That is unless she was birthing my child. I know that sounds presumptuous of me, but I damn sure never wanted to see her body lay lifeless like this. But here I am, just like a few months ago, completely hopeless and hurting more than imaginable. She's being kept alive with a continuous IV, and she needs her vitals closely monitored around the clock.

Her body looks frail, it's motionless just begging to have some life brought back into it. Her light is almost gone, but I swear I can still see it. No one else may be able to see that ray of sunshine but I can, maybe that's because it was meant for only me to see. I feel a pull towards her, as if she's drowning beneath the surface and her hand is reaching for me to pull her to safety. I squeeze her hand in mine; one, two, three. As always meaning...I love you. And this time it's also a reminder in her unconscious state; I am here.