𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙄𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚

Everything will be ok

Eddie sat silently in the waiting room. His eyes were shadowed by exhaustion and his whole figure seemed somehow deflated. The white florescent lights glared down at all the people the there was a sterilized smell permeating through the halls. It had been over an hour since Lizzy was taken away from him . He remembered her blue blouse tainted with blood and the glimmering glass in her hair. 

He clasped his hands almost as though he were praying, and his head was bent down so that no passerby would be able to see whatever he may feel. Once the shock had worn out, it was placed with a cold fear.  This wasn't supposed to happen.  Everything around him felt pale and stale, he could smell the floor - it had the faintest smell of chemical lemon cleaner.

In the plastic chair propped across him , there was a mother and a boy who looked to be about 4 years old . The mother looked equally exhausted as Eddie but the little boy was blissfully oblivious to what was happening. He held a stuffed giraffe in his hands and bounced it gleefully up and down, laughing with joy . He showed his mother and she nodded with a tired smile, then he looked at Eddie. The little boy jumped off his seat and ran to Eddie. 

The boy shoved the giraffe at Eddie's face "Look Look! " . Eddie looked up in surprise , " Hello" he said in his deepened voice. The boy looks at him curiously,

Boy: " i like giraffes, do you?

Eddie: "Yes."

Boy: "This giraffe needs to go to the doctor because he is sick, like daddy!"

Eddie: " Oh really? is he going to be ok?"

Boy: "no he's going to die"

Eddie :" are you sure about that? he looks ok"

Boy: *cheerfully* "nope, he has cancer so he's going to die! like daddy!"

The mother who had suddenly realized that her son had wandered off, got up and hurried over, "I am so sorry! Daniel what did i tell you about talking to strangers?!" 

The boy looked at his mom and then at Eddie, " Sorry mommy, I was just showing Eddie my giraffe". Eddie looked at him in surprise, " How did you know my name was Eddie?". Daniel replied innocently unaware at the situation " because you told me!" . The mother laughed uncomfortably and scratched her eyebrow  " He has a knack...". 

Eddie: " that's incredible"

Mother : "Yes, but it gets hard to filter the childish imagination from the knack"

Eddie: " can i ask him something?"

Mother: *nods uncertainly* 

Eddie : " Hey buddy , can you tell me something?"

Boy: *shakes his head* " Mr Giraffe can but i can't"

Eddie : " Can Mr Giraffe tell me about my friend?

The boy tilts the giraffe and positions it to look at Eddie and the mother looks a them silently, unwilling to interfere. The boy wriggled the toy and said to Eddie , " Who is your friend?"

Eddie: " A girl I work with, but the doctor is taking care of her now. Do you think Mr Giraffe can tell me if she's ok?"

Boy: " Mr Giraffe says she hurt her chest bone!" 

Eddie : " Thank you Mr Giraffe"

Boy: * makes his voice deeper* " You're welcome!". His mother took his hand and pulled him back toward their chairs. She gave a quick smile to Eddie  before leaning over Daniel to scold him in whispers as they walked away. Eddie sat back in thought. The only thing he could think of was the collarbone or the ribs. "That's not the worst thing that could happen" he thought.