Anywhere But Here

Prologue

November 1993          

He sat on the curb with his head hanging low in between his legs. He sighed running his hands through his hair then down his face, massaging his chilled cheeks. Six hours passed since he arrived at the hospital and most of it was spent outside drenched in drizzle and wind. His face was drained of color while his eyes were bright red with black circles underneath, darkening his skin. Parker didn’t look any different than how he normally walked down the street but his eyes weren’t showing the effects of drugs; but the effects of pain and heartache.

Waves of shock and confusion overwhelmed him when his eyes landed on the small green pair that resembled his own, sending him on a spree out the door. It had happened all too soon---the birth of his child, and he had yet come to a decision what the outcome would be.

Parker mentally yelled, fighting himself, as he sprinted through the hallways and out the emergency side door. He wanted to stay and claim his child in his arms and whisper sweet nothings into the baby’s ear but knew, with one touch he wouldn’t be able to let his child go. So instead of cutting his baby’s umbilical cord like a normal father would, Parker parked himself on the red line of curb.

Sobs and grunts had echoed down the street as he tried to focus his mind on the baby and the decision he had to make. Parker knew Madison wanted to keep their baby and he did too, but he couldn’t raise their kid and play happy family when they were far from that.

If Parker had it his way, he would grab their child and raise the baby with his grandparents, but Madison wouldn’t allow it. She had never gotten along with his parents and they never had a liking towards her, arguing she was bad for him. In a way Parker knew his parents were right. Ever since Madison had strolled into his life, he took a left turn and went downhill falling into a pit he was unsure he could climb out of. She was worse than the drugs he consumed but he was head over heels in love with her and he’d do anything to keep her by his side.

Standing he blew into his hands and rubbed them together warming them up from the numbness they gained. Whether they were numb from the emotions flowing through his veins or the wetness of rain, he couldn’t tell but he had an idea it was a mix of both. Huffing out a puff of air and blowing into the wind, Parker stalked towards the doors he ran out of, manning up to the decision waiting to be played off his tongue.

Parker sighed biting his lip and rested his forehead against the glass, glancing between the rows of beds comforting the infants that rested inside tucked away like burritos. It wasn’t a good idea to be searching for his baby but Parker desperately wanted to know which one of the bundles resembled him. His eyes began to water as he smiled to himself watching the babies; imagining how in a few hours he’d have to walk away without a carriage in his grasp.

“Would you like to see her Mr. Watson?”

His head snapped to his right at the nurse in forest green robes standing in the door way, watching him with sad eyes. Parker hated being looked down with pity and would usually snap and cause a scene but he ignored it and focused on the words that left her mouth.

“Her?” he croaked, his body shaking softly in nerves. The nurse smiled softly and nodded leaving the door open as she walked inside the nursery. Parker’s mind was drained but somehow he found his feet moving one after the other following the nurse. Parker stood halfway in the nursery watching the nurse with wide eyes stand in front of a bed with pink blankets.

Parker felt his heart accelerate underneath his tightened chest while he took slow steps towards the cradle. The nurse lifted the baby into her arms and smiled over at Parker, who stood still like he had his blood drained. “Is she healthy?” he mumbled softly watching the baby wiggle in her grasp.