I weave in and out of traffic and honk at almost every single person that dares to try and cut in front of me. After several threats of life and F-bombs, Eva steps in.
“Roman, I can’t have you getting arrested before we make it there. Try to calm down,” she cries.
“Right,” I reply, though there is no way I can do that. “I’m sorry. We’re two blocks away.”
We finally make it to the hospital. I cut the wheel quickly and drive up to the drop-off.
Lincoln comes running up to us. He claps my arm. “I’ve got this. Keep me updated, man. I’ll be praying for you guys.”
“Thanks,” I shout as I dash around the car and open the passenger door. “Step out of the car, baby. I’ll carry you in.”
Her face scrunches in pain while she places her feet on the pavement. I grab her hands to pull her to a standing position.
Lincoln is already in the car and ready to drive away. I see the concern written all over his face. He knows this isn’t good. Whatever is causing her this kind of pain isn’t something minor.
I lift her back into my arms, where she belongs, and close the car door. I rush through the main doors and directly up to the desk. Eva is groaning and showing no signs of the pain letting up. Then her head gives out and collapses on my chest.
“I need help—now!” I shout at the woman behind the desk.
She hops out of her chair so quickly that it topples over behind her, and then she picks up her phone. “Trauma in the lobby.”
In seconds, nurses in scrubs come running out with a gurney. It all happens so fast. They help me lay her down and begin to wheel her back. I jog to keep up with them.
“What happened?” one of them asks.
“I don’t know. She’s been in extreme pain, her stomach, and then she just passed out.” Tears fill in my eyes as I look down at her motionless body. “She’s pregnant,” I cry.
They share a look with one another. Not one that is comforting.
My vision begins to blur as more tears continue to flow. I haven’t cried since I was a kid. Nothing has been worth my tears—until Eva.
I watch as the nurses check her vitals and park her gurney. A doctor comes running in.
“Abdominal pain, pregnant, low blood pressure, elevated heart, oxygen saturation normal. Normal temperature.”
“Ultrasound and CBC stat,” the doctor orders.
“Sir, we need space to stabilize and work on her. If you could go to the waiting room, we will update you as soon as we can.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say sternly.
I can’t just leave her alone like this.
One of the nurses begins to work on an IV while the doctor listens to Eva’s breathing. Then I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder. I turn around to see the woman from the front desk.
“It’s okay. She’s in good hands. They need space to work. You don’t want to get in the way.”
I let her pull me away from the two most important people in my life, not knowing if either of them will be okay. She leads me to the waiting room, where she places me in a chair.
“Is there anybody I can call for you? It helps to not be alone,” she asks kindly, but I barely register her words.
I just left my heart in the other room.
I look up at her. “No. Thank you,” I reply.
She smiles, then rubs my shoulder. “They will come back as soon as they have information,” she says, then walks away.
Somehow, everything falls into place as I sit here, waiting to find out what’s happening to the woman I love.