Chapter 9
963 Words
JANICE'S POV
The automatic hospital doors slide open before I reach them. "Where is he?"
The nurse behind the desk looks up immediately and recognizes me. "Room 314."
I'm already moving before she finishes speaking, my shoes strike the floor too fast.
The hallway blurs around me and room numbers flash past. Voices, machines, doctors, one of it matters, only Jack. I reach the room breathless and push through the door.
Jack looks up from the hospital bed. "Hi, Mama." The sound nearly drops me to my knees, I cross the room immediately.
My hands find his face, hair and shoulders. Checking, making absolutely sure. "You scared me."
"I know." His voice is small. "I'm sorry mommy." The apology hurts worse than the hospital room because he's five years old.
Five-year-olds shouldn't apologize for being sick, I press my lips against his forehead. "You never apologize for this."
"Okay mommy." His fingers curl around mine. The knot squeezing my chest loosens slightly, not enough but enough to breathe.
The doctor arrives shortly afterward. Chest pain, shortness of breath, elevated heart rate. Nothing immediately life-threatening, no emergency surgery or critical complications. Just another reminder, another test, another monitor and another day spent wondering when the next scare will come.
The fear never leaves, or simply changes shape. Hour after hour passes beside his bed. I answer questions, sign paperwork and listen to explanations I've heard a hundred times before.
By evening exhaustion settles into my bones, Jack remains completely himself.
A nurse adjusts equipment beside the bed and Jack points immediately. "That one's a velociraptor." The nurse blinks. "What?"
"The machine." He points toward another monitor. "That one's a triceratops."
"Why?"
"Because it's loud." The nurse laughs and I laugh too despite everything.
Jack notices and his grin widens. A little later he points toward an IV pole. "That one's definitely a T-Rex."
"Why?"
"Because it looks mean." The nurse nearly chokes trying not to laugh.
Jack beams proudly like entertaining hospital staff is now his full-time job.
For a few minutes the room feels lighter, almost normal then he coughs and reality returns.
The shadows under his eyes look darker than yesterday, his movements seem slower.
The sight slices straight through me because no amount of joking changes the truth.
My son is tired and there is nothing funny about that. My phone buzzes constantly throughout the day.
Celine, then Chan then Celine again. *How is he?* *Need anything?* *Kitchen hasn't exploded yet.*
The last message is obviously from Chan, a second message follows immediately. *Almost exploded, we fixed it.*
Despite everything, I smile. Celine sends a picture twenty seconds later of Chan standing beside a burnt tray looking offended.
I shake my head, the idiots, my idiots. The loyalty warms something inside me. Even from miles away they refuse to let me carry everything alone, even when I insist on trying.
Evening settles outside the windows, Jack finally drifts into a light sleep. For the first time all day the room becomes quiet then the door opens softly behind me.
I assume it's another nurse or doctor then a familiar voice speaks. "Is he okay?"
Every muscle in my body locks slowly as I turn. Eden stands in the doorway for one stunned second I simply stare. "What are you doing here?"
He looks uncomfortable. "I heard about Jack."
"You had no right."
"I know."
The answer stops me and my next argument disappears completely because he genuinely sounds sorry. For showing up, intruding, for caring and that makes everything harder.
Silence stretches between us then Jack opens one eye. "Tall man."
Eden glances toward the bed and Jack brightens immediately. "You came."
A smile appears before Eden can stop it. "Looks that way." Jack sits up slightly instantly launching into conversation.
The conversation never pauses long enough for breathing.
Eden keeps up asking questions and listening carefully. Answering seriously like every topic matters.
Jack loves it, I watch from across the room unable to look away because it happens so naturally.
The exact connection I spent five years preventing, the exact connection I secretly wished existed.
The realization hurts because part of me always wants this. Jack falls asleep mid-conversation. One second talking, the next completely gone.
The room finally grows quiet, the city glows beyond the hospital windows.
Machines hum softly around us and Eden studies Jack. The curve of his cheek, his expression, the stubborn little crease between his brows.
Something shifts behind Eden's eyes then he asks quietly, "Where's his father?"
Everything inside me stops, I don't answer and the silence stretches too long.
When I finally look up, Eden is watching me carefully, the conversation never recovers.
Eventually visiting hours end and Eden leaves. The night ends and Jack remains stable, sleeping safe for now.
By the time I get home, exhaustion drags in my body.
The apartment feels strangely silent, I set my keys down. Kick off my shoes and sit on a chair.
For one brief second I think the worst is over then my phone rings from an unknown number.
I frown. "Hello?" A woman's voice responds. "Ms. Soto?"
"Yes?" A pause follows, then she says, "Someone requested access to Jack's medical records today."
The room tilts, my fingers tighten around the phone because I already know exactly who.
The woman continues explaining procedures, I barely hear any of it. My pulse pounds too loudly and by the time the call ends I'm still sitting motionless in the same chair.
Unable to breathe properly, to think clearly because there is only one person asking questions now. Only one person getting closer which I've spent five years terrified of.
Eden Duncan, and for the first time I realize I might be running out of time.
- Writer
