Chapter 5: Critical Hour

Elodie

“God, Please…” I whisper shakily. “Don't take him from me.”

I glance sideways at the man behind the wheel.

The idiot who hit my son.

His face remains pale, and there's blood near his temple. He holds tightly to the steering wheel.

But it doesn't move me at all.

I press my trembling hands in my chest, trying to steady the storm.

This is his fault, his exact act of recklessness.

And now I'm back to this city, this one place I swore I'd never set my foot in again.

I can't run into Mason. I can't run into his wife.

They must never find out about Liam.

Not now. Not ever.

To them, I must remain the barren ex. The woman they threw away like trash.

Tension grows thicker in me, I grip the edge of my blouse in my fingers.

Liam, I'll protect you. Even if I have to fight the devil himself. I will keep you safe.

“Can you drive any faster?” I snap at him. Frustration rises within me the more I look at him.

He blinks hard. “I apologise ma, I didn't mean to…”

“Just drive.” I cut him off.

“I didn't mean for this to happen,” he continues, “There was a car tailing me, and I...”

“Drive.” I yell, louder this time.

He nods quickly, raising one hand like he's surrendering. “Okay. Alright.”

A few seconds pass before he says in a more quiet tone, “You can call me Travis.”

“This isn't the time to know whatever you're called.” I spit.

He goes silent.

Good.

I don't have the strength to argue.

Liam is all that matters right now.

I catch him stealing glances at me again. I hate it. I hate how calm he seems under all this.

Then my eyes fall on his shiny, gold wrist —Rolex.

Of course.

He must have thought of himself as a God. I signed, throwing my face to the other side of the window.

Rich, powerful and untouchable.

Men like him always walk away clean.

But not this time, not if Liam doesn't wake up.

We arrive at the hospital a few minutes later. One of the best I have ever seen. The kind of place rich people trust with their lives.

The ambulance pulls to a stop and the paramedics burst the doors open. They pull Liam's stretcher down with swift urgency.

I run after them, with speed.

“God, please…” I keep whimpering, asking God to spare his life. “Please let him live.”

Inside the emergency department, doctors and nurses take over, gloves snap, and commands flying across the room.

“We can take care of it from here.” a nurse says firmly, stepping in front of me.

I try to move past but she blocks me gently.

“Take that hallway, go to reception, and fill in your information…”

I don't let her finish.

I turn and race like a mad woman to the lobby, my feet barely touching the floor.

My breath comes out in sobs.

"Please nurse, where? where do I sign in? He's in the emergency room!" I say, pointing behind me.

The receptionist stares at me without any further questioning and pulls out a big book. “Here.” she says, pointing to a particular corner of the form.

I quickly scribble down my name, without any further pause to ask questions.

“And here too,” she adds, tapping the far end of the page. “For who you brought in with you.”

When I finish and return back to the waiting area, it's cold and too quiet. The seconds drag.

I can't sit still, I pace back and forth in the room.

Then a voice speaks. “Are you his mother?”

I turn sharply.

The man approaching wears a bluecoat and a kind face. “I'm Dr. Jerry, paediatric trauma specialist. He's in good hands.”

“Please… do whatever you can to save him,” I whisper. “I'll be glad he survives whatever happened to him…”

Before Dr Jerry can reply, another voice cuts in from behind. “His expenses are covered. Do everything.”

I turn around.

It's him.

Travis.

He steps forward, in a calm and composed manner, with a thick white bandage across his forehead.

I'd forgotten about his injury. I was too focus on Liam. And still I am.

Dr. Jerry gives a short nod. “We’ll do our best,” he says, then he leaves.

I finally sit on one of the metal chairs but my knees won’t stop shaking. I try to pray but no words come out.

Time melts away.

A nurse appears suddenly. “Ma’am, your son needs blood. We need a donor urgently.”

“Yes, take mine.” I say, standing immediately.

She draws my blood and disappears.

….

Minutes later, she’s back, too soon.

“Your blood type doesn’t match. We need someone else…”

My heart skips a beat. “My blood isn't a match?”

“I’ll try,” Travis says, rising from his seat without hesitation. “I’m O negative. Universal donor.”

I glance at him, stunned.

Part of me wants to scream, You’ve done enough already.

But another part, the part desperate to save my child lets him go.

It is all a thought.

He disappears into the hallway with the nurse.

Somewhat strangely, I'm still grateful he is helping, I don't mind doing anything to save my child.

I remain there, frozen, staring at the red light above the operating room door, and grip tight on the chair.

Soon I bend forward and rest my head in my hands.

I shouldn't have brought Liam here.

But fate has a cruel way of dragging you back where you swore you’d never return.

Mason can’t see me. He can’t see Liam.

If he finds out the truth...

No. I shake the thought away.

Not now.

Not when my son is lying on an operating table, fighting for his life.

Then…

“Elodie!” A voice yanks me from the fog.

“No one knows my name at this place. I pray it's my thought, not reality.” I mutter to myself. “I pray I'm safe…”

“Elodie!” the voice comes again, this time louder.

I turn toward the sound and freeze.

My heart stops.